Joe Passmore said: “We have assembled what we think is a good squad for the Junior Gael Linn. The county managers have been extremely helpful and I appreciate their support. One or two players have been unable to commit with work, study  and club and county demands on their time. That is perfectly understandable. Also for example Niamh Mallon is undergoing rehab for her knee injury and Karen Tinnelly is out of the country at the minute.”

“There are restrictions on the players that each Province can select at this grade. For instance we are not allowed to choose any players from Derry because they are now at Senior level. And we are only allowed to pick five from Antrim. So that affords players from the other counties an opportunity to play for Ulster which is fantastic for them. I think we have a decent team and these players are well capable of competing at this level. The response from the players has been very positive and enthusiastic.”

Ulster Gael Linn Squad 2013

The following players have been selected for the Ulster Gael Linn Camogie Interprovincial squad:

Antrim

Emma Connolly

Eleanor Mallon

Charlene Hamill

Aileen Martin

Natalie McGuinness

Down

Catherine McGourty

Fionnuala Carr

Sarah Louise Carr

Lisa McCrickard

Karen McMullan

Gráinne O’Higgins

Tyrone

Julie Lagan

Shauna Jordan

Emma Fitzgerald

Aisling Corr

Marie Jordan

Ciara McGeady

Armagh

Bernie Murray

Bronagh Mone

Niamh McGeown

Kate O’Brien

Louise Loughran

Cavan

Rosie Crowe

Roisin O’Keefe

Mairead McCabe

Sinead Moore

Jenny O’Rourke

Monaghan

Marie Greenan

Mary Meehan

Louise O’Connell

Coaches

Joe Passmore

John O’Dwyer

Mary Connolly

Applications must be returned in hard copy to the Monitoring Officer, Ulster Camogie, 8-10 Market Street Armagh BT61 7BX by 12pm on Monday 13th May

Job Description

Personnel Specification

Application Form

‘It was a great lift for Cavan last year to win the Ulster Junior title as it was something we really needed as it was a while since we lifted silverware which helps drives everyone on.This year we have added a few new players on the panel to give us a good blend and it is keeping everyone on their toes. Our big focus now is on retaining our Ulster title’.

Tom Walsh who is still in the managerial hot seat in Cavan also shares his captain’s belief that retaining the NWP Recycling Ulster Junior championship as their main focus but concedes it may not be easy. ‘It will be hard to retain our title and it’s not easy to win back to back titles.

Ulster Chairperson Kathleen Woods, Monaghan’s Eilish McCarron, Katie O’Brien of Armagh, Bríd Boylan Cavan and Laura Hughes of Ulster Camogie sponsors NWP Recycling

We thought we were coasting in the 2012 Final and Armagh came right back at us and it was a great game and we had players like Roisin O’Keefe and Rosie Crowe who were able to bring us through’.

Monaghan County team have struggled over the past few years but Eilis McCarron believes participating in the Ulster Championship can boost all levels of camogie in Monaghan. ‘As there are only four club teams in the Monaghan it’s a challenge trying to develop camogie in the County. We have the potential there if we can prepare right. It would hopefully encourage many young players in Monaghan if we can get a bit of success’.

This year’s NWP Recycling Ulster Championship has expanded on the 2012 format. Antrim and Down have followed Armagh’s lead and entered second teams into the Championship with Antrim, Down and Tyrone Seniors facing off in a round robin format in the Intermediate Championship. In the Senior Championship Down will host Antrim on 26^th May which will be followed by 2012 Champions Derry travelling to Armagh on June 9^th. With the Junior Championship beginning this weekend when Cavan face Monaghan and Armagh Juniors also competing all teams will be aiming towards the Ulster Final triple header in Derry on 15^th June

Saint Mochuas, Armagh: St. Mochuas played Tulla, Clare; Mountbellew/Moylough, Galway and Naomh Maur, Dublin.

Portglenone, Antrim: Portglenone played Bredagh, Down; St Catherines, Cork and Murroe Boher, Limerick.

Bailieborough, Cavan: Bailieborough played Edendork, Tyrone; Eyrecourt, Galway and Roscommon Gaels, Roscommon.

Bredagh, Down: Bredagh played Portglenone, Antrim; St Catherines, Cork and Murroe Boher, Limerick.

(Ballinderry u12 Camógs, mentors, parents and supporters at Camán to Croker in Croke Park on April 6^th 2013)

Portaferry, Down: Portaferry played Feakle, Clare; Knockavilla, Tipperary and Cappoquin, Waterford.

Ballinderry, Derry: Ballinderry played Tournafulla, Limerick; Bishopstown, Cork and Silvermines; Tipperary.

Clontribret, Monaghan: Clontibret played Thomas Davis Dublin; Moore Field, Kildare and Kiltegan, Wicklow.

Edendork, Tyrone: Edendork played Bailieborough, Cavan; Eyrecourt, Galway and Roscommon Gaels, Roscommon.

Letterkenny Gaels, Donegal; Letterkenny played Killarney, Kerry; Castlebar, Mayo and Oran, Roscommon

The only all Ulster clashes of the day were Portglenone v Bredagh and Bailieborough v Edendork which gave these girls a great chance to play against girls that they might never play against again. As part of the day each club got a tour of the Croke Park Museum also. Each participant also received a Camán to Croker keyring from sponsor John Torpey Hurleys, Co. Clare and a souvenir programme listing all teams and individuals who participated on the day. Well done to all teams who took part and a special thank you to all the teams mentors for organising the trip for the girls. Looking forward to Camán to Croker 2014 already.

