Camogie season unveiled!

Seamus Duke  Roscommon County Camogie Board launched their 2008 fixtures plan at a meeting in Hannon’s Hotel, Roscommon on Tuesday night. It was also announced on the night at funding of €8,000 had been secured towards the employment of a part-time development officer for camogie in Roscommon.   The launch was attended by Mary O’Connor, a National Development Officer from Croke Park and a multiple All-Ireland medal winner with the Cork camogie and ladies football teams. All seven Roscommon clubs were also represented at the meeting.   Mary O’Connor told The Roscommon People at Tuesday night’s launch that Roscommon are part of a big expansion of camogie nationwide. ‘It’s great to be here to see the progress that is being made in Roscommon. There has been a big expansion in the game in the last 12 months since I started in this job. There are two new clubs in Roscommon (Tulsk and Roscommon Gaels) which is great and the announcement of the funding tonight is a reward for that. The county board can now draw up a programme of work for that person and it should be a big help’ she said.   ‘Camogie is growing nationally. The number of clubs nationally has risen from 490 to 519 this year alone and we are very happy with that. There is camogie being played in 29 of the 32 counties and we have new county boards in two counties, including Mayo. The advent of the development officers are a big boost to the game’ she said.    ‘It’s a great game for young girls to play. It teaches them a new skill and team-work and they will make friends and get fit too, so everyone is a winner. I hope to see Roscommon on the rise from now onwards’ she concluded.    Roscommon chairperson Geraldine Beattie-Greene wished all the clubs the best of luck for the year ahead and urged the clubs to play the fixtures when they were scheduled to, because of the expansion – especially in the underage competitions this year.   The various competitions will run as follows: Spring League: Weekend of 2nd March; U-14 Championship: Weekend 8th March; U-16 Championship: Weekend 29th March; U-12 Championship: 5th July; Junior Championship: 5th July; Senior Final: 20th September; Minor Championship: 22nd July.   Forthcoming League games: v Kildare away on March 9th; v Carlow at home on 16th March; v Meath at home on 23rd March.   Championship: v Meath away on 29th June; v Kildare away on 12th July; v London at home on 26th July.   The Roscommon County Camogie Board fo 2008 is – Chairperson: Geraldine Beattie-Greene; Vice Chair: Marie O’Brien; Secretary: Marion Conway;  Treasurer: Denise McDonnell; PR0: Ciara Moran; Registrar: Maeve Healy; Connacht Council Delegate: Belinda Dooley.