All Ireland Final
On Sunday 5th March, the senior camogs travelled to Croke Park to play in the All Ireland Intermediate Club Final – a dream come true for all involved. By 3pm on the same day, dreams of All Ireland glory were shattered, narrowly losing out by 1 point, the smallest of margins.
Despite the loss, so much more was gained. In the weeks prior to the All-Ireland, our village of Eglish became immersed in a sea of green and black with butting, flags and banners at every corner. The camogs and the big match were the talk of the excited community.
To those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the build up to the game, we would like to express our sincerest thanks. To the “All-Ireland” committee, especially set up for the occasion, thank you for the hours of work that you put in so that every detail was covered. To those who organised the social the Saturday night prior to the match, including those who set up the hall, the ladies who prepared the food and those there on the night serving – thank you.
Thank you to the members in the committee who approached local business for the donation and a special thankyou to all of those companies who so willingly obliged and left us astounded at your generosity. As a small club, we run on a small budget and we are genuinely so thankful for all the businesses, schools, clubs & societies, families and members of the community who donated to our All Ireland fund and furthermore the future of our camogie club.
A special word of thanks is extended to our football club on whom we rely so heavily on for the use of their facilities every year but especially this year. Being a very long season, and training through the dark winter, we are so fortunate that we have access to a pitch with perfect lighting and able to withstand the harsh weather. Thank you also to Killeeshil GAA and Middletown GAA who so willingly let us train on their pitches when ours was unavailable.
To Martin, Nathan and Odhran Curry – thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Under your guidance we have lifted two Ulster titles in a row and although we returned home empty handed on Sunday, you took our camogs to an All-Ireland Final in Croke Park – somewhere we have never been before. We will be forever grateful for your positive impact within our club.
To the community of Eglish and our followers from further afield – thank you for your enormous support and well wishes. Thanks to Fr. Sweeney for the special mass on Sunday morning before we departed for Dublin. To all those who made the journey to the game, thank you. To hear the cheer from the crowd as Eglish ran out of the tunnel underneath the Hogan Stand is a noise and feeling that our players will cherish for the rest of their lives.
Another moment in time that will live long in the players’ hearts was the team bus turning the corner at the chapel in Eglish on our return on Sunday evening and being stopped by a crowd of people in our tracks. Despite coming away empty handed, players and management exited the bus to rapturous applause and chanting and were lead in procession by a piper up to the hall packed with more of the community. Special thanks is extended to the football club who organised this very special homecoming and to all those in the community who turned up to mark and celebrate a momentous occasion.
Finally, as a club and community, we would like to thank the camogie senior team themselves. Although not collecting the All-Ireland title, they can be very proud of their efforts for the past 12 or more moths. To see your club crest displayed on the big screen in Croke Park is a surreal and special privilege for any Gael and we are so proud and grateful to the team who afforded us this occasion.
Congratulations
Congratulations to committee member and underage coach Clare Daly who had a baby girl on Friday 10th March.
