THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE ASSOCIATION Winter 2017

Featuring and Megan Thynne Interviews, All-Stars Tour and More!

@OfficialCamogieAssociation @OfficialCamogie officialcamogie officialcamogie Uachtarán Catherine Neary, Aoife Murray (), Rebecca Hennelly (Galway), Aisling Maher (Dublin) and Deirdre Ashe (Liberty Insurance) at the launch of the All-Stars Tour in Croke Park.

Welcome: Uachtarán an Cumann Camógaíochta Catherine Neary

THE CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION Croke Park, Dedication and Jones Road, Dublin 3. Tel: 01 865 8651 www.camogie.ie Hard Work Pay Off COPYRIGHT NOTICE No part of this publication may be used or reproduced without written permission Catherine Neary on a of the Camogie Association. If such permission is granted, the source must be acknowledged at time and place of use. revolutionary year for DISCLAIMER The Camogie Association does not accept the Camogie Association responsibility for, nor necessarily, agree with any of the views expressed, statements or claims made in any articles, news items, or advertisements published in or with this e have come to the end of what has wider family. This initiative publication. Wbeen a groundbreaking year for the has received very positive reaction and Camogie Association. There have been excitement and it is fantastic to see our CONTRIBUTORS many highlights both on and off the pitch players being provided with the opportunity Editor: Sarah Stanley that have strengthened the profile of our to assist us in further expanding our game Contributors: Daragh Ó Conchúir, Paul Aherne, Catherine Neary. games and generated much excitement in a foreign country and bring it to new throughout the year. audiences while highlighting the esteem in PHOTOGRAPHY which our players are held. INPHO The inclusion of an inaugural Liberty Insurance Camogie All-Stars Tour has I would like to thank Liberty Insurance for DESIGN been the topic of discussion among their sponsorship of the All-Stars Tour to KPW Print Management, Tel: 090 9642297 people all over the country and within the Madrid and for their continued support

2 • ON THE BALL • Winter 2017 of our Camogie Championships. Their support has helped us strengthen our relationship with our Camogie public which is vital to improving the standards we set for ourselves and our games.

This year we had our first ever National League sponsor in Littlewoods Ireland and on behalf of the Association I would like to offer my gratitude to them for their hard work and enthusiasm they have shown in their first year with us.

Our Division 1 League Final was part of a double-header with the National League Division 1 Final and once again showcased our game bringing it to an ever-increasing supporter base and television audience. As our partnership with Littlewoods Ireland continues to grow and strengthen in the coming years I look forward with confidence that our Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues will continue to break further sporting ground in 2018 and beyond.

FIXTURES: While the All-Stars Tour added much excitement to the end of the year we cannot forget about the exciting matches that took place throughout the Spring and Summer months. Back in April Kilkenny, Cork and Dublin claimed the Littlewoods Ireland Uachtarán Catherine Neary speaking at the Camogie Division 1, 2 and 3 league titles respectively, All-Stars in November. while Kilkenny, Limerick and Derry claimed Senior provincial honours. board officials to managers, selectors and to change and influence our playing rules is History was made when Rena Buckley of course our players. only possible every three years this makes and Cork were victorious in the Liberty the 2018 Congress unique as it facilities Insurance All-Ireland Senior Final. This LOOKING TO 2018: counties, clubs and educational Camogie victory ensured that Rena Buckley became bodies with the opportunity to ‘have their While the dust has only just settled on the most decorated player in Gaelic Games say’ on our playing rules and to propose the 2017 season we are already looking with 18 All-Ireland titles, having won changes that will benefit our games. her seventh All-Ireland Senior Camogie forward to what the next year brings for our Association. January 1st will herald in medal in 2017. Meath took home the Jack While the opportunity to change our a change in relation to the garda vetting McGrath Cup after an exciting replay in the playing rules will be an exciting time for the process. The new e-vetting system replaces Intermediate Championship final, while Congress agenda, Congress 2018 will also the paper vetting system and will make Westmeath were victorious in the Premier see our Uachtarán Tofa Kathleen Woods processing data easier. The new legislation Junior Championship final. take the reins and begin her term as the means every member of the Association President of the Association. I would like to who is contributing to our games will While only some counties claimed take this opportunity to wish Kathleen the have to be vetted and this is a positive honours, I would like to thank every county very best of luck and I know her experience step forward in ensuring the safety and team for their hard work and their level and commitment to our will wellbeing of all underage players. of professionalism throughout the year. contribute to making her term a success. Without your dedication, skills and talent CONGRESS: our games would not receive the increasing Again, I would like to thank everyone recognition that our game and our players Our National Camogie Congress will take involved with our sport for the successes deserve. That recognition is a testament place in Mount Juliet in Kilkenny on April this year has brought and I look forward to to the hard work being done behind the 4th and 5th where the playing rules will be seeing even more progression within our scenes by everyone from club and county one topic of discussion. As this opportunity sport in 2018 and beyond.

