Camogie Secretary's Report AGM 2003

We in the camogie club can look back on another year of continued growth and improvement. The numbers of girls playing camogie in Blackrock is increasing all the time, now standing at approximately 120. We played in all 35 matches between friendly, league and championship, took part in 8 blitzes from U.9 up. We also hosted our own tournament in August. Blackrock also accommodated the Seandún U.15 blitz, the Seandún U.11 finals and the Junior B final.

This increase in matches leads to many administrative problems. Not least among these is the increasing financial strain of transporting teams to matches - our transport bill has doubled this year alone. With the increasing number of camogie matches and the already heavy load of Hurling and Football matches Church Road would seem to be bursting at the seams on occasions. There is also the problem of inadequately separated dressing rooms for male and female players, which in the present climate need to be addressed.

2003 was over all a successful year for Blackrock Camogie. We competed well in all our matches. The U. 16's reached the final of the Pan Celtic competition on Kilkenny only to be beaten by a stronger Kildare team. The U.14 team reached the county final and were beaten by a more experienced Éire Óg team. The U.12's narrowly lost the ¼final to Fr. O'Neill's. The U.9's took part in two blitzes, winning the plate final in Blarney and going down after two periods of extra time in the final in St. Vincent's. The U.11's lost the final of a blitz held in Na Piarsaigh and the U.7's won all their games on the day. In August we held our own U.12¼ Blitz where we beat Millstreet in the final, with Fr. O'Neill's beating Barryroe in the plate final.

Congratulations to Gaelscoil Mhachan with a team of Blackrock players won the Sciath na Scol. I would like to thank the teachers who give of their time to coach the girls. Congratulations also to Coláiste Daibhéid who with a large number of Blackrock girls won a Cork Colleges first year blitz in October last. Good luck to Scoil Ursula who are entering Sciath na Scol this year.

We also fielded a junior team for the first time in a number of years. They reached the semi-final of a 7's tournament. This is an important development for the club and we should all support it and wish the team continues growth. In order to ensure the continued growth of camogie in Blackrock it is important for the younger girls to have a team taking part in adult competition to aspire to. Hopefully Blackrock will be playing senior camogie again. I would hope that the juniors will be an extension of the club and that we all remember a club needs all ages, abilities and talents to prosper.

On the representative front two girls - Cáit Kelleher and Lynda Coughlan were on the Cork minor panel. Hopefully many more will follow suit and that it is not to long before a Rockie plays on the Cork senior team! Grace Mulqueen, Cáit Kelleher and Lynda Coughlan played on the Seandún U.16 team. A number of the older girls were training with the Seandún seniors who are in the process of rebuilding a senior team. Cáit Kelleher and Suzanne Meehan were placed 2nd and 5th respectively in the Cork Féile skills competition.

On a social front the camogie club organized two very successful Céilís during the year. Two great nights were enjoyed by all thanks to Gearóid Ó Murchú for the music and Fionnán deCógáin as fear a'tí. I believe the brush dance has been well practised since! This we see as an important aspect of the club, since it brings all the family together socially in the club. I hope that the incoming committee will realise the importance of looking after the social side of the camogie club and making it a club in every sense of the word.

We also ran a very successful Sponsored camogie marathon in aid of the Special Olympics. We raised over €1000 in sponsorship. Blackrock Camogie Club as a result sponsored Kelly King from Team USA. I would like to thank Doireann who did most of the paper work for this. It is important that we all give back something at all times and it was good to be part of this extraordinary event.

2004 is an important year in camogie as it is the centenary year of Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael. It is hoped it will be a year that sees greater co-operation between GAA and Camogie clubs. We in Blackrock camogie have had the help and co operation of the Hurling club at every level since the start and we would hope that Cumann Iománaíochta Náisiúnta na Carraige Duibhe will continue to be a forward thinking club in the coming year.

There are a number of people to be thanked - this is not an exhaustive list. I would like to thank the Hurling Club at all levels for the use of the pitches and dressing rooms. We have always had co-operation from them. The jerseys are always spotless - thanks to May O'Brien. The Underage section are to be thanked for our new jerseys at the beginning of the year - the girls are still growing! A number of people helped with sponsorship for the U.12¼ tournament. The coaches and mentors who give of their time deserve our thanks. One person I would like to name is Paul O'Sullivan - he has been available regularly during the year to ref matches for us, a thankless job but much appreciated. No match can be played without a referee! He also helped out at the door for the céilí.

A code of Good Practise has been put together by Cork Juvenile Camogie Committee. As part of it a new position has been created, i.e. that of Welfare Officer. It is important that this position be filled as funding bodies such as the VEC and Sports Council will require a code be in place before awarding grants in the future.

A number of years ago when Kevin Cummins and Ger O'Leary asked me to organise camogie coaching in Blackrock I didn't hesitate in saying yes. But I couldn't have done it alone. Without the help, support and I would hope friendship of Dóirín Blackrock Camogie would not be where it is now. I'm sad, but I understand that for personal reasons she has to step down as chairman. I hope that for the children's sakes she doesn't bow out altogether. We need her calm and common sense at all times.

Mairéad Ní Mhaoileóin, Rúnaí Cumann Camógaíochta na Carraige Duibhe.

Chairman: Tim Murphy

Vice Chairman: Eileen Fielding

Secretary: Mairéad Ní Mhaoileóin

Treasurer: Anne Mulqueen

Welfare officer: Caroline Fleming

Player Rep: Sarah Murphy & Jennifer Irwin

Committee: Sue Dennehy, Anna Meehan & Rose White.