'Co-operation between camogie and hurling is key'

GAA

Kevin Óg Carney

“There has to be a holistic approach taken towards the development of Gaelic games if all our sports are to grow and get stronger in unison.”

Michelle Smith is the current Chairperson of Cavan Camogie Board and a passionate evangelist for her chosen sport. She is delighted with the degree of progress the small ball game has made in the Breffni county in recent years.

And as outdoor sports sits on the grid, waits for the amber light to change to green and prepares to go up through the gears in the sort of turbo charged fashion that only a year’s pent-up fuel can deliver, the public face of camogie in Cavan is keen to sit around a table with her fellow gaels and discuss how best they can all make the chequered flag in pole position.

Like the famed French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte who was noted for engaging in negotiations from a position of strength, the aforementioned Smith believes that there’s no better time than now for those of a camogie bent to state their case on how the future might look if the ‘together we are stronger’ adage is taken to heart by the powers that be in local and not-so-local circles.

To say that camogie in Cavan is riding on the crest of a wave would be stretching it but those flying the flag for the county at club, schools and county levels have bagged significant pieces of silverware over the last few years. Indeed, Crosserlough (club), Loreto College Cavan and St. Aidan’s Comprehensive Cootehill (schools) and Cavan county seniors all tasting provincial glory at various levels.

And with unprecedented numbers manning county panels,  there’s a degree of momentum and pride currently underpinning the efforts of camógs in Cavan right now which is heartening.

Such solid foundations need to be built upon though, the aforementioned Smith argues, and she believes evolution, rather than revolution, could be the key word for camogs and their sisters and brothers-in-arms going forward.

“I would love to see a greater connect, for instance, between the camogie and hurling fraternities in the county,” Smith says.

“Silverware has come to the county as regards camogie over the last few years but we’re still losing out to other sports and, compared to thirty years or so ago, the number of camogie clubs we have now is less than half of what we had.

“Hurling has a decent profile at senior county level but I know that at underage level it is struggling so I think having a measure of co-operation between the camogie and hurling people in the county could address the situation and maybe come up with some ideas to make things better for both sports in the future. Even a greater degree of co-operation with ladies football, mens football and rounders would go a long way towards strengthening the Gaelic games’ family in Cavan.”

Smith is passionate about the sport she gained so much satisfaction from playing back in the day and she believes that those passionate about hurling in Cavan must surely also closely identify with the Irish saying “Ní neart go cur le chéile” - “there’s no strength without unity”.

The camogie chief believes that a twin promotional push by the camogie and hurling people in Cavan – aided and abetted by Cavan GAA County Board – is badly needed if recent progress on the field of play at senior level in both spheres is to be consolidated. She says coaching youngsters of both sexes in the basics of camogie and hurling across the school system and recruiting additional coaches ought to be within the realms of possibility.

“My initial thoughts on joining forces with those keen on promoting hurling would be that we would try and work harder at grass roots level; at the club, at the local primary and secondary schools and from there players would develop who would take their places on their local senior camogie and hurling teams,” Smith explains.

“I’d love to see a combined approach whereby Cavan GAA hurling coaches would go into the clubs and schools and coach hurling but camogie as well. "From a camogie perspective,  I’m certain there’d be enough volunteers on hand to help in the coaching provided in the clubs and schools by the Cavan GAA coach.

“I genuinely think success can be best achieved for all Gaelic sports, including ladies football and rounders, if there’s a pooling of our resources and if everyone co-operates for the betterment of the players."

To make any plans for the development of camogie and hurling at grass roots level sustainable, Smith is convinced that meaningful and consistent competition needs to be generated and if that means involving other parties outside of the county, well then so be it.

An admirer of the Táin Óg hurling competition which was established by the GAA nationally three years ago and which had as its bedrock the playing of various rounds of games by clubs from neighbouring counties, Smith says having camogs take part in such an arrangement would be a big boon.

“I think the Táin Óg league is a good idea and I could imagine our under 13 girls benefiting greatly if they were allowed to compete on teams alongside boys  of their own age.

"Alternatively, some other regional competition could be established from teams made up of boys and girls from, for instance, clubs in Monaghan and Louth.

“Having seen how much our clubs benefited three years ago from playing in the Meath camogie league, I would be confident that playing against opposition from other counties would help raise the standard of camogie in Cavan and increase interest too among the players.

“In my opinion, hurling and camogie development officers on a provincial and national level should be looking to promote regional competitions for underage players because with more teams and more players to work with, you could only imagine a brighter future would be the outcome.”

With the memory of the momentous 2020 Nancy Murray Cup triumph still freshl in her mind, the Chairperson of Cavan Camogie is hopeful that more silverware can be attained by the standard bearers of the game in the Breffni county.

“We got back playing adult camogie at intercounty level in 2019 for the first time in 20 years and last year’s all-Ireland success just showed what can be done with hard work and having the right structures in place.

“As far as camogie goes, we are a developing county. I would say the same goes for hurling in Cavan and so it makes sense that we get a system of coach education going in the county that would be mutually beneficial.

“There’s a wealth of coaching experience in camogie circles in Cavan and, combined with those working away with the hurling, I think we could really increase the amount of coaching that is currently going on in the schools and clubs, especially with assistance from Cavan GAA County Board which, I have to say has been very receptive to any request camogie has made of them.”