The day we

Kiltegan

Day 1: Friday, June 16

The day has finally come and I was up a the crack of dawn waiting to go.

The day seemed like a mile long. We met up in Kiltgean at 1.10pm to get pictures with Michael Dwyers.

I was getting nervous at this stage – there were so many people there to support all of us.

We got pictures sorted and even a little prayer from Fr. Pat and a sprinkle of holy water and then we were on our way.

The crack was great on the bus and we were all belting out the tunes.

We soon arrived at our host venue Rathgarogue/Cushintown. We got off the bus and went straight to the dressing room to prepare for our first match against KIlmacow.

The heat was unbearable – we got told our positions. I was playing midfield – I was happy with that and at 4.45pm our first match started.

It was hard going, the sun beamed down on us all, it was 15 minutes each side.

We got off to a great start and won the match. My team-mates and I were over the moon, then it was time to cool down and prepare for match number two against Causeway, Co. Kerry, which was due to start at 6.30pm.

Our trainers warmed us up to get started again. This match was tougher than the last one and we fell a little short and lost that one.

We were all so disappointed but we knew we were still in the tournament so we put it behind us and now it was time to meet our host familiies. I couldn’t wait to see where Sophie and I were to stay. Then they called our names and we were to stay with Jimmy and Janet Martin and their only daughter Amy.

I couldn’t have been happier with them, we left Rathgarogue/ Cushintown GAA club and headed to their house where we were made feel more than welcome.

Sophie and I presented them with our gifts we had brought them and then went to the bed. I couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow was going to bring.

Day 2: Saturday, June 17 10.30am.

Again we warmed up and got our positions. This team was even harder than the last. I got a terrible bang on the wrist and thought I was going to be in trouble and not able to play, but I carried on as best I could.

But for our team-mates and I it wasn’t to be our day. Our host team had defeated us and we were so disappointed to be knocked out of the cup, but the shield was still all to play for.

We needed to win our next match to be put through to the semi-final of the shield.

We were so hot and exhausted – our club decided to bring us to the Horse and Hound Hotel to get food.

The bus collected us to bring us to our quarter-final in Danesfort, Co. Kilkenny.

On the way we found out we were to play Four Roads, Co. Roscommon.

We stopped at a shop on the way to get a must needed icecream and then we were off again.

We arrived and the place was packed with teams and supporters. We had to wait a little while before our match started – it felt like forever, but the time came, we warmed up and got our team talk, headed out – the heat was