Drumraney and Southern Gaels join forces with camogie blitz
Southern Gaels and Drumraney Camogie Club recently co-hosted a camogie blitz for local secondary school students in Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone GAA.
Four teams participated - Our Lady's Bower, Athlone; Mercy SS, Ballymahon; Moate Community School; and Gallen Community School, Ferbane. Despite the difficult conditions and continual rain, the girls served up four top class games.
Mercy Ballymahon, playing their first ever camogie tournament, accounted for The Bower in one semi-final and Moate CS defeated Gallen CS in the second semi-final. The final between Moate and Ballymahon proved an excellent encounter. However, Moate crept ahead by 2-3 to 0-1 by half-time with some top class camogie.
Ballymahon (who were jointly captained by Jane Ryan and Sally Ryan) scored a goal early in the second half to keep in the game, but Moate closed out the match with two well taken goals and won on a 4-5 to 1-1 scoreline.
The Bower captured the Shield final over Gallen CS (jointly captained by Chloe Coleman and Freya Flynn) on a scoreline of 2-1 to 2-0. The Athlone side trailed 1-1 to 2-0 at half-time but produced the vital score in the second half to capture the trophy.
Despite the horrible weather on the day, as hard bitter rain fell from the clouds, the enjoyment and exuberance of the girls was something to behold.
After the games, played on November 28, Moate CS were presented with the Olive Browne Cup, sponsored by Southern Gaels.
The trophy is named in honour of Olive Browne who was to the forefront of camogie in Athlone in the 1950s and 1960s when Athlone were a force in Westmeath. Apart from holding most committee positions at some juncture, Olive was captain of the Athlone side that won the Westmeath Junior Championship and League titles in 1968. Her daughter Teresa O'Connell (née Small) presented the Olive Browne Cup to Moate CS captain Zara Moran.
Sharon Behan, on behalf of Drumraney Camogie Club, who sponsored the Shield, presented it to Bower captain Aoibheann Flynn.
Thanks to Athlone GAA for the use of the grounds and to both Southern Gaels and Drumraney for organising this novel tournament which will now be run annually to encourage and promote camogie in both local schools and clubs. It is envisaged that the blitz will be expanded with more local post primary schools participating in this indigenous sport.