The Camogie Gathering “Lets Play Ball & Have a Ball” threw in on Thursday, July 25th in Na Fianna CLG with a welcome reception for all travelling and home based teams as well as invited guests. "Lets Play Ball & Have a Ball" was organised in conjunction with Dublin Camogie Board and was a three day event to celebrate the Gathering 2013.
Toronto Camogie Club, Croydon Camogie Club, Tara Camogie Club, Fullen Gaels, Manchester and a North American representative team, made up of players from Seattle and Washington DC joined Dublin Camogie Clubs, Na Fianna, Ballyboden St. Endas, St. Vincent's, Trinity Gaels and St. Brigid's for a three day festival of camogie, taking place in Na Fianna CLG and Croke Park Stadium.
On Friday, a full itinerary of games, skills sessions and tours was lined up. Visiting Clubs took part in a wall ball and skills session on Friday morning in Na Fianna, while in the afternoon they went on a tour of Croke Park Museum.
One of the undoubted highlights of the weekend for visiting and Dublin club players and spectators alike was the Camogie tournament on Friday night from 5.00pm to 8.00pm in Croke Park Stadium. Despite the torrential rain, thunder and lightning, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of all participating who took to the field with great gusto.
On Saturday morning, it was back to Na Fianna once again, as the players got ready for an International Camogie tournament from 10.30am to 5.00pm with teams vying for the specially commissioned International Camogie Gathering Cup & Shield. Both items were sponsored by MMI.ie, official All Ireland medal suppliers of the Camogie Association. Tara Camogie Club won the Cup Final after a titanic tussle with rivals Croydon while Fullen Gaels collected the Shield, defeating Toronto Camogie Club. The event concluded with a farewell buffet dinner for players and guests.
The Camogie Association Gathering “Lets Play Ball & Have a Ball” was supported by Dublin City Council, The Gathering Ireland, O’Neills, GAA, Croke Park Stadium, Croke Park Museum, MMI.ie and Na Fianna GAA and Camogie Club and the Regency Hotel, Dublin.
Participating teams were: Toronto, North America Representative Team, Fullen Gaels, Manchester, Croydon CC, London. Tara Camogie Club, Dublin Camogie Club Teams: Na Fianna, St Brigids, Trinity Gaels, Ballyboden St Endas, St.Vincents
* Pictured are participating teams in Croke Park on Friday night
The weekend schedule for "Lets Play Ball & Have a Ball" was as follows:
Thursday July 25th
Na Fianna CLG Welcome Reception
Friday July 26th Croke Park
5.00pm Toronto v Tara
5.15pm Fullen Gaels v Croydon
5.30pm Croydon v Tara
5.45pm Toronto v Fullen Gaels
6pm Toronto v Croydon
6.15pm Tara v Fullen Gaels
6.30pm Na Fianna v St. Vincents
6.45pm St.Brigids v Trinity Gaels
7pm St.Vincents v Ballyboden
7.15pm Na Fianna v Trinity Gaels
7.30pm Ballyboden v St. Brigids
Saturday July 27th Na Fianna
Pitch 1 Pitch 2
11am Toronto v Ballyboden Croydon 1 v St. Brigids
11.30am Croydon 2 v Na Fianna Tara v Trinity Gaels
12pm Fullen Gaels v St.Vincents Croydon 1 v Trinity Gaels
12.30pm Toronto v Na Fianna Tara v St. Brigids
1pm Croydon 2 v St.Vincents Fullen Gaels v Ballyboden
1.30pm
Gathering Shield Final
2.30pm Team A v Team B
Gathering Cup Final
3.30pm Team A v Team B
5.00pm Farewell Buffet
