Camogie

Camogie

St Louis’ has a proud tradition in College’s camogie and in the late 1940’s/early 1950’s were successful at the top level of school’s competitions.  In this time the majority of the team were local girls who continued their success in the game when playing for Antrim senior camogie team and winning All Ireland titles.  The current St Louis’ teams play either A or B level in Ulster College’s competitions. 

Having won the Senior B title in 2010, St Louis’ now compete in the A competition.  The senior camogs have always managed to reach the semi-final stages of the competition but hopes are high based on recent success at junior level that the current group of seniors can make a break through to a Senior A Ulster final in the near future. 

SENIOR A LEAGUE/CHAMPIONSHIP – CORN UAN ULADH

Like the senior team, the junior camogs are playing in the top tier of Ulster College’s. There are two sections in the 2015/16 Junior A competition as there are 7 teams competing in it this year.

Juniors in ‘A’ League & Championship – the Corn Eimhear

U16 7’s Camogie

Ulster College’s run an annual U16 7 a-side competition every September.  St Louis’ has won the B section of this on 3 occasions (2011, 2014 & 2015) which ensured qualification to the All Ireland series.  In the three years of competing in the 7’s in Dublin, St Louis’’ have always managed to reach the Final only to lose narrowly on each occasion.  The Ulster 7’s competition this year will take place on Thursday 29^th September with the All Ireland scheduled for Saturday 29^th October.

U14 Camogie

In 2013, Year 9 and 10 girls claimed the school’s first Ulster College’s title at this level when they defeated St Pius X Magherafelt.  In May 2016, the U14 camogs won the Ulster B title following a comprehensive victory over Our Lady & St Patrick’s College Knock.  St Louis’ U14 squad will play in the A section of the 2016/17 competition.

U14 ‘A’ competition – Corn San Clár

The College’s Year 8 competition doesn’t start until the summer term.  Ulster Camogie usually hosts a development blitz day in October which gives our youngest players an early experience of participating at Ulster level.

On 2^ndJune 2015, our Year 8’s won the Ulster College’s title defeating Assumption in the final to claim a first ever title at this level.  In June 2016, the Year 8 squad reached the final but unfortunately a sluggish first half meant the Kintullagh girls were unable to reclaim the title.  Their opponents Our Lady & St Patrick’s College Knock were much sharper and faster in the opening half and despite St Louis’ dominating the second half they could not get the scores on the board and Knock claimed the title on a score line of 4-3 to 3-2. 

These players will be required for the U14 team in 2016/17 and combined with the success of the U14 squad they will compete in the A competition but with such good numbers and positive attitudes the future of St Louis’ camogie looks bright!

Year 8’s competition - Corn an Athar ó Daibhis

The format of the Year 8 competition and draws will be confirmed after Ulster College’s have received all entries.  The competition itself will take place in April/May 2017.

TRAINING

Senior and Junior camogie competitions commence in early September and training continues for as long as teams progress. U14 training usually begins in January ahead of the league starting in March.    Female games staff will inform pupils when training for all age groups will start.

CLUBS

The large number of St Louis’ pupils playing camogie come from the following Clubs: Cuchullians Dunloy, Geraldines Portglenone, Loughgiel Shamrocks, Bridini Oga, St Mary’s Rasharkin, Cushendall, Tir na nog, All Saints Ballymena, Cargin, Creggan and St Mary’s Ahoghill.

COUNTY PLAYERS

St Louis’ still have a long tradition of having players on various County teams.  The Antrim team which own the Junior All Ireland in 2010 had eight past pupils on St Louis’ on the panel.   Antrim currently run U13, U14 and U15 Development squads as well as U16, Minor and Intermediate County Teams and former and current St Louis’ pupils feature in these panels.  St Louis’ coaches encourage pupils to play at county level as it helps develop individually as well as making them leaders on school teams. 

In 2016 St Louis’ had a large number of players on various Antrim underage squads from U13 to Minor, many of whom won a number of tournaments or championships throughout the season.

ALL STARS

St Louis’ has been fortunate to have a large number of students recognised on the Ulster College’s Camogie All Star team since their inception in 2007.  Shannon Graham and Louise McAleese were the school’s first recipients in 2008.  Shannon claimed one of the first ever three in a row All Stars (2008, 2009 & 2010).  Each year the College’s team travel to Dublin to take part in the Interprovincial tournament.  Ulster have reached the final for three successive years (2011, 2012 & 2013) but have only experienced success on one occasion.  That was in 2011 and St Louis’ student Anna Kelly was a member of the squad.  Indeed in a very tight final against Leinster, it was Anna who scored a last minute point to claim the trophy for the first time for Ulster!  Shari Carey picked up two All Star awards for the goal keeper position (2012 & 2013) while Lucia McNaughton added another All Star trophy to the family in 2013 as her older sister Una won two camogie All Stars (2009 & 2010) while at St Louis’ and brother Nicholas won a hurling All Star in 2012.  Caitriona Graham was an All Star in 2014/15 and collected her second successive Award in the Goal Keeper’s position in 2015/16.  She was joined on this team by Loughgiel Shamrock’s Therese McKinley and Bridini Oga sharp shooter Victoria Edgar.

ST LOUIS’ CAMOGIE ROLL OF HONOUR: