With teams travelling from Galway, Dublin, Derry, Oxford, Birmingham and Liverpool there is bound to be a great display of camogie for this years Tara Camogie 7 aside Tournament, on Saturday 18th April. Reigning Senior Cup winner for the past 2 years, Holy Cross from Tipperary are unable to travel this year, so there will be a new name on the Senior Cup Trophy. The Senior Cup Competition is sponsored again by Getjar and the Senior Plate Competition is sponsored by The Shawl in South Harrow, managed by Tara's own Grace Hamilton. There are 11 teams in the Senior Competition, 4 of whom are London teams, Fr Murphy's who reached last years Senior Cup final, Croydon, Brother Pearces and Tara. With the London Senior League just around the corner, this will be good preparation for the forthcoming season. The travelling teams for the Senior Cup include Craughwell (Galway), Liverpool Hope University, Na Magha (Derry), Craoibh Chairainn (Dublin), Kevins (Dublin). Former Craughwell star Denise Gilligan is now captain of Tara's Senior team after moving to London. There is sure to be a great battle if Tara come face to face with Craughwell. The Junior Cup Competition is sponsored by the Galway Association in London and the Junior Plate Competition is sponsored by Tír Connaill Park. Teams contesting the Cup and Plate Competition include Erin Go Brath (Birmingham), newly formed John Mitchells (Birmingham), Oxford Uni, London Shinty Team Camanachd, Tara, Croydon and Green Isles. Cup winners Tara will be out to regain their title after last years success. With one win and two draws under their belt in the London Junior League Competition so far, Tara are sure to be favourites to regain their title. Registration for teams is 10am with games to begin at 10.30am. A word of thanks to Tir Connail Gaels for use of theis club house, facilities and the pitches. Entry is free. With London's finest camogie stars on show with many from Ireland it will be a great camogie spectacle. Craughwell This is Craughwell's 3rd year attending the Tara 7aside Tournament. Craughwell have a 30 strong contingent travelling to London and are fielding two teams in the Senior Competition. Denise Gilligan who currently plays with Tara and London lined out for Craughwell in last years tournament. Craughwell have other connections with London, AnnFreaney, now a Galway County Board Delegate was a former member of Tara Camogie Club, Colleen Crowe and Olivia Geaghegan represented London in the 90's Location: Galway Grade currently playing: Junior A Club Achievements County & Connacht Intermediate Champions 1993 County & Connacht Junior Champions 1992 Minor Champions 1993 Pan Celtic Senior B champions 1996, 1997, 2007 U13 sheild 2004, John Keane tournament 2004, U10 County Champions 2006,2007. Runners up at most underage levels over the past 6-7 years. Player achievements Dara Dolan: All Ireland and Connacht medal with St Brigids Vocational School Loughrea 08 which she is still attending. All Star award with School in '04. The youngest All Star on out team Dara is a player to be watched for the future! Alisha Mcnamara: 7 All Ireland medals with St. Brigids, 1 County Junior and Minor All Ireland medal. Numerous County and Connacht medals. Represented Galway at all Grades. Has taught a mountain goat or 2 about climbing Croagh Patrick! Marie Kelly: National Schools medals for mini 7s and 3 medals for National Schools Championship. Pan Celtic Medal in 07, Runner up medals with Craughwell. The ref needs a very big note book for this girl. Paula Rooney: Club PRO this year. Captain of school Junior and Senior team with Athenry Vocational School. Pan Celtic medal 07 and U16 player of the year with Craughwell in '00. If she not running on the pitch she found pounding the local roads. Vice captain for the year. Carol Maher: All Ireland and Connacht medal with St. Brigids Vocational School Loughrea which she is still attending. As one of the younger member on the team she is a player to be watched! Erin Dolan: 5 All Ireland medals with St. Brigids Vocational School, 1 County Junior All Ireland medal, Captained Galway Minors many years ago, Has numerous County and Connacht medals with Club, School and County. Is still wondering why she is playing camogie at her old age. Paula Hynes: Connacht medal with St. Raphaels School, Loughrea 99, Turloughmore tournament winners 01, Gerry Uniacke Memorial tournament winners 02, Pan Celtic 07. Various runners up medals with Craughwell. Would have a lot more titles if she wasn't injured the whole time. Amy Whiriskey: All Ireland medal with St. Brigids Vocational School and captained team in same year. Runner up medal at almost every grade with Craughwell. Pan Celtic medal 07. Is still wondering why she is playing after losing so many games all these years. Selector with the U10 team this year. Ammie Flaherty: Connacht medals with Athenry Vocational School, Underage player of the year with Club 03, Pan Celtic medal 07, A selector with the U10 team this year. The camogie player Ammie admires the most is Erin Dolan. Orla Ryan: Our Club Sectetary for another year. Represented Galway at U14 and Minor for 2 years. All Ireland medal with the county Minors, Pan Celtic medal. Getting married this summer and is moving to the rival parish. Ursula Whiriskey: U14 Club player of the year, 2 All -Ireland and numerous Connacht and county medals with St. Brigids Vocational School. Numerous runner up medals with Craughwell. U8 trainer '06, U10 trainer 08,09. Ursula has the unique achievement of somehow never winning one medal with Craughwell. She organised most of the trip this year after plauging last years organiser. Marie Kenny: Runner up medals with Craughwell at underage. Marie is one of our younger players and slotted in perfectly with the junior team for the first time last year. Definately a county player in the making. Lorraine Callanan: Pan Celtic medals, County Intermediate medal. All Star award with Eire Og Camogie Club in Boston. Is the only married woman on the team and it still hasnt quitened her down. Emma Ryan: Pan Celtic medal in 07, Various Runners up medals with the Club. Represented Galway at U14. Attends training sessions for the sessions only. Great bale wrapper. Sister of Orla. Aoife Rooney - Played with Galway U14 B team, Pan Celtic medal, Numerous Runner up medals with Craughwell & School. Always seemed to take a year out when the club was winning! Selector with the U10 winners '06, 07. Pan Celtic medal 07, runner up medals with club. Captain this year. Training extremely hard this year in order to sort out her 'jiggly' bits in time for her wedding next year. Carol Kelly - Represented Galway from U14 to Junior grade. All Ireland Junior Championship & League meadal. 2 Ashbourne Shield medals, 1 Pan Celtic. Has to still get her club priority in order when the hurlers are playing. Linda Lyons: Connacht and County medals with Athenry Vocational School, Underage player of the year with Club 96, Pan Celtic medal 07, Intermediate County and Connacht Medal 94. Linda is currently our club treasurer. Jessica Greene: National Schools medals for mini 7s and 3 medals for National Schools Championship. Pan Celtic Medal in 07, Runner up medals with Craughwell Juniors in 03. Jessica has been training the camogie team in GMIT for the past few years. She enjoys the 'odd' Jagerbomb. Elaine Ryan: National Schools medals for mini 7s and 3 medals for National Schools Championship. Pan Celtic Medal in 07, Runner up medals with Craughwell. Elaine is only coming to London for the session and we probably won't see her training for the rest of the year. Management achievements: John Keane (former Craughwell manager) was a selector with the Galway All Ireland camogie champions in 1996 and selector for the County minors, Juniors and Seniors for many years - RIP. Past player achievements: Veronica Curtin recieved an All Star award in 2007 (She was a past member of the club). Denise Gilligan won player of the match in the All -Ireland final of 1996 representing Galway Seniors. Brian Griffin our present trainer is also currently the Abberknockmoy Hurling team. John Keane RIP was a former manager with the camogie team for years. He was also a selector on the victorious Galway team that won the Senior All Ireland Camogie in 199. Denise Gilligan, Fiona Healy, Veronica Curtin & Carmel Allen are all past Galway Senior Camogie players. Management: Brian Griffin, Sean Greally, Betty Coleman and Linda Lyons Captain: Aoife Rooney Vice Captain: Paula Rooney Craughwell Team who travelled to London last year for Tara 7aside Tournament Liverpool Hope University Location: Liverpool 2009 saw Liverpool Hope University form its 1st ever Camogie team, which in turn was the 1st camogie team in North West Englands Universities. Roots were set for the club in 2008 when Eamonn Melley of Donegal set out to start the girls training in hope that it would be a stepping stone to a bright future. Then, in 2009, Ryan McShane (Co.Down) took over and decided it was time for the team to play competitively. The team competed in their first ever tournament in March of this year at the Erin Go Bragh International Tournament in Birmingham. They fell to Tara in the semi final stage. This was a great achievement for the club and its management team of Ryan McShane, Conall Maskey, Andy Bell and Niall McNamee who have put months of effort into training the girls. Also in 2009, the team were awarded for their efforts when nine of their players were awarded British University All-Star awards. Seven of these award winners will be togging out for the Tara Tournament. Club president, Ryan McShane along with team Captain Cara Farren and County managers, Conall Maskey and Andy Bell are hopeful that 2009 has been an excellent starting point to promote camogie in the North West and are hopeful for a long and successful future for club. County Players: Cara Farren, Co. Derry, Liverpool Hope team Captain All stars: Michaela Barkey, Cara Farren, Noelle Dallas, Brenda Higgins, Niamh Cunningham, Nicola Donaghey, Nikki Frizelle Name: Cara Farren (Captain) County: Limavady, Co.Derry Name: Brenda Higgins County: Dunloy, Co.Antrim Awards: 2009 British university camogie all star. Fast and skilful forward, scored 2-8 in the clubs last tournament at Erin Go Bragh, Birmingham Na Magha Location: Derry Na Magha Camogie Club is County Derry's newest club and the only club from Derry City. The hurling club was formed in 1982 and has always produced talented young girls who hurled with the club up to under 14. However it was not until 2004 that the club fielded a team in the Derry camogie junior league and with a blend of experienced players and home grown talent the progress has been fantastic. Former Antrim captain Donna Mc Closkey has been one of the main driving forces both on and off the pitch as this year Na Magha will aim to field teams from U10 to senior. Success has come quickly to this