Roisin McCormick, Loughgiel Shamrocks, pictured ahead of this weekend’s AIB Camogie All-Ireland Club Championship semi-finals and for the release of the first full episode of ‘Meet #TheToughest’, a new content series from AIB that will showcase some of the final stages of this year’s AIB Camogie All-Ireland Club Championships, through footage captured by cameras worn by players for the first time in Gaelic Games. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
Camogie and hurling occupy a central role in Loughgiel. It is why Róisín McCormick is relishing this action packed spell.
Successful teams have enjoyed successful days in Antrim and Ulster, but delivering on the national stage brings further joy and hope. Reaching last year’s AIB All-Ireland Club Camogie decider illustrated Loughgiel Shamrocks’ considerable potential.
The county and provincial titles have been retained. So, Loughgiel head for Ashbourne heartened on Saturday, fully aware that another demanding assignment awaits against Dicksboro. The preparation for these high stakes matches, though, commenced a long time ago.
“With Loughgiel we have quite a young team,” McCormick explains. “We are playing with a lot of players around 25, we have a few over 30, and a few about 18.
“My group that are about 25, we all came up the same route with the same management and coaches. A lot of work was put into our teams at underage. We won two All-Ireland Féile's in a row at U14, then we went on to win championships at U16 and minors.”
McCormick highlights Ronan McCloskey’s contribution. “It all came from Ronan McCloskey, who had stepped in from the senior hurling team to coach us at underage,” McCormick adds.
“He completely transformed us into different players. I think it has fed through into senior with good management at each level, it is just continuing, hopefully, to stay that way.
Roisin McCormick, Loughgiel Shamrocks, and Laura Ward, Sarsfields, in action during the 2022 AIB All-Ireland Club Camogie Senior Final at Croke Park. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
"I know a few years at underage it did good bad in Loughgiel when we weren't winning as much, but a few more people have stepped in.
“That is where it comes from, that is where the players have come from - the grassroots. A lot of work does go on with a lot of development in the different age groups, but it pays off when it comes to senior. I know that personally myself.”
Belief was generated from triumphing in the Féile, and other underage triumphs mattered deeply according to McCormick. “Even winning in Ulster at underage was a massive achievement for us,” she recalls.
“That was the highest we had played at, you want more of it. Going into All-Ireland championships, getting to play against the likes of Cashel and Scariff from Clare, it was a massive achievement.
“We felt we weren't done yet, we wanted to keep pushing on. We had seen at my age at U14 the likes of Racquel McCarry, Ella McMullan pushing on. Getting to All-Ireland semis, unfortunately not getting over the line, but you saw them playing at that level. Your aim was to get to that level too.
“I'm just glad we have stuck at it as a group because a lot of our players are still there at senior level, the likes of Amy Boyle, Anna Connolly, and Megan McGarry, we stuck together, we still have our own group chat.
“It is nice to say that we have been there, through thick and thin, getting to All-Ireland semis and finals now at senior.”