It is with great sadness that the Camogie Association has announced the passing of Iar-Uachtarán an Chumainn Camógaíochta, Liz Howard.

Liz served the Association and the sport of camogie with distinction across several decades and leaves behind an extraordinary legacy within Gaelic games.

A Trailblazer For Camogie And Women In Sport

The first Tipperary woman to hold the top post, Liz was elected President of the Camogie Association in 2006.

Born in Carrick-on-Suir into a family steeped in Gaelic games tradition, Liz developed a lifelong passion for camogie and hurling. Her father, Garrett, won All-Ireland senior hurling medals with both Limerick and Dublin.

Liz later moved to County Clare, where her parents established Feakle camogie club. During her playing career, she represented Feakle in Clare, Roscrea and Knockshegowna in Tipperary, and Celtic and Phoenix in Dublin.

She won a National Senior League medal with Tipperary and an All-Ireland junior medal with Dublin.

Decades Of Service To Gaelic Games

Liz was appointed National PRO of the Camogie Association in 1979 and also served as Tipperary GAA PRO from 1981 to 2003.

She was also a media pioneer, becoming the first female analyst on The Sunday Game on RTÉ.

Liz played a major role in the preparations for the Camogie Association’s centenary celebrations in 2004 before being elected President of the Association in 2006.

Her contribution was recognised with the Tipperary Personality of the Year award and the National Administrator of the Year award at the Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards in 2009.

She remained closely involved in camogie administration in the years that followed, continuing to serve the game in several different roles.

Tributes Paid By Camogie President Brian Molloy

Uachtarán an Chumainn Camógaíochta, Brian Molloy, expressed his condolences following Liz’s passing.

“On behalf of the Camogie Association, I would like to share my sympathies with Liz’s family, her many friends, former colleagues and the wider Gaelic games community on her passing.

“Liz Howard was one of the great servants of our Association, someone who dedicated decades of her life to the promotion and development of camogie at club, county and national level. Her contribution to our sport was immense.

“Liz brought passion, intelligence and enormous energy to every role she held. She was a proud advocate for camogie and for women in sport, and her leadership helped strengthen and modernise the Association during an important period in its history.

“She will also be remembered as a deeply respected figure within Gaelic games, whose love for camogie and hurling shone through in everything she did.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.”

Funeral arrangements will follow.

Suaimhneas síoraí dá hanam.

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Very Ireland, in collaboration with the Camogie Association, is delighted to announce the kickoff of the 2024 Very Camogie Leagues. The prestigious event, held at Croke Park, witnessed the presence of esteemed players Áine Keane (Galway), Lorraine Bray (Waterford), Norette Casey (Kerry), Molly Lynch (Cork), Eleanor Treacy (Carlow), Aine O’Loughlin (Clare), and Siohban Donnelly (Tyrone).

Honoring Excellence On and Off the Field

Very aims to celebrate the accomplishments of players, both on and off the field, while illuminating the unique magic that defines this beloved sport.

Division 2B Kickoff

Division 2B of the Very Camogie Leagues is set to commence on Saturday, January 27th, featuring an exhilarating lineup. The 2023 League Champions, Cork, will face Tipperary, Wexford will take on Clare, and Galway will compete against Kilkenny, seeking redemption from their previous defeat by Cork in a final replay at The Ragg in Tipperary.

Round 1 Highlights: February 17th

February 17th marks the commencement of Very Camogie Leagues Round 1 for Division 1A, 2B, and 2A. Notable clashes in Division 1A include Kilkenny vs. Cork, Clare vs. Galway, and Tipperary vs. Waterford. Waterford secured promotion to Division 1A after a triumphant victory over Wexford in the 2023 Division 1B showdown at FBD Semple Stadium.

New Aspirations in Division 2A

Newly promoted Carlow, after their nail-biting victory over Armagh in the 2023 Division 3A final, will make their mark in Division 2A. Their campaign begins against Derry, while Meath faces Cavan, and Offaly challenges Westmeath.