Winter 2017 • ON THE BALL • 3 at it. I’ll see. I won’t put myself under too which we won it, there was serious elation much pressure yet.” after it. There was a real high and even when She hails the Liberty Insurance Camogie we meet up now, it’s still there so we’ll have to All-Stars Tour as another sign of the progress get our heads down quickly as obviously the made in Camogie and women’s sport since turn of the year is coming. she first started lacing a boot. “It was such a great finish. It could have “People talk about the difference between gone either way and in sport, that’s what Aoife Lane (WGPA) Uachtarán Catherine women’s sport and men’s sport and for sure it’s all about. On another day it could have Neary and Deirdre Ashe (Liberty Insurance) present Rena Buckley with her Player’s Player the gap is getting smaller. I would be very gone Kilkenny’s way. Even the Semi-Final, on of the Year award happy with the direction women’s sport is another day, could have gone Galway’s way. going and this is another step forward for We had a bit of luck as well and you have to Camogie. enjoy those moments too.” “Obviously the main thing is for participation Even if she does call it a day with Cork, one levels to go up and I think they are going up so cannot imagine Rena Buckley finishing up at Lady in Red it’s positive news. club level for a long time yet. It will take time “Media coverage is certainly improving as well to wean herself off the drug of pushing herself RENA BUCKLEY ON THE BALL so I think we’re going in a good direction and to the edge, of being questioned, of having the first All-Stars tour is another layer. Having her back to the wall and finding an answer. Of By Daragh Ó Conchúir female sportspeople in the media really helps coming back from the brink to prevail. the participation of young girls. Anything that “I love playing first of all and I love being fit. generates media coverage and paints the sport But I suppose I would be quite competitive. I EING busy has always been Rena Buckley’s in a positive light can only be good.” like to do well at training. Bstatus, ever since it became obvious she The Masters is in the back pocket now. She did “And I really love Championship. I just love was gifted at both Camogie and ladies football. a thesis on injuries in intercounty Camogie. it. I enjoy the League games and all that but Once she established her own physiotherapy It is an area which has very little statistical I just really love the knockout games; there’s practice in however, and the phone information. something really special about them… I enjoy “It was only over a short period of time as I all the other aspects of it but the big games, I started hopping, the demands increased. was restricted because it was a small project, really love them, yeah. And then she resumed her studies, pursuing not a full year of research. It was 11 weeks “And it’s nothing to do with whether it’s a club a Masters in physiotherapy at UCD. and we followed three teams. The top three or intercounty game. It’s great to be involved One year of that, the commute by train to injuries were the thigh - mainly the hamstring in them and I think they’re very special.” Dublin every Friday, the projects, the reading, – the knee and the ankle. We didn’t have any Like the woman herself. convinced her something had to give. cruciate injury actually. So in 2017, with Inniscarra having won the “It was similar enough to what you’d be Cork County Camogie Championship, she expecting and similar to hurling. There were was rewarded with the captaincy of the less injuries in intercounty Camogie matches Rebel’s squad. That made Buckley’s decision compared to intercounty hurling matches and straightforward. I suppose that reflects that it’s not quite as It was a wrench but Buckley knew it had to be physical a game. done. The pay-off arrived as she received the “I suppose there was nothing hugely O’Duffy Cup last September from Camogie surprising but it was nice to get some Assoication President, Catherine Neary. figures on it. You’d like to get some She was subsequently named Camogie information published though it’s Association/WGPA Players’ Player of the not a complete work by any means. It Year and collected her fifth Liberty Insurance might encourage someone else to do a Camogie All-Star. That matched her collection bit more work on it.” of ladies football All-Stars. She never betrays the hint of being under She also became the most successful player pressure but combining everything in in Gaelic games history, moving clear at the the past few years must have been top of the list by garnering an 18th All-Ireland overwhelming at times. Senior medal. Up to that, she had held the “For sure, yeah. Particularly after a record with her great friend Briege Corkery, big win (like we had) with the football with whom she shared the Irish Sportswoman last year and the Camogie this year. of the Year award in 2015. She has been When you’re training and gearing nominated for the Sportsperson of the Year up for matches, your life is pretty honour by RTÉ this year. routine. It’s actually after a big win The 30-year-old has won All-Irelands at every that things go out of control a little grade with Cork from U16 upwards, in both bit! That’s when it can get a little bit codes. She also possesses two All-Ireland overwhelming. But I’ve great support Senior Club ladies football medals, thanks to here with family and friends and that’s Donoughmore. The only medal missing is the a huge help. I’d be lost without them equivalent in Camogie and she did play in a because I do have a little bit on my plate Final with Inniscarra in 2011. alright.” These are staggering numbers. They are a Being victorious against old rivals Kilkenny testament to remarkable ability for sure, but in the All-Ireland Final was sweet but also durability. To mental strength as well as standing up to be counted was what Buckley physical prowess. and co wanted more than anything else. We may have seen her in red for the last time “We were very disappointed after last year. however. Or not. Buckley has still to decide. Kilkenny are an excellent team and we were “I’m not 100 per cent sure” she admits. “We’ll really up against it so we were saying that as have a sit down over Christmas and think long as we performed, gave a good account of about that. If I play next year, that’s fine, but ourselves, we’d be thrilled. To win the game I’m certainly not gonna have many more years was fantastic and I suppose the manner in

