Mini 7s Camogie

​Caherelly N.S. have been crowned I.N.T.O. Mini 7s County Camogie champions for the first time ever!  On Wednesday the 18th of April 2018 the girls in Caherelly N.S. made history by winning the competition in Mick Neville Park Rathkeale.  The Allianz I.N.T.O. mini 7s is a competition which takes place each year in football, hurling and camogie, for girls and boys and is open to all schools to enter. It is a 7-a-side competition with matches of 7 minutes per half.  This was an amazing experience for us all and is one of the highlights of my Primary School life!
 
We started training after mid-term with Ms Ryan, Mrs McGuinness and Andrew Ryan and luckily all of our training paid off.  The qualifiers were held in April in Caherelly with Crecora and ourselves being the two teams to go through to the East finals in Doon on April 16th.  On that blustery day we played Lisnagry, Crecora, Tineterrife and Knockea.  Each team played fought hard and put it up to us but we came away with the East title.  We were very happy winning the East Final as it was our school's first time to win in all the years of taking part.  The boys also did very well and got into the East final but unfortunately they didn't get through on the day.
 
We didn't have long to wait until the County final as it took place only two days later in Rathkeale.  The four teams who qualified were, Caherelly (East), Raheenagh (West), Bruree (South) and Patrickswell (City).  With nerves building up beforehand we headed off on the bus to Rathkeale.  Mrs McGuinness and Andrew spoke to us about what we had already achieved and calmed our nerves.  Once the ball was thrown in all we thought was the match and playing as a team.  We fought very hard and put everything we had practised into action knowing what was at stake.  With two matches played against Raheenagh and Bruree and two victories under our belt, we faced Patrickswell.  The also had won two matches so it was going to be down to this result to determine who would be crowned champions.  We gave it everything, we marked our players and got into good positions.  The wind was very strong on the day and our opposition were skilful.  When the final whistle blew we knew that we had given it everything and the title was ours.  The feeling was unreal! We were all so delighted and it was definitely worth all the bruises! We were presented with the I.N.T.O. Allianz Shield by Bro. James Dormer, Secretary of the Limerick Cumman na mBunscol.
 
The celebrations began with a stop at the shop where Mrs. Allen, our Principal treated us to ice-creams.  Arriving back at school was a special moment for all of us as the whole school had lined out in a Guard of Honour.  We felt like heroes as we walked together through the archway of hurleys.  Parents , children and teachers cheered and clapped for us.  Representing my school has been a huge privilege.  It wouldn't have been possible without my amazing team mates, we played as a team and supported each other in every game.  Maybe some day we will play for Limerick together in Croke Park!
 
Caherelly Team; Beatrice Cahill, Alannah Culhane, Amy O'Brien, Vivienne Hannan, Órla Ryan, Leah Tierney, Leah Whooley, Lucia Cosgrove, Grace Hennessy, Isobel Tierney.