Excitement in Division 3B

Very Camogie Leagues Division 3B promises thrilling matchups, including Down vs. Antrim and Dublin vs. Limerick.

Division 1B Unveils Drama

Kerry enters Division 1B in 2024, following a thrilling victory against Meath in Division 2A. On February 24th, Division 1B features Down vs. Antrim, Wexford vs. Dublin, Kerry vs. Limerick, Division 3A showcases Kildare vs. Laois, Armagh vs. Roscommon, and Division 4 sees Wicklow taking on Louth, while Tyrone faces Mayo.

Finals Showdowns

Mark your calendars for the Division 2B and 3B finals on Saturday, March 23rd. Subsequently, on April 13th, the finals for Division 1B, 3A, and Division 4 will take place, followed by a thrilling doubleheader on Sunday, April 14th, where the Very Camogie League finalists in Divisions 1A and 2A will vie for glory.

Catherine O’Toole and Hilda Breslin Share Enthusiasm

Catherine O’Toole, Head of Marketing at Very, expresses pride in supporting women in sport for the 8th consecutive year. Hilda Breslin, Uachtarán Cumann Camógaíochta, eagerly anticipates the competitive spirit of the Very Camogie Leagues, thanking Very for their unwavering support and promotion of the beloved sport. Join the action and be part of the excitement!

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Twomey, who is stepping up to the hotseat having served his apprenticeship under Paudie Murray and can boast hurling legend Davy Fitzgerald among his coaching set-up, will be pleased with the resourcefulness shown by his charges but there was much to be positive from a Clare perspective too.

Another notable aspect of this game was the debut in red of former Down star Sorcha McCartan, who has been based in Cork since last year and plays her club camogie with St Finbarr’s. And the daughter of ex-Mourne football All-Ireland winner Greg made a significant impact, scoring a goal and a point to help the Rebels overturn a one-point interval deficit.

Áine O’Loughlin struck two points, and Chloe Morey and Eimear Kelly were also on the mark to give the hosts that half-time advantage, Izzy O’Regan, Laura Hayes and Amy O’Connor splitting the posts for the Leesiders.

O’Connor equalised soon after the restart before McCartan gave Cork the lead but it was only when McCartan blasted to the net from a penalty after 53 minutes that proceedings finally edged towards Twomey’s outfit. O’Connor raised a second green flag in the fourth minute of injury time to put a slightly flattering look on the final scoreline.

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The tandem of Róisín McCormick and Maeve Kelly have long been slated for superstardom through the schools and underage structures in Antrim and they delivered on the biggest stage at Croke Park to propel the Saffron County to victory in the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie final on Sunday afternoon.

The deadly duo scored a goal and 14 points between them, and with Catrine Dobbin also weighing in with 1-2, Antrim racked up a remarkable return that no side could match.

This was a fantastic exhibition of the increasing depth of camogie, and on this evidence, Antrim will be a welcome new addition to the senior ranks.

The game was decided in a matter of minutes just before the second-half water break, a period that actually began with a goal from a 20m free by Sophie O’Dwyer in the 43^rd minute.

That gave Kilkenny hope as they closed to within four points, but McCormick and Kelly responded immediately with points before McCormick set up Catrine Dobbin, who finished with the coldness of an assassin, the shot to the far corner worthy of the move that had led up to it.

It was only two minutes after O’Dwyer’s major and the hopes they had harboured had been ruthlessly extinguished.

Both sets of attacks showing good economy in the first half, finishing ruthlessly and with no overtly defensive systems, which meant excitement for supporters.

It was 1-11 to 0-9 at half-time and only three of those scores came from placed balls as the teams revelled in the open spaces.

Kilkenny started very well and their three half-forwards had pointed inside five minutes after Kelly had opened the scoring in 58 seconds.

In the blink of an eye, the Cats were leading by three, Sarah Walsh, Eva Hynes, Walsh again and Ciara O’Keeffe splitting the posts.