4 • ON THE BALL • Winter 2017 Both teams after the exhibition match in Universidad Complutense Madrid, Spain

Liberty Insurance Camogie All-Stars

community in Madrid with the Irish their efforts, as well as recognition of their TOUR REVIEW Ambassador Síle Maguire hosting a reception status as some of the premier sportspeople in at the Irish Embassy, the first time any Gaelic the country. By Daragh Ó Conchúir games group had been received there. Meanwhile the Madrid Harps GAA Club URTHER history was made this year as assisted with the organisation of the trip and 2017 ALL-STARS SQUAD: Fthe inaugural Liberty Insurance Camogie the game. Aoife Murray (Cork), Tara Kenny (Galway), All-Stars Tour took place in Madrid from Catherine Foley (Kilkenny), Laura Treacy November 29th to December 3rd. Directly after arriving on Wednesday morning, (Cork), Gemma O’Connor (Cork), Máire the group were transported Liberty Insurance’s McGrath (Clare), Eimear O’Sullivan (Cork), Madrid headquarters, Liberty Seguros, before A party of 43 made the journey, including 28 Meighan Farrell (Kilkenny), Ashling Thompson giving staff a demonstration of Camogie at players from the 2017 and 2016 All-Stars, and (Cork), Chloe Morey (Clare), Katie Power Juan Carlos I Park. a smattering of nominees to cover players that (Kilkenny), Amy O’Connor (Cork), Ailish qualified for both sides. Also involved was O’Reilly (Galway), Aisling Maher (Dublin), This is very much in keeping with the policy Manager of the Year Paudie Murray and his Aoife Donohue (Galway) of the Camogie Association and Liberty predecessor Ann Downey, officials from the Insurance to support the growing international Manager: Paudie Murray (Cork) Camogie Association (headed by President Camogie contingent, and Madrid Harps Catherine Neary and CEO Joan O’Flynn) and are hoping to establish a Camogie team to Liberty Insurance, and members of the media. compete in future European Championships. The focal point of the Tour was the game 2016 ALL-STARS SQUAD: At its core however, the Tour represented between the 2017 Liberty Insurance All- another important step in providing equivalent Emma Kavanagh (Kilkenny), Sarah O’Connor Stars and the Liberty Seguros 2016 side on rewards and opportunities for Camogie players (Wexford), Sarah Dervan (Galway), Collette Thursday, November 30th. to those enjoyed by their male counterparts, Dormer (Kilkenny), Rebecca Hennelly while also helping in the creation of the (Galway), Anne Dalton (Kilkenny), Miriam Played on an all-weather surface at the XV game’s stars as role models and continuing Walsh (Kilkenny), Orla Cotter (Cork), Michaela Hortaleza Rugby Club, it proved a highly the growth of Camogie’s profile. Morkan (Offaly), Shelley Kehoe (Wexford), entertaining affair despite the chilly weather in Denise Gaule (Kilkenny), Niamh Mulcahy the Spanish capital. Liberty Insurance have proven proactive (Limerick), Kate Kelly (Wexford) partners of the Camogie Association in driving All the skills were on show in the 11-a-side Manager: Ann Downey (Kilkenny) this process, and this inaugural All-Stars Tour game with rolling subs, with Anne Dalton, provided an added reward to the players for Chloe Morey, Orla Cotter, Kate Kelly, Aoife Murray and Sarah Dervan just some of the standout performers. Bragging rights after the fast-paced 50-minute match went to the Downey-led class of 2016 by 10-13 to 7-8. The encounter was refereed by Owen Elliott, the Antrim whistler who took charge of this year’s Liberty Insurance Senior All-Ireland Championship Final in which Cork edged out Kilkenny thanks to a dramatic injury-time point by Julia White.

During the Tour, the group took the Ailish O’Reilly battles with Rebecca Hennelly Team captains Kate Kelly (2016 team) with Aoife opportunity to engage with the Irish during All-Stars exhibition match Murray (2017 team) with Referee Eoin Elliot.

