Strong Carlow showing in Puc Fada Laighean

Eleven o’clock on Saturday morning the famed Nine Stones and whatever lies underneath along with the slopes of Sliabh Bawn were quickly awakened from their slumber with the clash of the ash and leather as the Puc Fada Craobh Laighean finals got under way. 

Competitors from the twelve counties in Leinster began arriving around ten and the organising committee had everything ready and set to go. A small scare earlier in the morning was whether the dense fog would evaporate and disappear which it did. With the fine day the course conditions were exceptionally good, with a strong wind blowing higher up on the trail and it is this that brings out the best in all the competitors as was clearly visible on Saturday. 

One thing that was coming across was for the first time competitors taking part they thought it was exceptional as they had to do this all on their own, do what they thought was not possible and felt so good when they arrived back at the finish line and a new experience. The camaraderie and sportsmanship between the people from all the counties and the friendships made left them taking away great memories.

A special word of praise to Carlow’s four competitors who did themselves their club and county proud. In under 16 camogie Isabel Foley (St. Mullins), senior camogie Shauna Sweeney (Carlow Town), under 16 hurling Liam Murphy (Naomh Eoin), and senior hurling Ciaran Abbey (Naomh Eoin).

The small in number organising committee with members from the camogie and hurling clubs leave no stone unturned with attention to detail in all aspects and it leads to a very smooth running of the event on the day. A very special appreciation and sincere thanks to all the stewards markers and spotters supplied from the camogie and hurling clubs from The hot cuppa and refreshments supplied by the Naomh Eoin ladies committee are a very welcome guest all day appreciated by all and we thank them for that. A huge amount of work has to go on behind the scenes.

Talk about how close the competition can be when the results was checked and finalised less than fourteen yards would separate two competitors after travelling a distance of almost three miles.

It was certainly a good day for the people who travelled from Westmeath as they have three competitors going forward to the all-Ireland Results going forward to the all-Ireland Puc fada finals on the Cooley mountains on the first Sunday in August:

Under 16 camogie - Siofra Ginty (St. Cillians, Offaly)

Senior camogie - Patricia Coote (Southern Gaels, Westmeath)

Under 16 hurling - Conor Ralleigh (Brownstown, Westmeath)

Senior hurling - Cillian Kiely (Kilcormac Killoughey, Offaly) who was defending his title a