Coillte Development Squads Day Out in Croke Park

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While thousands descended on Dublin city on Bank holiday Monday to participate in the Dublin City Marathon, camogie players from around the country made their way to the æTheatre of Dreams’ that is Croke Park to participate in what may be an once in a life time opportunity to play on the hallowed turf. The girls that attended represented eight different counties including Armagh, Limerick, Cork, Kilkenny, Donegal, Wicklow, Mayo and Kildare. Prior to this day, each of the eight counties ran a six week development squad programme for a squad of 30 under 14 players in their respective counties.

Teams arrived early on Monday and started the day with an address from the President of Cumann Cam¾gaÝochta na nGael Joan O Flynn. Mary O Connor, Director of Camogie development then spoke to the players and emphasised to all that the day in Croke Park should be cherished and it is not about winning but participating and most of all about having fun. All teams then paraded onto the field in lines behind a lone piper whose sole aim was to recreate the excitement that players feel on All-Ireland Day parading behind the band onto Croke Park.

Many parents took the advantage of the bank holiday to come see their daughters play and this crowd created a wonderful atmosphere of excitement as the girls paraded onto the field.  All players then proudly faced the flag and stood to attention for the National Anthem. The day then for each county consisted of a combination of playing on Croke Park, a Museum Tour, indoor wall ball session and talks from inter county players that focused on how to reach your potential and the effects of nutrition on playing performance.

Thanks to Caitriona O Connor Tipperary and Niamh Cagney Limerick who refereed the games for the day. Both ladies completed Cumann Cam¾gaÝochta na nGael Green Card Course organised for second level students who would like to referee the game.

The day came to a conclusion with each of the girls receiving a medal presented to them in the Hogan Stand by the president of Cumann Cam¾gaÝochta na nGael Joan O Flynn with the assistance of the Coillte representative Tom Byrne, whose sponsorship is greatly appreciated for this programme. Each team received hurleys, sliotars, cones and fleeces for their squads participation in the programme.

All the girls then got on their buses to make the trip home and although many had very long journeys ahead of them, it didn’t seem so daunting when they realised how lucky they were to be chosen to play on this very special day for Camogie in Croke Park.

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