Winter 2017 • ON THE BALL • 5 PRO of The Year Winner Shirley Moloney of Cork with Camogie President Catherine Neary and Moira Dunne The Life of a Public Relations Officer By Shirley Moloney (Cork Camogie PRO)

here is no denying that the role of To support this, I have received feedback through which their readers and listeners Tpromoting Camogie is a very busy from people tuning in from all around can be kept updated and informed with role, and one that reaches across a broad the world at various times who have been regard to Camogie. spectrum of contact outlets and one delighted to be able to keep up-to-date with which has a following that spans the the live match tweets that have happened Volunteers and volunteerism is the ages across both genders. It has been a as much as possible during the season. life blood of our organisation and the hugely enjoyable, interactive, challenging driving force behind all that happens in and responsible position of working to There are many aspects to the role of ‘Our Game’, from on the field to off the promote ‘Our Game’ of Camogie for the PRO and there has been no particular field, from playing to administrating and past two years as Public Relations Officer quiet time. The build up to the All-Ireland beyond. Furthermore, it is commitment, with Cork Camogie. Finals required a lot of interaction and sacrifice, dedication and passion that fuels information from team management and us to deliver with professional acumen Social Media has, and is fast becoming players, as well as, other board officers. On in an amateur domain. Therefore, I was the domain where interaction and the home front, compiling programmes delighted to be amongst a fantastic field promotion is instant and this has worked for all club games is also a busy task with of recipients when I received the Mick very effectively for me since taking on many links in the chain to get programmes Dunne Memorial Award in my first year as the role of PRO. With healthy followings to the gate for match day! PRO in 2016. on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as, a new website which launched The range of fan and the range of medium It was Marian McCarthy our County earlier this year the promotion of Camogie in which to reach our supporters is vast Treasurer whom I answered the phone to in Cork is growing rapidly through the and not exhaustive, hence the support I in early 2016 when she wanted to know outlet of Social Media. The analytics have received from the professional media if I’d be interested in the role - as I said on all Social Media accounts show that across the county has been fantastic. to her, ‘I only answered the phone out if used consistently and frequently the Over the course of the past two years I of curiosity’ to see what she wanted as interactions and interest will grow, and have forged some great relationships with I’d been out of Camogie for a year due hence provide a very positive outlet to various media outlets and they continue to having been overseas, but look where promote ‘Our Game’. to provide a hugely supportive platform curiosity got me!!

6 • ON THE BALL • Winter 2017 one meant so much more ‘cos I know how again in the replay at Silvermines but hard it is. It took us three years to get back chiselled out a deserved victory, proving whereas… we got there my first year. You too strong in the second half to win by 0-9 realise what you have to do to get up there to 0-5. now.” And it was similar with the Royals. They had Remarkably, Kilmessan never had their to come from behind to grab a draw against noses in front in the first game in Crettyard Cork, having never really gotten going in the Soaring Stars Winner Megan Thynne of Meath with and when Aoife Behan goaled in the 59th opening half especially. President of the Camogie Association Catherine Neary and Deirdre Ashe of Liberty Insurance minute, it looked like Clanmaurice would “Playing in Croke Park is a big thing… maybe prevail. The inclement weather conditions the occasion got to us a little bit. We were weren’t conducive to Thynne’s speed and slow out of the blocks again and it wasn’t Megan Thynne jinking runs but she made the big break to until the second half we got going. We made set up Aileen Donnelly for goal to make it a few positional changes, stayed with it, 1-4 apiece in injury time. played our own game and that got us there.” on The Ball “When they got the goal you’re kind of Thynne was in possession and unleashing a thinking they’re gonna do anything they can shot at the posts for a potential winner when By Daragh Ó Conchúir to stop us from getting up the pitch. You’re Liz Dempsey blew the final whistle and while so disappointed and then you’re thinking, that angered many supporters, the players ONE can imagine her shaking her head at it just was meant to be for them. But then and management never dwelt on it. the other end of the line. you hope and we never gave up. “We sat down after the drawn game and “At the start of the year I wouldn’t have even “It’s like every game we played this year. said if we had won, we would have kind dreamed of winning two All-Irelands” says We only beat Raharney in the Leinster by a of robbed it. Getting the draw gave us the Megan Thynne. “At the start of the year you point and that was from people not giving chance to show people how good we are. have goals and sometimes things don’t up. We assessed it, everyone put their hand up work out but this year, everything fell into “It’s about the panel of players for us. In to say they could have done this and that place.” the Leinster Final, County Final, we had better but those are the things you learn And how. Thynne was a critical component subs that made a difference. It changes from.” of both Meath’s and Kilmessan’s successes. things up when the other team aren’t Meath were magnificent in the replay at the That both arrived in replays only added to expecting it. The panel is so strong and I Gaelic Grounds and now Thynne is looking the drama. think that pushed us over the line. forward to testing herself against the elite Meanwhile, Thynne was player of the match “The first time we went to try and go up players in the land. Having had a taste of as Meath won the Leinster Intermediate to pitch, I was running with it and got that in Division 1 of the Littlewoods Ireland Ladies Football title, and narrowly missed stopped. Luckily it broke back again to me. Camogie League this year, she will relish the out on playing in the U21 All-Ireland decider When I looked up I only saw Clanmaurice real deal of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland with the big ball. players ahead of me. There were four or five Senior Championship. Such is the talent of the all-action dynamo of them. And she will do so as a marked woman, from Dunsany, who only turned 19 in “Then I saw Aileen. She’s unbelievable and having been selected on the first Soaring August. she was the right person in the right place Stars team. Winning an All-Ireland with the club brings a at the right time. I just spotted her off my “That’s another dream come true. I never glow like no other and Thynne had no issues shoulder and she did the rest.” would have thought I’d be sitting up there playing right into December for the privilege. They were made to work with the best players against some stiff “All these girls, we have all played together competition. It’s all about the team and for so long. But there are people playing winning as a team but these are personal when we were kids and now we’re playing bonuses and I couldn’t be more thankful.” with them. Most people think about The ’s workload can be onerous what it would be like to win a County at times but Thynne is known to show up for Championship. To win two All-Irelands with training sessions, even when she has been your club is a dream come true.” given the night off. So it is no surprise to She was just 16 when they annexed the hear that she has no intention of plumping crown for the first time in 2014 with victory for one code. over Four Roads of Roscommon. It was her debut season at adult level but she was completely unaware of that being any big deal. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to pick one Thynne scored 3-4 in her first ever game over the other. I love them so much. It’s and registered 1-2 in the All-Ireland. It nice in ways. You can go to Camogie one was almost easy. So much so that she night and it hasn’t gone well, you can go to didn’t really grasp the enormity of the Football the next night and it’s a fresh start. achievement. Going back and forth between the two is “I was probably a bit too naïve to even great.”Good news for all involved – except think how important it was. Definitely this the opposition.

