‘82 SUCCESS IS STILL REMEMBERED FONDLY
In the first instalment of a two-part special, Ben Tumulty reflects on a golden era for Louth and Kilkerley camogie
REFLECTING on his record-breaking career, the basketball superstar Micheal Jordan once noted that, in sport, ‘talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships’.
The same could be said for Kilkerley Camogie Club. They mightn’t have reached the same heights of fame and stardom as Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, but for many years, they were held in great esteem by the locals of Kilkerley, a pride which would eventually be shared by the whole of the Wee County.
Throughout the late seventies and early eighties, Louth’s ladies stormed through gruelling Leinster camogie leagues under their manager, the late Peter Hoey. With every passing year they edged infuriatingly closer to victory at the Junior All-Ireland finals. Falling short of such a momentous achievement was a frustrating experience for the ladies, but also for Hoey, whose reign as manager is one that is looked back on with admiration and awe.
For Collette Tumulty (née Lennon), a former Louth camogie player, now a mother and grandmother, the road to Louth’s eventual win at Croke Park in 1982 was an exciting one. However, her love of camogie grew from a very young age.
‘Camogie has always played an important role in my life,’ Collette explains. ‘I grew up surrounded by the sport. I learned from my mother, who played with my aunt.’ In later years, as Collette juggled raising a family with her enthusiasm for camogie, her mother, the late Madge Lennon, played an instrumental role in the team’s success. As well as becoming a chairwoman for Kilkerley’s fledgling club, Madge helped to coach Louth in the run-up to their historic All-Ireland clash. Alongside Peter Hoey, fondly nicknamed ‘Mr. Camogie’, the pair used their long-held passion for camogie to elevate the team to great success.
Collette looks back on this time fondly. ‘I remember myself and my daughter Cathriona playing together for a match, alongside my own mother Madge,’ she smiles. ‘Three generations playing together in the one game!’ Madge and Cathriona weren’t the only members of the family involved in camogie. Teresa, Collette’s sister, also played an important part in the team’s many triumphs. ‘Kilkerley won over thirty club championships,’ Teresa recalls. ‘People feared our team!’
The road to Croke Park began in June 1982, in the Lenister Championship. Louth got off to a fantastic start in Castlebellingham, facing off against Laois and winning comfortably. However, the ladies knew that their next outing wouldn’t be so straightforward.
The Lenister Championship quarter-final saw Peter Hoey’s team face off against Wicklow, in a tense match which took place at Annacurra. Kilkerley’s six-strong squad had merged with seven players from St. Anne’s of Togher, with the rest being made up of Knockbridge’s St. Bride’s. The final line-up included Mary Connor, Kitty Sharkey and Una Wynne, to name but a few. Their performance was strong and sturdy throughout the game, recording a 3-2 to 1-2 win. Kitty Sharkey was commended for her star performance, whilst Imelda Matthews scored two goals and Noeleen Maguire 1-2.
Louth’s next contest, the Leinster semi-final, took place at Dromiskin in mid-July. Louth excelled in this game, paving the way for a worthy victory. The scores came from Noeleen Maguire (2-2), Kitty Sharkey (1-2) and Anne Currid (0-3).
Collette recalls the next match as a nail-biting game. ‘The day of the Leinster Final was amazing, but we were all so nervous,’ she remembers.
A week after the game at Dromiskin, a jubilant Louth team headed for the final at Cappagh to face Kildare, a strong side with a good reputation as the then title-holders. The mood was fearful, but the feeling in camogie circles was that Louth had a good chance of winning at least a Leinster title, given that the team was on a roll.
Under the watchful eyes of manager Peter Hoey and coach Madge Lennon, Louth was forced to start the match without the services of Connie Creehan. Cathriona Tumulty, Teresa Bates, Vivienne Kelly and Ann Harrington were on duty, amongst many other strong Louth players.
It wasn’t looking good for the Louth ladies as Kildare dominated the first half, surging ahead of their opposition with a strong lead. It was not looking good for the Wee County, but a number of dramatic changes from Peter Hoey saw Teresa Bates moved to a wing position, while Irene McNamee came on at top of the right. Hoey’s moves saw an immediate recovery for the Louth team. Noeleen McGuire scored a game-changing point from some fifty yards before adding another two, and Collette Tumulty’s excellent score was complimented by a similar one from Kitty Sharkey, which reduced the arrears to just three points.
Soon, Kildare found themselves in deep trouble after further scores from Imelda Matthews and Eileen Crehan. Wild scenes of delight greeted the team as the sought-after Symco Cup was presented to the squad. Louth were victorious, and rightly so. But their next task would be a huge one: conquering Croke Park.