AIB All Ireland Intermediate Camogie Club Championship Semi-Final: Clonduff (Down) v Piltown (Kilkenny)

Clonduff Camogs did it the hard way in 2014; they met Ballycran in the preliminary round of the Down Championship – the Ards team were 2012 County and Ulster champions and favourites for the game but Clonduff played their best Camogie that day in Downpatrick and progressed to the semi-final against reigning County and Ulster holders Liatroim.  Neither Liatroim nor Clonduff performed to their best, in a windswept Kilcoo, that day but Clonduff scraped through to reach their fifth County final, against Portaferry. Again Clonduff did just enough to win without dominating the game, and Captain Ursula Quinn claimed the Club’s fourth senior title to the overwhelming joy, mixed with relief of their many supporters.

In the Ulster Final Clonduff were up against old foes Eglish. Clonduff and Eglish had met on many occasions in the past and both teams were very aware of each other’s strengths; Eglish had led the way in Tyrone and Ulster for many years and their participation in the Derry league in recent years was beneficial so Clonduff went into the game knowing that had to play their best Camogie to claim their first Ulster Title. The team that lined out in October was a mixture of very experienced players along with a healthy number of young players currently still playing minor Camogie.  Clonduff had seven All Ireland winners in their ranks as Fionnuala Carr, Karen Haughey, Sara Louise Carr, Lisa McPolin, Paula Gribben, Nicola O’Hagan and Clare McGilligan had picked up Premier Junior All Irelands in Sept just the weekend previous to the Ulster Final.  The final itself was played in atrocious weather conditions in Granemore with the wind playing a major part in the outcome of the game which ended in a draw.  The replay was set for the following weekend, this time in windy but favourable conditions in Pearse Ógs ground, Armagh City.  It was a tough but fair encounter, showcasing all that is good about Camogie and from a neutral point of view it was unfortunate there had to be a loser; Eglish had been in the last two Ulster Finals losing narrowly to both Ballycran and Liatroim and no doubt they hoped ‘third time lucky’.  But it was Clonduff’s third attempt also and by sheer guts and determination they held out to claim their first Ulster title and the first Ulster title to come to the Parish of Clonduff.

Clonduff Players having represented their Club, County, Schools and Universities with many gaining honours at National Level, now face the biggest game of their lives on Sunday 1 ^st February when they play Piltown Camogie Club, Kilkenny in Clane GAC, Co Kildare in the All Ireland Intermediate Club semi-final at 2.30pm.

Every successful team needs a dedicated and passionate Management team and this year Clonduff Seniors have Robert Wilson and Eileen Hamill at the helm. Both individuals are Clonduff born and bred; Robert having played football and hurling for Clonduff at every level and Eileen a former player with both Club and County (winning an All Ireland Junior title in 1976) and now a committee member with both club and county.

Let’s hope the successes of 2014 can continue into 2015 for the Camogs of Clonduff; may they race with strength, courage and endurance and fulfil their undoubted potential in these edited words of ‘A Camog’s Prayer’…………

”May their aims be steady, their strokes be true, their actions brave and their misses few”.