Winter 2017 • ON THE BALL • 7 “Goal-Setting” Coaching the Mental Game

By Paul Aherne

Wexford’s Karen Atkinson is helped off the pitch after an injury

entally preparing yourself and your soft mucky field under lights as the rain preparing a team is goal-setting with the Mteam is becoming a key role of falls in January. focus of preparing them mentally for the any coach in Camogie. It is particularly season ahead. Effective goal-setting and relevant as one season finishes and This requires some soul-searching, planning can help guide your coaching another season another looms large on asking some fundamental questions of and enable your players to keep sight of the horizon with the fast-approaching yourself and the team. What do we want what they should focus on. We are all New Year. As a coach, you begin to to achieve? How do we want to achieve familiar with the concept of goal-setting dream of a successful season ahead, it? How will we know we are getting and probably use it in some form in our you can imagine that moment in late there? These basic questions should daily lives, however moving from the goal summer when your team puts together be a fundamental part of a team’s start of “winning the championship” to a more that perfect performance to finally win to the season. Mentally planning the focussed and controlled approach to the championship. But how do we move season ahead requires a focus, honesty goal-setting will help coaches and teams from hopes and dreams to the reality of and discipline to move from dreams to perform. training a squad of Camogie players in a reality. An underrated part of mentally

8 • ON THE BALL • Winter 2017 Goal-setting can help motivate as it Encourage players to create their own directs coaches and players effort and individual goals, these can include all energy to focus on the things that Performance Goals elements of the game such as: position, will contribute to performance. Goals skills, conditioning, behaviour, mental have been found to improve sporting WhatWhat standardsstandards do do you you want want to preparation. Emphasise that they should performance by up to a third. The attainto in attaina game in for a example: game? “win be within their reach, relevant and greatest effects found when goals were 60%For of example: your own “winpuckouts, 60% score of attainable. moderately difficult, were focused on more than 10 points from play, an outcome combined with elements yourconcede own less puckouts, than five frees score in Review every training session and of performance and were self-set by more thanscoring 10 zone”.points from match to ensure that it has been the players themselves. Goals enhance play, concede less than five focused on making progress towards performance by directing attention frees in scoring zone”. your performance and process goals. towards relevant actions, help elicit effort Exceptional players immerse themselves and commitment from players, boost in process goals, guiding their training. self-confidence, enhance team cohesion, Process Goals Use goals and progress to provide help players break large problems into constructive feedback to your team. smaller components and develop action TheseThese are are the the goals goals you focusyou Be creative to keep goals top of mind and plans. Goals help you sustain your focuson in everyon in training every trainingsession in focus for example: posters in dressing focus and have a sense of achievement which enable you to achieve room, customised wristbands. session which enable you to whilst, reminding players what they are your performance goals such striving for collectively (especially when achieveas: “practice your shooting performance in every Celebrate the attainment of goals, provide championship is a long time away). traininggoals session,such as: players “practice attend positive re-enforcement and feedback to Achievement of goals (no matter how 80%shooting of training in every sessions, training work players on their progress. small) has been shown to develop self- onsession, first touch players in every attend training confidence so realistic goal-setting can session, practice 30 puck-outs in Remember goals relate to performance 80% of training sessions, also improve the confidence of your every session” and progress not an individual’s self- players and team. work on first