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Camogie at Na Fianna
Prior to 1969 the ladies in Na Fianna were only tolerated for sales of work, making tea and sandwiches for visiting teams and washing jerseys, but all that changed in October 1969 when the then Chairman, Sean Clerkin, a man with vision, and Gretta Gray decided to break the mould and make the club a truly inclusive Gaelic one by introducing camogie into the club. It was a decision that had opposition from some members especially as to having voting rights and representation on the Executive. |
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| Eventually these matters were resolved and the rest as they say is history. In those far away days the camogie uniform consisted of white blouse, gymslip and heavy black tights. St. Trinians had nothing on us and we felt very proud of our first team appearing in the blue gymslips with yellow trim. We were extremely lucky with the abundance of talent on our first team when in their first season they won the Junior A championship in 1970 - a truly memorable occasion.
We were welcomed at the camogie board with a query from the floor as to the necessity of forming another club. However we overcame their worries and set the precedent as the first camogie club to be full members of a GAA club. Nowadays, most camogie clubs are full members of GAA clubs. Gretta Grey went on to become Chairperson of the Camogie county board for a number of years, with fellow Na Fianna member, Ann McNammara being Chairperson of the minor county board. In 1974 it was decided to introduce juvenile camogie.
No club can survive without its young players and most of the present senior team came through the ranks. By this time the gymslip was part of our history and jerseys and skirts took their place and the making of juvenile skirts were our priority. In the early 70's not everyone had a car and it was usual to see mentors bringing their teams by Dublin Bus to the Phoenix Park and other venues. On the Inter County front we have been represented down the years at U 14, Minor, Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Inter-Provincial level. Colette Murphy has the distinction of being our only All-Ireland medal holder when she played on the winning Dublin team when they won the inaugural Intermediate All-Ireland Championship competition.
The club has contributed to the adminstration of camogie in Dublin through a number of its members holding positions as officers of both Senior and Minor Boards. The Senior A Championship has eluded us down the years nevertheless we have brought a number of trophys to the club as follows:-
1970 Junior A Championship
1974 Intermediate League Championship and Isle of Man Cup
1977 Senior B League
1979 Junior C League
1981 Junior A Championship
1982 Senior B Championshiop and Intermediate League
1985 Junior A League, Championship and Shield
1986 Intermediate League
1987 Molly Waters Memorial Trophy and Under 14 Division 2 League
1991 Senior A League
1995 Junior B League
1999 Under 15 Division 2 League
2000 Junior B Championship |
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Memories of the first Juvenile camogie match
1973 Na Fianna versus St Mary's
Under 11 League
Result ; draw nil nil
It was cold! In fact it was the most bitterly cold day that I can ever remember. One of the Taylor girls had to go to ballet and there was a vacancy in the forward line. Unfortunately I drew the short straw, in fact I was only the one pulling it. I cursed that ballet was invented, or at least whatever curses you know at six years of age. I was supposed to be the team mascot not a player!
I took to the field in my Na Fianna jersey and wrap around skirt (made by my Mother's own fair hand) and my black furry gloves. No tracksuits. They probably hadn't been invented in those days. I spent the whole match with my teeth chattering and my knees knocking together rooted firmly to the spot. It wasn't that I didn't want to run around after a little white ball on a below zero day but I was incapable of it. (What has changed I hear you cry) I think that I was carried off the pitch at half time as stiff as a board and was unable to put up any sort of a struggle when they carried me on for the second half and plonked me in the corner forward position.
I am sure that I only avoided permanent damage by the intervention of Ann O Neill or rather her fur coat. I am eternally grateful, but Ann took to the pitch and wrapped her coat around me and stood beside me trying to get the feeling back into my limbs. It was very brave of her when you think about it. She would have had to try to avoid flying sliotars and marauding under 11's, you know how they hunt in packs, and running after the ball altogether is more important than maintaining your 'shape' and positions. Mind you if she thought that this would help me get involved in the match then she was sorely mistaken. I had alot of time to think that day (20 minutes aside to be precise) and there was no way that I was going to hit a ball let alone run.
So I did get to see a lot of the match and I watched Clare Hayes doing a fantastic job running like a hare around the pitch. Anna Purton did a stalwart job in defense and Carmel Gray looked very fetching wearing her Aran jumper in goal. (Why didn't they put me in goal?). Other players that day were Ruth Rice, Paula Lee, Caitriona & Joyce Cantwell (They always played with beautiful bows in their hair and always had sweets!) Fionnuala O Hagan &, Deirdre O Hara
So the match ended a nil-nil draw, but a very good result. We had a number of people on the sideline for such an auspicious occasion. Deirdre and Paula Deignan were our coaches and to this day I still hold my hurl the wrong way!! The most important person on the sideline though was Joe Murphy, his daughter Deirdre was also on the team, and he brought tea, coffee and soup for after the match. We all piled into his Mitchelstown Cheese van . I was carried in feet first and a rapid warming process began.
And so it started, I had five more years to go at under 11, but I will always remember that match. It was the beginning, of trudging through muddy fields in the Phoenix Park, avoided cow pats and deer poo. Numerous bus journeys, we knew the 19a and 10 bus route by heart to the Phoenix Park. Making daisy chains in the forward line when we played Marino and losing to them by 20 goals. Playing hide and go seek in Scoil Mobhi, Christening our hurls, hating Woodville, they were rough and being sure that all players taller than us must be overage.
Anyway I didn't let the harsh beginning put me off...... I am still playing today !
By the way there is a picture if the aforementioned team in the main camoige web page. It just doesn't do justice to the Artic conditions though.
Annmarie Gray
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