Camogie gets ready for All Ireland Club Finals

Camogie club finals set for centre stage after historic break

The All Ireland Club Camogie Finals return to Croke Park after a break of almost forty years and President Joan O’Flynn is urging camogie fans to get behind the event and mark the historic occasion.

The double header fixture takes place on March 6th with Eoghan Rua of Derry meeting The Harps of Laois in the Intermediate Final at 1.00pm while Cork champions Inniscarra face Killimor of Galway in the senior encounter at 3.00pm.This year also marks the Inaugural Year of the Intermediate championship.

The last All Ireland Senior Camogie Club Final to take place in GAA HQ was in 1973 with Dublin side Austin Stacks picking up their second consecutive title. The senior finals were played in various venues nationwide in the intervening years.

Speaking at this afternoon’s Club Finals Photocall President Joan O’Flynn said it was vital that camogie fans nationwide voted with their feet and travelled to support.

“”March 6th marks another fantastic day in the camogie calendar. Following on from our triple header championship finals in September of last year, the opportunity is now with four further teams to play in this fantastic stadium.

Clubs are the backbone of the Association and play a thriving part in communities all across Ireland. March 6th will bring together families and communities to support their camogie club side. There is a strong pride and interest in the players’ achievement in representing their clubs and county on our finest stage in Croke Park. It is important that all of the community shows that support by travelling to cheer on the teams.

In 2010 more people than ever before watched Camogie. We want to build on that in 2011. We want Gaelic games followers in each county to get behind the clubs involved and bring as much support as possible to Croke Park for this double header fixture. We also urge camogie fans nationwide to make the journey and see four top class club sides, complete with a host of excellent sporting talent, in action.””

President O’Flynn also highlighted the Association’s competitive ticket pricing:

“”Ticket prices are competitive with fantastic individual, student and group rates available. Their value is further underlined by the quality of the venue for this event. As an Association we are always conscious of the costs to people of attending camogie fixtures and we have taken this into account – even more so in our current economic climate.””

In addition, to the match action a novelty æCamßn and Run’ relay race for post primary schools will take place during the half time intervals. Post primary schools have been invited to submit entries to participate in a Junior and Senior solo relay and handpass race.

The club finals will be preceded by the Inaugural Legends Tournament on Saturday afternoon, March 5th at St Judes GAA Club, Dublin.

Past camogie legends, including Galway’s Sharon Glynn and the Downey sisters, Ann and Angela will line out for their counties in a seven a side tournament at the Dublin venue.

Participating counties include Galway, Cork, Kilkenny, Clare, Tipperary, Antrim and Derry.

ENDS

Notes to the editor:

ò Photographs from this afternoon’s photocall are available from Sportsfile at www.sportsfile.com

ò Eimear Haverty, (Killimor), Karen Jones, (Inniscarra), Elaine Cuddy, (The Harps) and MÚabh McGoldrick, (Eoghan Rua) represented their clubs at the 2011 Club Finals Captains Day Photocall.

ò Tickets for the All Ireland Camogie Club Finals can be purchased in advance via GAA Ticket Office by logging on to www.gaa.ie

ò Ticket prices are Adult €15; Students/OAPS €10; Juveniles €5; Group Prices of 10 juvenile tickets €50 and two adults free.

ò The All Ireland Senior Cup is called the Bill Carroll Cup and the Intermediate Cup is named in honour of Agnes O’Farrelly.

ò Cashel are the 2009 All Ireland Club Champions.

ò The Inaugural Legends tournament will take place at St Jude’s GAA Club, Templeogue. For further details on the event check out www.camogie.ie

ò For full details on æCamßn and Run’ check out www.camogie.ie to download an entry form

*Photographs from today’s event are available to view on the Camogie Facebook at facebook.com

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