Antrim have a nice mix of youth and experience, with the likes of Chloe Drain and Maeve Connolly on the panel that won the Premier Junior title in 2010, while McCormick and Kelly have built up a lot of game time over the past four years.

Beaten finalists by Down last year, they stayed calm though they were extremely fortunate in the eighth minute when Danielle Quigley struck the butt of their post and the normally deadly Hannah Scott fresh-aired from the rebound.

Kilkenny will wonder what a goal would have done then, particularly as Antrim went straight up the field for McCormick to point after a run in from the.

The Loughgiel prodigy followed up with another couple of scores, supplemented by a Lucia McNaughton point for the Saffrons to hit the front, a lead they held at the water break.

O’Dwyer equalised from a free but Kelly lit up Croke Park with a brilliant individual goal in the 21^st minute, picking up possession around 30m out, side-stepping wonderfully and then showing good strength to bear down on Sinéad Farrell.

Thereafter it was all about composure, the Ballycastle star regathering after an initial hook to fire low to the net from a rapidly tightening angle. The gap opened to five and that’s how it was at the change of ends.

Kelly had a glorious point after 38 seconds of the restart and the lead was seven when O’Dwyer stunned everyone with her deadly strike.

The reply told you all you needed to know about the mentality of the Paul McKillen- and Jim McKernan-managed outfit and the streaked clear, with a flurry of outstanding points after Dobbin’s goal.

Sarah Crowley found the net in injury time for Kilkenny but by then, the verdict was in no doubt.

SCORERS FOR ANTRIM: R McCormick 0-9(4fs); M Kelly 1-5; C Dobbin 1-2; N O’Neill 0-3; L McNaughton, A Magill 0-1 each

SCORERS FOR KILKENNY: S O’Dwyer 1-5(0-4fs); S Crowley 1-0; S Walsh, E Hynes 0-2 each; C Phelan, C O’Keeffe, D Quigley, T Donnelly 0-1 each

ANTRIM: C Graham; C Drain, N Donnelly, M Lynn; C Patterson, C Conlon, M Connolly; L McNaughton, N O’Neill; M Kelly, A Boyle, A Magill; R McCormick, C Laverty, C Dobbin. Subs: A Connolly for Laverty (38), K Carey McAleese for Magill (50), S Devlin for Patterson (60), L McKenna for Boyle (60+1), K McKillop for M Connolly (60+1)

KILKENNY: S Farrell; N Leahy, R Phelan, C Murphy; S Crowley, L Fennelly, T Fitzgerald; L Hegarty, C Phelan; E Hynes, S Walsh, C O’Keeffe; S O’Dwyer, H Scott, D Quigley. Subs: J Leahy for Hegarty (36), T Donnelly for Quigley inj (43), S O’Keeffe for Fitzgerald (46), C Dowling for Scott (55), R O’Keeffe for C O’Keeffe (57)

REFEREE: Conor Quinlan (Galway)

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Tyrone’s camogie team missed out on silverware for the county while their Men’s football side went one step closer to the Sam Maguire.

The goals were crucial with two of them coming from Ciara Delaney, having been set up by player of the match Áine Charlton. Captain Helen O’Malley also raised a green flag but Tyrone almost pulled off a spectacular comeback, getting to within one of the westerners having trailed by 11 but they just could not get over the line.

Mayo led by 2-6 to 0-4 at half-time thanks to Delaney and O’Malley’s majors, the latter part of a run of 1-5 without reply as Tyrone failed to score in the second quarter. When Delaney finished after another strong run by Charlton 15 seconds after the restart, it seemed like curtains.

But with Reagan Fay in inspired form and bringing her tally to eight points, the Red Hand women rallied. Niamh McNulty’s goal after an excellent catch was a real boost but when it seemed like momentum was in their favour, Mayo dug deep and Orla Hession pointed to leave Tyrone needing a goal that they couldn’t get.

