I’m already really looking forward to Féile next year
THE excitement began on Wednesday, June 14, when we realised after coming home from our school tour that the same evening the Carnew under-14s would be collecting their Féile gear at the GAA grounds.
We were also told the names of the players from Dromin/ Athlacca/Banogue (Co. Limerick) that we would be hosting for the weekend.
It was great to see the preparation that was being done in the clubhouse and on the pitches themselves which added to the excitement.
On the morning of the 16th we were all relieved to get the day off school to prepare for the trip to Taghmon, to which we all travelled together on the bus.
We got a great welcome from the Taghmon club with a complimentary fruit basket in our dressing room.
We took to the pitch at 5pm to play Mountrath of Laois. We were well in the match for the first 15 minutes but our opponents were too strong for us in the second half.
After a short rest we took on the home club Taghmon-Camross.
They got off to a great start with some excellent scores from frees and open play; all in all they were just better all round.
We went into the clubhouse for some refreshments and got to meet the lads from limerick that were going to travel back on the bus with us to Carnew. We had right banter getting to know the lads on the journey home.
When we arrived home we paraded up the town with all the lads and the camogie girls and the club they were hosting.
The Kilrush Camogie Club joined in as well. We were paired off with our visiting players and we all went home for a good night’s sleep.
On Saturday morning at 10.30am we played against the Limerick team that we were hosting.
They were unbelievably skilful on and off the ball.
Carnew tried hard but once again came up short. This put us in the Shield quarter-finals in St John’s Park Kilkenny later that day.
Limerick had qualified for the cup quarter finals which were in the same venue so we all travelled together once again on the bus.
We played West Cavan Geals and this was our best performance in the competition with every player leaving everything on the pitch, with a few mishaps during the game we left the advantage with our opponents and were narrowly beaten.
We then stayed on to support our guests who played a great game of hurling to reach the semi-final.
When we returned home after a quick shower we all headed to Kenny’s barn were the club had organised a barbeque and a disco with a few presentations also being held.
We had great craic with the camogie girls from Carnew and Donegal.
After the disco we were all shattered so we headed home for another good night’s rest.
Early the next morning, we brought the Limerick lads up to their bus in Carnew, we said our goodbyes and wished them luck in their semi-finals against local rivals Hospital in what was sure to be a very rough and very tough match in Kilkenny.
Unfortunately, the lads were on the wrong end of the score board losing by just a single point.
I would like to think that over the weekend all the squad made many friends and I would recommend that any lad or girl in Carnew should get involved in hurling as the Féile weekend is a great experience, and I’m already really looking forward to the Féile next year.
I’d like to thank all our parents and all the GAA and camogie committee who helped make the weekend as good as it was.