young club in 2007 our U16's won their Championship and the same year our seniors won the Junior League and only narrowly lost the Championship final to Slaughtneil. The plan for 2008 was to retain our place in the Derry intermediate League but our girls surprised everyone and actually won the Intermediate League captained by Donna at the first time of asking. This year they will take their place with the elite of Derry camogie in the Senior ranks, after only four years of existence, a mammoth achievement. No one is under estimating the challenge ahead and this is main reason for travelling to London with 17 of a squad as pre season team bonding weekend and an opportunity to play other teams. It is not only for club that Na Magha Club members have excelled but also with Derry. Michelle Rodgers won two U16 All Ireland medals in 2006 and 2007 and Player of the final in the latter. These teams were managed by Donna mc Closkey and coached by Shauna Mc Callion. Shauna played hurling for the club up to U14 but had to leave as the club had no Camogie. She returned however as a coach in 2004 and then as player and captained the club to their first tile in 2007. She is also a duel player and an ever present for Derry ladies football. Captain: Siuinin O Caiside Vice Captain: Andrea Shepherd Manager: Emmet Mc Closkey Club Achivements Derry Intermediate League 2008 Derry Junior League 2007 City Cub 2007 U16 Derry Championship 2007 Michelle Rogers Kevins Hurling & Camogie Club Location: Dublin Grade currently playing: Junior B Club Achievements: Winners of Open Cup, Shield, Junior B League and runners up in Championship Junior B Championship 2008 The unbeaten run came to end in August of last season against St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh. Having won the pre-season Open Cup and Junior B league Division 2 (in their first season) the championship campaign was to be cut short early. Kevins led at half time, but the in form home side pushed ahead midway through the second half with two goals. Unfortunately it was a lead we couldn't catch. Junior B Shield 2008 A good recovery was made from the championship defeat with a win over Na Fianna in the Shield. This was only the second competitive game against a team in a higher league, but this time the game was never in doubt. With home advantage Kevins led all the way through the match with the opening score by captain Katie Kenny. The final was played on October 18th against Whitehall. Some youthful performances from the spirited Jessie O'Byrne and Aoife Grene and Anne Marie Scott Scott helped build an early lead. But with two quick goals Kevins found themselves 2 points behind with only a few minutes to go. A composed Sophie Markham and Katie Kenny steadied the ship which helped set up a number of counter attacks to the Whitehall pressure which lead to a goal. Eventually clawing back the deficit, when the final whistle blew it was 1-8 to 2-2 in favour of Kevins. Well done to Ann, Ita, Liz and Noel Foy for their hard work in making it happen. League This campaign finished well with Kevins winning the Junior B Division 2 League in their first year. Past player/management achievements: First Adult Camogie team since 1930's Manager: Ita Daly Captain: Katie Kenny Craoibh Chairainn Location: Parnell Park, Dublin 5 Grade Currently Playing: Intermediate 2 Club Achievements: Camogie Team gained intermediate status for the coming season for the 2nd time in 26yrs winning the league and Shield Player achievements: Ellen Keatley achieved in 2008 A Leinster Medal and got beaten in The All Ireland Semi Final by Cork for Dublin Camogie U14 team. Ellen has achieved her position on both Camogie and Ladies Football U16 Dublin Teams for the season ahead. Ciara Ryan a cousin of Ellen was on the Dublin Junior Camogie Team last year and on the Dublin Minor Football Team which won a Leinster and All Ireland Medal. Nicola Keeley was our club player of the year for 2008. Nicola captained Na Magha to a league and shield titles in 2008. Past Player/Management Achievements: Our Manager Mary Derwin achieved a Leinster U14 and U16 medals Geraldine Doyle played 26years ago on the 1st camogie team as Goalie and ow The Chairperson of Na Magha. Big Names Associated with our Club: Alan Mc Crab is a well known hurler that is a present player with our club. Alan has played Dublin hurling since the age of 16 and now playing adult level. He just represented Leinster in the Dubai games and won . Manager Names: Mary Derwin, Brenda Mc Cann, Jimmy Mc Cue Captain: Nicola Keeley London Camanachd Women's Shinty Location: London Camanachd About club: London Camanchd Women's Shinty Team was formed in 2006 by a group of ex- St Andrews University Students who wanted to continue playing shinty south of the border. Since 2006 London Camanachd have travelled back to St Andrews for an annual match with the university team and have also diversified and taken up new sports such as Camogie, entering Tara 's 7aside Tournament in 2006. After a few years break, London Camanchd, with a fresh new team, have decided to dust off our hurls and give camogie a go again! Player achievements: Jenny Black - Scotland Shinty Cap, Naomi Harger Scotland Universities Cap Managers: Manager: Jenny Black Captain: Naomi Harger London connections: Jenny Black and Gemma Strachen previously played with Tara Camogie Website: http://www.londonshinty.com/index.htm Tweet

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