Meanwhile, champions Armagh, who beat Clare in their semi-final by 2-13 to 1-6 on Saturday, will play Wexford in the All-Ireland premier junior final at Croke Park on September 12, as a result of the Yellowbellies’ 3-18 to 0-8 victory over Roscommon.

Roscommon had two early chances but two wides resulted and once Wexford got to grips with the excellent opposition sweeper, Rachel Fitzmaurice by playing the wings, they began to make hay.

Megan Cullen got an eighth-minute goal and it was 1-2 to 0-0 at the water break. On the resumption, all the Wexford inside forwards, Emma Tompkins, Emma Codd and Lisa Firman registered points and  Ailis Neville scored to make it 2-7 to 0-1 at half-time.

The Roscommon point came from a long-distance free by Shauna Fallon just before the short whistle.

The Connacht side were awarded a penalty early in the second half but Fallon’s shot was too central and goalkeeper Lara O’Shea was able to make the stop.

With that, any hope of a spectacular comeback dissipated.

When Roscommon removed Fitzmaurice from her sweeping role as they needed to chase the game, it opened space and Wexford profited. Chloe Cashe, who had been kept to a point in the first half, got a goal at the end of an excellent move on 41 minutes and finished with 1-8.

Fitzmaurice and Niamh Watson tried hard for Roscommon but it was all about Wexford, Clodagh Jackman, Aideen Brennan, Cashe, Neville and Cullen among those to shine.

Elsewhere, the talented Áine Magill completed 24 hours she won’t forget in a hurry as she played for Antrim in the intermediate semi-final against Galway and then against Laois in the Tesco All-Ireland B semi final.

She up a star outing for Antrim in their win over Galway by scoring 1-3 from midfield as the Saffrons’ minors as they came out on top of a thriller against Laois by 3-19 to 3-12 to reach the Tesco All-Ireland B final.

Antrim will face Offaly in the final, who defeated Derry by 4-12 to 1-8 in the other semi-final.

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A 57^th minute penalty goal by Denise Gaule sealed a deserved victory for Kilkenny to lay the ghosts of previous Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Final defeats firmly in the past.

The Cats had lost the last three deciders in succession since getting their hands on the O’Duffy Cup in 2016 and were in no mood to fall short in this most unique of Championship seasons.

Gaule finished with 1-6 but Brian Dowling had heroines all over the pitch.

Grace Walsh has been immersed in Covid-19 as a nurse and she served up an all-action display that told of someone revelling in having the opportunity to express herself in that context. It was a performance that will live long in the memory.

There were six changes to the team that were defeated in last year’s Final by Galway for a variety of reasons but so many of the newcomers stood tall on the most important day of all.

Aoife Doyle was the game’s leading scorer from play with four points and two of those might well have been goals, while Katie Nolan thundered into the fray in the second half, as a supplier and scorer, and Mary O’Connell was noticeable too in an industrious Kilkenny attack that forced countless turnovers, a number of which led to scores.

The first significant news of the evening was the starting berth for Kilkenny’s Kelly Ann Doyle, who tore her cruciate ligament for a second time on March 8^th against Cork in the National League and whose first bit of action since then, was the 12-minute cameo against the same opposition in the Semi-Final a fortnight ago.

To last an hour in such an affair was a testament to the Piltown flier’s dedication to her rehab.

Among the more interesting match-ups, Davina Tobin was delegated to attend to Orlaith McGrath, with Niamh Kilkenny and Aoife Donohue facing off against Anna Farrell and Walsh respectively.

Elsewhere, Caitriona Cormican was given the task of attempting to repeat her marking heroics on Anne Dalton 12 months ago.

As the game settled, both teams left two forwards inside, the result of which was a clogged middle and one spare player invariably in defence.

It started quickly, Siobhán McGrath marking her late call-up with a score in under 50 seconds, but Aoife Doyle replied with a stupendous point over her left shoulder running away from the posts.

As space become more and more of a premium, the teams were reliant on the place-strikers and both Carrie Dolan and Gaule answered the call as they went into the first water break on 0-3 apiece.