touch in every worth, not achieving a goal does not mean training session, practice 30 you are a failure, you just haven’t got So, what does effective goal-setting look puck-outs in every session” there yet. Using goals to develop a growth like? How should you approach this with mindset as highlighted in “Mindset” by your team? Carol Dweck will enable players to find Plan a training session with team focused success in learning and improving their on discussing and developing goals Camogie skills through continually seeking for the coming season. You should try to achieve their goals. Those who develop to facilitate and structure the session a growth mindset were found to thrive bearing in mind that it is better if the during challenging times and continually goals are developed by the players develop and progress. themselves, enabling them to take ownership of the goals and become more Write these goals down to re-enforce your You may not achieve an outcome goal committed to them. and the team’s commitment to working such as winning the championship, only on them. one team can do this, however making sustainable progress towards achieving Use these to plan your season’s training performance and process goals will enable Look to structure around specific “process and performance you to focus on building capability, skills, goals”, review progress in games with motivation and confidence in your players your goals performance goals and enable players to which can support their development as set their own individual goals for their own players over the long-term and enable them positively on three performance and development. to remain committed to Camogie in the long-term. The most successful players are sequential levels: Goals should be Specific, Measurable, known to be goal-setters, goal-setting is a Achievable, Relevant and Timebound, fundamental psychological skill that you using this SMART logic will ensure the can help your team and players to develop, goals you develop are meaningful. to maximise their potential. Outcome Goal Regularly review goals and progress BasedBased on the on result the orresult outcome or of towards attaining them, this will enable Paul Aherne a specificoutcome event of for a example: specific “win you to keep everyone focused and provide eventthe league, for example: reach championship “win the opportunity for review or modification Paul is a practising performance and league, reachsemi-final”. championship based on progress, ensuring they stay sports psychologist and can be contacted semi-final”. current and relevant. on [email protected] and p2yp.ie

Winter 2017 • ON THE BALL • 9 Camogie Statistics

150 ADULT MATCHES LEAGUE & CHAMPIONSHIP SENIOR STATS & FACTS OTHER STATS FOR 2017 STRONGEST ATTACK 74 ADULT LEAGUE MATCHES 76 ADULT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES 20,438 people attended Croke Galway 13-96 Park on All-Ireland Camogie Final Day – Breakdown: – Breakdown: (135 points; 6 Matches – 22.5 points per game) Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Finals • 28 Division 1 League Matches • 25 Senior Championship Matches - average audience of 276,800 • 33 Division 2 League Matches • 32 Intermediate Championship (216,400 in 2016,) Matches • 13 Division 3 League Matches STRONGEST DEFENCE • 19 Premier Junior Championship Over 650 attendees at our 2017 All- Matches Kilkenny 4-39 Stars Banquet (51 points; 5 Matches – 10.2 points per game) 8 League & Championship matches broadcast live on Television. MOST GOALS SCORED 4 live matches streamed 405 GOALS SCORED online exclusively. Over 410 News articles IN ADULT COMPETITION Galway 13 published on Camogie Website (as of 21st Nov) GOALS SCORED IN GOALS NUMBER OF LEAGUE 228 CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR 177 GOALS SCORED LEAST GOALS CONCEDED – Breakdown: – Breakdown: • Senior Championship: 68 Goals • Division 1 League: 51 Goals Cork 2 – 30% Championship Goals Scored – 29% • Intermediate Championship: • Division 2 League: 89 Goals 101 Goals – 44% Championship – 50% HIGHEST TEAM TOTAL SCORED Almost 4,500 tweets sent in 2017 Goals Scored • Division 3 League Matches: IN ONE MATCH • Premier Junior Championship: 37 Goals – 21% 2,208 new followers on Twitter 59 Goals – 26% Championship Goals Scored Galway 5-28 (43 points) 4,950 new likes on Facebook v Waterford in Group Stages

