*Michelle Caulfield storms through the challenge of Claire Commane. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
GAELIC GAMES occupies a huge part of Truagh/Clonlara joint captain Michelle Caulfield’s life.
Speaking to The Clare Echo on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s Clare senior camogie final, Michelle had just completed a final training session with the Monaleen school under 13 team ahead of their Limerick under 13 A schools final.
Two days earlier she was a proud supporter in Cusack Park as the Clonlara hurlers won a Clare SHC for the first time in fifteen years with her husband John Conlon part of the victorious team.
She noted, “the camogie and hurling teams in the parish are a very tight knit group with brothers, cousins and partners involved. We support each other. The hurling win last week has created a great buzz and it’s great to see the flags and the banners flying. They (hurlers) are really driving us on. They are still celebrating and we want to join them”.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s decider against Scariff/Ogonnelloe, Michelle said, “we have trained really hard in the last few weeks. We have lost massive leaders, three of whom were part of the county team also, but the younger girls have stepped up. We have always said we are a well-balanced team”.
She continued, “Scariff/Ogonnelloe and Inagh/Kilnamona have been the standard bearers and we have so much respect for them. We are trying to make amends for the final losses of the past two years The first one (2021) went to extra time, we probably left it behind us the first day. Scariff/Ogonnelloe have more players back this year, they have added to their squad and they have been competing at A level up along the grades”.
Younger guns have really stood up for the side, Michelle said. “We are 100% ready to go and we have also added to our panel this year. The younger players have stepped up. We know we are serious underdogs but we are going to give it a right go and we are going to enjoy the occasion. Anything can happen on the day”.
According to the primary school teacher, “the club is thriving at the moment. We have been in the past three finals. It took us a long time to come out of intermediate and it’s great to see the progress that has been made. We have a big following. There have been loads of messages coming through all week. Women’s sport is in a great place at this time. It was lovely to see the young girls out on the field last Saturday They want to be role models”.
Getting to line out in Cusack Park for county final day is special, the former Clare player felt. “The lads are used to playing there for club and county. Everybody wants to play there and it’s great that the camogie final is there. It was in great condition last weekend for the hurling and hopefully the weather will help us out this week. Clare camogie is on the up, it was great to see the juniors in Croke Park this year and a lot of those younger players will go onto the senior team. We would all like to see the senior side in Croke Park at semi-final and final time, they haven’t been too far away. For now the focus is on the Clare final and it’s all systems go for Saturday”.
