*Eimear Kelly in action for Truagh/Clonlara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
2024 HAS BEEN a magical and memorable season for Truagh/Clonlara camogie club.
The Clare and Munster champions travel to Walsh Park in Waterford on this Sunday to compete in the All-Ireland senior club semi-final for the first time in their history. They face St. Vincent’s from Dublin, recently crowned Leinster champions at 1pm.
According to Eimear Kelly, one of many stars in the Clare champions line up, “it’s been a magical season to date, especially the way the Munster final replay went. It added to the whole occasion and we don’t want it to end here”.
She said, “it’s so exciting. All of a sudden we are in an All-Ireland competition. We are at another level now and it’s a whole new challenge. St. Vincents have experience and success”.
Eimear was keen to pay tribute to the team’s supporters. “The support has been incredible. We could really feel it crossing the bridge into Clonlara after the Munster final win just as we did after retaining the Clare title. The support makes a huge difference”.
Asked if she had any concerns about the fact that her team which comes from a relatively small parish will be taking on a team representing one of the biggest clubs in camogie Eimear said, “there is a special thing about smaller clubs. It’s a very tight community and players are playing alongside their siblings and their cousins. That’s an advantage. Yes St. Vincent’s have achieved a lot, a few Leinster titles and their team includes the Dublin captain, Ashling Maher”.
Eimear believes that “the experience many of our girls have from playing with Clare at major grounds around the country will stand to us on Sunday.
The Truagh/Clonlara star is confident that “there will be another big crowd supporting us on Sunday. Buses are being organised and it’s something to look forward to for all. There is real excitement sround the parish and I know people will travel to Waterford in their droves”.
Concluding she said, “this is the stuff of dreams. The amount of belief has grown and we learned a lot more about our resilience in the Munster final replay. It’s great to be playing at this level going into December. We are really looking forward to Sunday’s match”.