10 • ON THE BALL • Winter 2017 Camogie Statistics

150 ADULT MATCHES LEAGUE & CHAMPIONSHIP SENIOR STATS & FACTS OTHER STATS FOR 2017 STRONGEST ATTACK 74 ADULT LEAGUE MATCHES 76 ADULT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES 20,43820,718 people attended Croke Galway 13-96 Park on All-Ireland Camogie Final Day – Breakdown: – Breakdown: (135 points; 6 Matches – 22.5 points per game) Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Finals • 28 Division 1 League Matches • 25 Senior Championship Matches - average audience of 276,800 • 33 Division 2 League Matches • 32 Intermediate Championship (216,400 in 2016,) Matches • 13 Division 3 League Matches STRONGEST DEFENCE • 19 Premier Junior Championship Over 650 attendees at our 2017 All- Matches Kilkenny 4-39 Stars Banquet (51 points; 5 Matches – 10.2 points per game) 8 League & Championship matches broadcast live on Television. MOST GOALS SCORED 4 live matches streamed 405 GOALS SCORED online exclusively. Over 410 News articles IN ADULT COMPETITION Galway 13 published on Camogie Website (as of 21st Nov) GOALS SCORED IN GOALS NUMBER OF LEAGUE 228 CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR 177 GOALS SCORED LEAST GOALS CONCEDED – Breakdown: – Breakdown: • Senior Championship: 68 Goals • Division 1 League: 51 Goals Cork 2 – 30% Championship Goals Scored – 29% • Intermediate Championship: • Division 2 League: 89 Goals 101 Goals – 44% Championship – 50% HIGHEST TEAM TOTAL SCORED Almost 4,500 tweets sent in 2017 Goals Scored • Division 3 League Matches: IN ONE MATCH • Premier Junior Championship: 37 Goals – 21% 2,208 new followers on Twitter 59 Goals – 26% Championship Goals Scored Galway 5-28 (43 points) 4,950 new likes on Facebook v Waterford in Group Stages

Winter 2017 • ON THE BALL • 11 Clare’s Joanne Egan with Aisling Mangan of Limerick during the U14 Camogie National Blitz in Abbotstown, Dublin.

New Children First Legislation Commences he Children First Act will commence in shall be obliged to appoint a Designed now under Legislation obliged to have all Tfull on 11th December 2017. Liaison Person and to ensure that concerns coaches, mentors, volunteers and executives about underage players have been reported who have access to children vetted and have Once commenced all sectors and to the relevant statutory bodies as per their completed a child safeguarding workshop. organisations, including the GAA, have three reporting forms. This person also can report This will be the responsibility of the Club months in which to comply with all aspects consistent poor practise to the National Children’s Officer who must be appointed of the Act. Designated Liaison Person. Their job will be and details passed on to the County to advise as appropriate, club administrators Children’s Officer by February 1st 2018. We must continue to ensure that children on issues of confidentiality, record keeping who play Gaelic Games do so in a safe and and data protection. The Association shall The National Children’s Office shall publish enjoyable environment and that the adults, appoint a Mandated Person whose role an explanatory leaflet on the implications chosen to work alongside these children, shall be to ensure that allegations of abuse of The Children First Act within the GAA to are supported so that we maintain our high are reported as per the Act to the relevant coincide with the commencement of the Act standards on a daily basis. authorities and to assist in any investigations on 11th December 2017. As part of the Act Clubs and County Boards thereafter. Clubs and County Boards are

12 • ON THE BALL • Winter 2017 New E-Vetting System for Camogie Registration

-Vetting will be coming into place for submit online. The only change for the Ethe Camogie Association on January Children’s Officer is that they will verify E-vetting will allow mentors/coaches/ 1st 2018. All clubs should have an official the person’s identity by passport/driving referees/executives and volunteers to [email protected] email licence, bank statement etc. and once be vetted much quicker and easier than address which applications are going to be the person uploads their details online before and will allow each applicant to processed through. the secretary will receive a confirmation. track the progress of their application They must validate this request otherwise online through a unique tracking number Any club who does not have access the application will go no further. which they will receive by email, this is to this can contact us directly and we Each application has a 30-day window not to be confused with their cert number can organise the technical aspect of to be processed otherwise it will be which will be on the certificate issued revalidating or new set up of email automatically deleted. once the vetting process is complete. accounts. This process is currently underway for clubs that do not have an It is the National Vetting Bureau and new active account presently. data protection legislation that makes it a must that all official correspondence All information will be available on www. between the Association and the vetting camogie.ie with all the relevant forms bureau be done through the club which the applicant can fill out and secretary email accounts.