There are 7 teams entered into the Ulster Premier League with reigning champions Loughgiel Shamrocks hosting Ulster Club Intermediate Champions Ballycran in the first round.

(Pictured at the launch of the NWP Recycling Ulster Leagues- Laura Hughes of NWP Recycling, Eimear Murphy of Lavey, DFM Martin McGuinness, Brona McIntyre of Loughgiel, Ruby Marie Rice of Creggan and DCAL Minister Caral Ní Chuilín)

2012 Ulster Shield Runner’s Up Cushendall will hope to go one step further than last year as they begin their campaign at home to Armagh side Ballymacnab. A new section, the Ulster Plate has been added to ensure a level playing field for all clubs. 2012 Mid Ulster League winners Newbridge of Derry will face Ballygalget of the Ard’s Peninsula.

All games are scheduled to begin on April 17th and will all be finished by the end of May. Fixtures for the 2013 Mid Ulster League will be released ASAP

Premier League fixtures

Premier Shield fixtures

Ulster Plate fixtures

Annual Camogie Congress of 2013 in Westport, Co Mayo will go down as a memorable one for the Camogie Association. At Hotel Westport the passing of Motion 11- Individual Affiliation Fees per member was passed with a 72% majority which the Camogie Association hope will provide a solid footing for the future.

Over the past number of months all counties and clubs have viewed presentations on the proposed Affiliation scheme which will see each member pay an affiliation fee to the Camogie Association from 2014 and this was passed by more than the required two thirds majority.  In line with this new scheme the registration dates for clubs, counties and provinces has been put back to allow this process to run more smoothly.

At present, each club pays a €300 affiliation fee to the Camogie Association that covers all its members. From next year, each adult member will pay €23, with €5 of that retained by the county board, €2 by the provincial council and the rest entering central coffers.

The fee for youth members will be €13. Again, the relevant county board will retain €5, with €2 going to the provincial council and the remainder belonging to the Camogie Association. The result will be that whereas membership is responsible for just 10% of the association’s income at present, that percentage will increase to 29% of a greater overall figure.

“This is a huge move away from where we are” said the Camogie Association’s acting director-general, Mary O’Connor. “We have time to plan what we want to do but a lot of the money will be earmarked for development. The certainty of knowing what the revenue will be will allow county boards and the provinces to plan year-on-year.”

“The focus on development will be on a broad level, not just games. Raising the profile of the games and investing in good governance will be important too. But certainly, we will be looking to support coaching courses and putting programmes in place so that the costs aren’t prohibiting people who want to play camogie.”

There was disappointment for Ulster Camogie when a motion aimed at reducing the number of half way venue games for our counties was defeated. Despite some passionate plea’s from Ulster Delegate Rosemary Hughes Merry, Jennifer Cultra of Down, Antrim Chairperson Una O’Halloran and Down Senior Player Fionnuala Carr the motion came only a couple of votes short of the two thirds required. All-Ireland Club Semi-Finals will remain on a home and away basis following a Wexford motion calling for them to move to half way venues was defeated (76% against).

A Wexford motion to bring the Club Championships into the calendar year was defeated as Croke Park would not be available to host games in December however their motion to reduce the mandatory purchase of All-Ireland Final tickets from three to two was passed. Hosting of the Gael Linn competition on an annual basis remains unchanged despite a motion to make it optional from Ard Chomhairle. Small sided games will remain at U12 level after a motion from Connacht Council to change to U11 failed.

Provincial Councils will now have until the end of November to play their Senior and Intermediate Club Championship Semi-Finals whilst Provincial Junior Championships must still be played off by end of October. Players/officials and mentors dismissed from the field of play now have the option to accept their mandatory penalty set out in An Treoraí Oifigiúil rather than having to wait for their hearing to take place.

Congress 2014 will take place at an Ulster venue next March

(Mothers & Daughters after recent programme in Mayobridge)

The workshops will cover the coaching of the basic skills of Grip and Swing, Dribbling, Roll Lift and Jab Lift, Face Catch, Shoulder Clash and Strike From The Hand using the IDEAL Coaching Model of Introduce Demonstrate Explain Action Looking. The workshops will take place in the below venues.

Creggan – Thursday March 21^st 7pm-9pm

Newry- St Ronan’s PS-  Wednesday 27th March 7-9pm

If you have any queries contact ross@camogie.ie .

Pictured is the Participants of the Urban Schools Camogie Blitz at St Marys

The culmination of the Urban Schools Programme took place today (13/3/13) with all the schools participating in a blitz. The blitz took place oon the 3G pitch in St Marys College. There was over 50 girls from 3 schools participated in the 6 a side blitz with each team getting 6 games. Well done to all the girls who participated and made the programme such a success. A massive thank you to Paul Callaghan, Enda Mc Dermott and Sharon Mc Cullagh for all their help in organising the blitz. Also a big thank you to teachers Katherine Green, Jenny Martin and Isobel Mc Nulty for organising their schools on the day. Hopefully the programme can lead to increased participation in the city and in the schools system in the city

(Also Pictured is Eiméar Murphy of Lavey, Brona McIntyre Loughgiel Shamrocks and Ruby Marie Rice of Creggan)

Applications are now open for the 2013 NWP Recycling Ulster Club Leagues.

This year an extra section has been introduced to ensure a level playing field for all clubs.In 2012 Loughgiel Shamrocks won the Premier Shield, Kickhams Creggan won the Ulster Shield while Newbridge of Derry won the Mid Ulster League

Fixtures will begin on April 10th

Your club can apply here

Closing date for application is March 14th