There was a suspicion beforehand, that the Galway attack carried the superior goal threat but it was Kilkenny who carved out the better opportunities in that regard, while the Kilkenny defence was outstanding.

That said, Orlaith McGrath took a pass from her sister Siobhán to raise the game’s first green flag and that sent Cathal Murray’s charges in at the break leading by 1-5 to 0-6, though perhaps it was significant that Aoife Doyle pointed in response, and it should have been a goal after Walsh went on a careering run before putting her in a one-on-one position.

It was more of the same after the resumption but Kilkenny gradually exerted dominance around the breaking ball. Nolan and Walsh were outstanding and when Gaule hit her only score from play after being found by Claire Phelan in the 40^th minute, Kilkenny were in front for the first time.

Dolan levelled quickly but Galway wouldn’t score for another 14 minutes. Doyle and Walsh put two between them but Brian Dowling must have been feeling nervous when Niamh Kilkenny and Dolan, from a free, restored parity.

Then came the definitive moment, as Phelan emerged from a ruck with the sliotar and fed Anna Farrell, who found Gaule with a hand-pass of glorious vision. She tumbled under a challenge from Shauna Healy and Sarah Dervan and the penalty was awarded.

The Windgap ace picked herself up off the deck to drill an unstoppable low shot past Sarah Healy, following up with a pointed free for the vital breathing space, and though Dolan brought it back to the goal from a placed ball, Galway could not create the opportunity for a spectacular escape.

This was Kilkenny’s day.

SCORERS FOR KILKENNY: D Gaule 1-6(0-4fs, 1-0 pen, 0-1 45); A Doyle 0-4; A Dalton, M O’Connell, K Nolan, G Walsh 0-1 each

SCORERS FOR GALWAY: C Dolan 0-6(5fs); O McGrath 1-0; S McGrath 0-2; A O’Reilly, N Kilkenny, A Donohue 0-1 each

KILKENNY: A Norris, M Teehan, C Dormer, D Tobin, C Phelan, M Farrell, K A Doyle, G Walsh, A Farrell, A Dalton, M Walsh, D Gaule, M O’Connell, A Doyle, K Nolan. Subs: L Murphy for O’Connell (54), N Deely for K A Doyle (60)

GALWAY: Sarah Healy, T Kenny, S Dervan, H Cooney, E Helebert, Shauna Healy, C Cormican, A Donohue, N Kilkenny, N Hanniffy, A O’Reilly, S Gardiner, O McGrath, C Dolan, S McGrath. Subs: S Spellman for Helebert (51), R Hennelly for Donohue (60+2)

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I mbliana, beidh níos mó cluichí á sruthú beo ar líne ná riamh.

Don séasúr seo, beidh cúig chluiche beo ar leathanach Facebook Liberty Insurance, le dhá cheann sa bhabhta deireanach.

D’fhógair An Cumann Camógaíochta an tseachtain seo go mbeidís ag sruthú cluiche eile gach seachtain.

An deireadh seachtaine seo, beidh an cluiche mór idir Phort Láirge agus Chill Chainnigh beo ar leathanach Liberty Insurance. Tosóidh an cluiche sin i ngrúpa a dó de Chraobh na hÉireann i bPáirc an Bhreathnaigh ar a dó a’chlog amárach.

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Dé Domhnaigh, beidh beoshruthú ar an gcluiche idir Thiobraid Árann agus An Clár i ngrúpa a trí den Chraobh Shinsearach.

Craolfar an cluiche idir Seaimpíní na hÉireann anuraidh, Gaillimh, agus Loch Garman, ar Youtube, le cluichí an Domhnaigh go léir ag tosú ar 2 a’chlog.

Dé Sathairn 17ú Deireadh Fómhair 2020

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Luimneach v An Iarmhí, An Brú, 2 i.n.

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Tiobraid Árainn v An Clár, The Ragg, 2 i.n.

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