GAA Club Child Welfare & Safeguarding Audit National Camogie Response

he results of the first GAA Club and which will be the established minimum have attended their mandatory training TCounty Child Welfare & Safeguarding standard of compliance across the workshop while 85% of Clubs have Audit were launched at the Child Association both North and South, the appointed a Designed Liaison Person to Safeguarding Seminar on 11 November audit will have enabled us to identify date. An interesting observation from the 2017. More than 100 delegates from any gaps in our services that can be audit is that 37% of Clubs indicated that each of the 32 Counties of Ireland addressed in 2018. The Camogie they do not have a website. and from Britain heard how the audit Association and Ladies enabled us to gauge how the GAA Child Associations also participated in the In total 14% of respondents identified as Safeguarding agenda has progressed audit and their individual responses only Camogie Clubs with a further 34% in recent years and how compliant our can be accessed by contacting each of respondents as One Club Models. Of Clubs and Counties were with our Codes Association. the responses Only 1% of clubs indicated and with statutory requirements. they had no Children’s Officer but since Of immediate interest following the audit the survey they have appointed a person In advance of the introduction of the is that 99% of all GAA Clubs have a Club to the position. Children First Act in December 2017, Children’s Officer in place of which 79%

Winter 2017 • ON THE BALL • 13 BEHIND THE HURLEY Canning Hurleys By Sarah Stanley

he name “Canning” is a familiar name In 2010 the family decided to start their person will cut out the wood and mark it Tto every person involved in Gaelic own business, handmaking hurleys to suit while another person will router, spoke Games. We have been lucky to witness every person’s needs. The workshop is out shave and polish the wood. Every hurley is some of the best hurlers to grace the sport the back of the family home which is fitting given the attention to detail it deserves. with that second name. While the men of as the home is where the love and passion the family have been winning All-Ireland for the game began many years ago. To Due to the quality of the Canning Hurleys, titles, there is also Camogie All-Ireland reiterate, every single hurley is handmade. attention has come their way from all over honours within the family set up. It is a unique and talented business that is the world. In the beginning the hurleys were rare to see nowadays where big machinery is distributed to individuals, clubs and sports A niece to Joe and Ollie, Teegan claimed readily available to other hurley makers. retailers who wanted to sell the hurleys. the All-Ireland U16 title for Galway this year Now, they have established a niche in the and her role was vital to the success of the When you Google “Canning’s Hurleys” it is foreign market with supplies being exported team as she influenced matches from the no surprise that one of the related searches to the UK, Canada and the United States. middle of the park. It had been the first time are “best hurleys”. They use the highest in Galway’s Camogie or hurling history that quality Ash timber for their work which is Quality on the pitch, quality work off the a team at any age had completed the three- why the quality is of such a high standard. pitch! in-a-row. Yet more history for the Canning family to be a part of. Every hurley is weighed, examined, balanced Sources: and quality checked before it makes its way Therefore, it should be no surprise that to the hands of its rightful owner. So, what is Canning Hurleys. Link: http://www. the family exploits off the field are just the process to making one? canninghurleys.ie/ as successful as their performances on it. Behind every male and female player It starts with a simple plank of wood. The Hurling to the Core, YouTube. Link: https:// is a piece of wood that dictates their plank is then cut with the bandsaw, routered, www.youtube.com/watch?v=S10OzpFUC9c level of success within the sport ... the spoke shaven and then sanded down to hurley. Behind every hurley is a wealth finish. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? It certainly is RTE at the Ploughing, The Cannings, of experience and craft, the very traits anything but easy. The different processing YouTube. Link: https://www.youtube.com/ that can be used to describe the Canning parts are done by different staff to cater for watch?v=thrdF_ZQTVY athletes. their various skill sets. For example, one

14 • ON THE BALL • Winter 2017 To our players, coaches, managers, officers, supporters, sponsors, volunteers and everyone who has made 2017 a great year in Camogie we would like to say

Thank You For Your Support

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Camogie Association!

Need a good Christmas Present idea?

How about a 2018 Camogie Season Ticket!

Gain entry to every All-Ireland Camogie Championship (Premier Junior, Intermediate & Senior) fixture, including the All-Ireland Finals! Now only Contact your local County Board for more information or visit tickets.ie to buy your ticket now. €50 LITTLEWOODS IRELAND Division 1, 2 & 3 Fixtures

JANUARY 14th: 1st Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 League 21st: 2nd Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 League

FEBRUARY 4th: 3RD Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 League 18th: 4th Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 League 18th: 1st Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League 25th: 5th Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 League 25th: 2nd Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League 25th: 1st Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 3 League

MARCH 4th: 3rd Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League 11th: Semi-Finals of Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 League 11th: 4th Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League 11th: 2nd Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 3 League 18th: 5th Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League 18th: 3rd Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 3 League 24th: Final of Littlewoods Ireland Division 1 League 25th: 6th Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League 25th: 4th Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 3 League

APRIL 1st: 7th Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League 1st: 5th Round of Littlewoods Ireland Division 3 League 8th: Playoff / Semi Finals of Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League 8th: Playoff / Semi Finals of Littlewoods Ireland Division 3 League 15th: Final of Littlewoods Ireland Division 2 League Final 15th: Final of Littlewoods Ireland Division 3 League Final