Truagh represent Clare in Féile na nGael

IF 2012 was a good year for Truagh-Clonlara camogie then 2013 is following on in the right direction. Having won the Clare Féile na nGael competition, Truagh-Clonlara are the Clare Féile representatives in Limerick in early July. Having overcome Sixmilebridge in the Clare final, this will be the first time Truagh have entered Féile as county champions.
It is an huge achievement for the club and the fruits of the work of so many people involved in the camogie club, the local school Scoil Seanain Naofa, (retired principal) PJ Fitzpatrick and current principal Eddie Horgan and all the hard-working teachers in the school have, over the years, done a lot of work to promote the game) plus the parents and families of all the girls involved who have travelled the length and breadth of Clare and beyond with club, school and county.
Truagh participated in Féile as a host club when it took place in Clare and Limerick. In 1986, Féile took place in Clare and Truagh hosted a team from Waterford. The panel from 1986 was: Mary Pearse, Karen Walsh, Tracey Maloney, Olive Crowe, Jackie Nihill, Maura Mullane, Marcella Crowe, Sarah Carmody, Linda Walsh, Jill Haskett, Kathy Malley [sic. Hally], Patricia Hannon, Louise Nihill, Hazel Hannon, Denise Horan, Michelle Hourigan and Sinéad Canny. Sarah, Jill and Patricia all have daughters in the current Club Academy (U-6-U-10). Cathy Halley was part of the Clare All-Ireland-winning Junior team in 2008.
In 1994, Limerick hosted Féile and Truagh entered as a host team for Limerick. The team were runners up in the Division 2 (Caithlin Ní Thoimin Shield) losing to Drom-Inch of Tipperary 4-9 to 2-2. The panel from 1994 was: Eileen Gleeson, Karen Nihill, ClareAnn Haskett, Eimear Horan, Patricia Nihill, Gráinne Gunning, Yvonne Gunning, Marie Moloney, Christine Meskell, Deirdre Corcoran, Aileen O’Sullivan, Jennifer Noonan, Grace Wallace, Teresa Nihill, Karen O’Flynn and Elaine Frawley. From that panel, Eileen is the current PRO of Truagh, Clare Ann’s daughter has joined the academy U-6s this year, while Christine is the current club registrar and Aileen is training the U-10s.
Féile in Clare in 2010 was a great success. The excitement and fun over that weekend contributed to the determination of this group to go to Féile as champions of Clare. Truagh hosted a team from Erin go Bráth in England. The panel is 2010 was: Michelle Powell, Molly Power, Aifric McGill, Hilary O’Loughlin, Emer O’Connell, Aoife McKeon, Róisín Rynne, Tara Whelan, Áine O’Loughlin, Maura Forde, Emma Kavanagh, Blaitín Byrnes, Fern Carroll, Siobhán Fahy, Katie Meehan, Karola Carey, Aoibheann Noonan, Rachel Beck, Róisín Byrnes, Sinéad Hogg, Caitlin Meehan, Maeve Donnellan, Laura Foley and Ciara Ryan. Three players, Áine O’Loughlin, Róisín Begley and Laura Foley are on this year’s panel.
This year’s Féile panel has players from 11-14 and participating in their own age group over the last few years has proved important from a player development point of view. In 2012, Truagh participated in the U-12 Mini Leagues, won the U-13B and U-14C championships and this participation has helped all the players on this year’s Féile panel to get games in their own age group.
The team is managed by Declan Fahy whose daughter, Siobhán, is on the panel, while selectors, John Fennessey and Kieran Foley also have daughters on the panel (Sadhbh Fennessey, Laura and Rebecca Foley).
Club chairperson Tim Ryan said, “First and foremost, it’s a great honour for Truagh to represent Clare in Féile na Gael. It’s a testament to the players’ ability and their dedication to camogie and a reflection of their hard-working mentors over the past number of years.”
Truagh-Clonlara will play in Division 1 of Féile and will be hosted by Crecora. On Saturday, they play Kilkishen, a rematch of the Clare U-14A Championship final and they also meet Kilkenny champions Dicksboro.