*Niamh Powell in action for Truagh/Clonlara. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
CRUCIATE knee injuries are now sadly a regular occurrence for sportsmen and women and for those who suffer such a setback it means a year out of action.
Thankfully almost all make a full recovery and get back to playing the game they love and Truagh/Clonlara camogie player Niamh Powell will be keeping her fingers crossed that she will join the list of those who return to action after such an injury.
In the early stages of her club’s county semi-final clash with Scariff/Ogonnelloe back in October the Truagh/Clonlara midfielder suffered what proved to be a cruciate knee injury which put an end to her playing but not her involvement with the team which will seek to complete a truly memorable journey on Sunday when they take on hot favourites Sarsfields from Galway in the All-Ireland senior club final.
A dental nurse by occupation, Niamh’s surgery on the injury is set for January. “They roped me in to do a few jobs and its absolutely brilliant to be involved. They wouldn’t let me walk away and it’s good to keep busy”, according to the midfielder who is fully involved with the squad.
She attends training, goes to all their meetings and will do the warm up with the side. “It’s special to be involved and to be still part of the team”, she told The Clare Echo this week.
“Having won the county title for the first time last year, we were disappointed not to have progressed in Munster. We had a meeting at the start of this season and the aim was to prove that Truagh/Clonlara is a fantastic outfit and everyone has bought into that. The initial target was to retain the county title,” she explained.
“The availability of Michelle Powell, Eimear Kelly, Lisa Moloney and Becky Foley this year was a huge boost and we said we had to push on. Michelle Caulfield hasn’t been available this year as she is due to have a baby and we are delighted for her but she has helped a lot with our progress to the final. She has kept us really calm. Everyone has a role to play, whether playing or not”, Niamh stressed.
She continued, “last year we had one goal in mind and that was to win the county title and we didn’t see past that. This year the aim was to retain that title and then push on and get to the Munster final We knew we were well capable of it and last year’s experience has really stood to us”.
The Munster final win over Gailtir from Waterford “will live long in the memory. It was just surreal. The first day Gailtir really stood up to us and they did the same again the second day. In fairness to Roisin Begley, she really stood up to the test and took that free. She is so positive”.
Reflecting on the team’s All-Ireland semi-final victory over St. Vincent’s Niamh said “when you haven’t met a team before you do your homework. The girls really excelled in the second half, that is the stubberness in them, they never die, the just crave more, we were back training on the Monday. They want more. We are not done yet”.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s final she said “it’s another huge test. The girls have been getting their bodies right. We are under no illusions as to the task we are facing. Sarsfields are one of the best club sides in Ireland, they have won nine county titles in the last ten years. We have to prove to everyone that we are one of the top teams in Ireland and we have no doubt but that we are good enough”.
Concluding she said “it’s the dream of all sports people to play in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day. Everyone in our parish is buzzing and we can’t thank everyone enough for the support. What an occasion this will be for Truagh/Clonlara. My parents had a holiday booked in Spain this week which they have cancelled. Where else would you want to be but in Croke Park on Sunday. Everyone is so excited. We have one more step to take and we will enjoy every moment”.
