Championship opener 'make or break'

by Seamus Hayes

Clare camogie joint captain Niamh O’Dea readily acknowledges that Saturday’s All-Ireland senior championship opening round against Down is “the biggest game of the year for both teams”.

John Carmody’s side travel to the grounds of Liatroim Fontenoys for the opening game in the group before having home advantage for their matches against Galway and Cork.

“Camogie fans looking at the group when the draw was made automatically picked Cork and Galway as the teams likely to progress as they are amongst the favourites for the title. Saturday’s game could make or break our year”, Kilfenora native O’Dea outlined.

Speaking to The Clare Echo during a break from preparing her students for next week’s maths exams in the Leaving and Junior Certificate, the St Caimin’s Community School teacher admitted, “Down beat Antrim in the Ulster final which was a massive win for them and they will see this as a great chance to add to that. They are a team we know very little about. We must concentrate on playing our own game”.

She noted, “we face a long bus journey in the heat which we are enjoying at present. We must organise how to deal with that first and when the game gets underway, try and play to our best”.

Clare’s last competitive outing was against Tipperary in the Munster final, a game which the Premier outfit won comfortably in Thurles. “We must pick ourselves up from the Munster final loss. We can’t dwell on what has happened before this”, according to Niamh, adding that “this is the biggest game of the year for us”. and Mattie once and I've lost all three but they're still great lads even though they've broken my heart a few times. It's brilliant to be playing with them in the county Jersey. It's truly special."

Niamh is happy that Clare have prepared well. Everyone has bought in and all have given their bit. There is a good buzz there and we are all fit and rearing to go. We have a few in the panel who are preparing for their Leaving certificate exams but hopefully all will be there for the game on Saturday”.

Following Saturday’s game which has a throw in time of 3p.m. Niamh will join with family members and travel to Clones to support the Clare footballers on Sunday when they take on Monaghan in the All-Ireland qualifier. Her brother Cian is a member of the football squad.

Talking sport takes up a good deal of time in the O’Dea home. “We are all playing at some level so there is always someone to offer a bit of advice”, Niamh said. She is a key member of the Banner ladies football team managed by her father J.J. and which also includes her sister Eva while brother Jack is a member of the Kilfenora intermediate football team and also an officer of the club.

MOH - "Like the lads said we'd all know each other so well. We will have a cut off each other when playing for our clubs but we will die for each other when we put on the county jersey”.

To win on Sunday and get their hands on the Irish Press Cup is something they are determined to do.

MOC - "It would be amazing. It's a bit surreal to be honest to think that we have this opportunity. When the whistle went after the Munster Final you needed a minute to actually let it sink in what we had just achieved. To go on and win it now would be unbelievable”.

FH - "It's been some journey. Beating Cork in the Munster Final was incredible. We then beat Kilkenny but Galway will be as tough a challenge as there is. They are the benchmark at underage hurling but we've improved all year long and I know if we win it'll be massive for all the people. It would mean the world to be honest”.

MOH – “That team in 1997 was a great team with great hurlers. We just hope that we can go on and be hurling for Clare for years to come. It would be great to make Dad watch the minor final of 2023 a hundred times if we win it”.