January 18th ‘11
“Passion in our game” were the words that Ulster Chairperson, Catherine O’Hara used to describe the winning of the All Ireland Junior B Championship when she presented medals to the Monaghan County Camogie Team at a presentation function held in the Westenra hotel on Saturday evening last.
Geraldine Clarke, Chairperson of the Monaghan Camogie Board welcomed the winning team together with their trainer Paul Ward and special guests which included, Ulster Chairperson and Vice President of the Camogie Association, Catherine O’Hara and her friend Margaret Mc Killop, Noel Mulanny representing Monaghan G.A.A. and his wife Teresa, Emmet Flannagan co ordinator of Cloghan and his wife Catherine as well as the large camogie fraternity who were in attendance.
Geraldine spoke of the honour that these girls bestowed on our County back in August 22nd last when in the replay Monaghan defeated Cavan and brought the Maire Ni Chinneide Cup to our County. This she said was not achieved overnight but was down to” blood sweat and tears” over several months of training and commitment under the guidance of Paul Ward. She continued that Paul had come on Board at the start of the year when moral was low among the team and managed to instil a sense of belief in the girls themselves.
The Cathaoirleach then introduced Catherine O’Hara, Ulster Chairperson and wished her every success in her bid to become President Elect at Camogie Congress which takes place in Belfast next March. Catherine began by telling the audience how her roots were in South Monaghan and that” camogie was her life”. When commenting on the final she told of her immense enjoyment of both the drawn game and replay in Ashbourne and how they had kept everyone on the edge of their seats to the final whistle, but that it was “sheer passion in their game and their jersey” that got Monaghan over the final hurdle and that they should “ thank their clubs and mentors who had nurtured them to this stage of camogie”
Catherine went on to say how the young camogs would now look up to these girls who had put Monaghan on the map that they in turn had the responsibility of passing on the passion for the game. Catherine then presented the Captain Eileen Mc. Elroy and her team with the Maire Ni Chinneide Cup and medals.
Geraldine proceeded to call Roisin Mc. Kenna, Castleblayney and Isobel Kieran, Inniskeen who had represented Ireland on the winning Shinty/Camogie International team defeating Scotland in Ratoath last November also Shauna Finnegan on receiving the accolade of” Player of the Year” and Liz Mc. Connon, Inniskeen who was winner of the County Poc Fada , who were all presented with trophies by Catherine O’Hara.
The County Board made a special presentation to Geraldine Clarke and Paul Ward , trainer and Manager in appreciation for their dedication and commitment to the County, both Geraldine and Paul and the team also received a framed photograph of the County Team.
Presentations were then made to the Clontibret team by the Ulster Chairperson on winning the O’Rourke Oil Championship, to Castleblayney on winning the Blitz and Inniskeen the All County League.
In concluding Geraldine Clarke presented Catherine O’Hara with a gift in appreciation of her visit to Monaghan and thanked Frank and Margaret and staff of the Westenra Hotel for the beautiful meal.
On a more serious note the Monaghan Camogie Board wish to express their sincere condolences with the Harte and Mc. Areavey families on the sad loss of Michaela in such tragic circumstances. Ar Dheis De go raibh a hanam uasal.
By michael Tue 18th Jan
