BALLINDERRY CAMOGS POINT THE WAY FORWARD

 Over the past ten years, a number of committed girls have successfully introduced and integrated the game of camogie into the small parish of Ballinderry and in doing so, have provided an outstanding recreational facility for all female age groups.  The club are now recognised as one of the top local camogie clubs with over one hundred and twenty five members and five teams playing at a competitive level.

This small club has grown from strength to strength particularly over recent years.  Originally only fielding a senior team in the second division, Ballinderry camogs now compete at all age levels as well as being strongly represented on the school, university and county scene.

In 2003 the club’s dedication and commitment was recognised when they obtained the Junior Clubmark demonstrating the strong policies and practices which are in place to ensure safe quality sporting opportunities for young people.  Following this award, the under-age teams proved that the club were worthy winners by winning the Under 14, 16 and 18 county championships.

This significant success pointed the way to bigger and brighter things.. With the girls striving to obtain qualifications in coaching, improving practices and skills, child protection and first aid, their efforts were soon recognised when in 2004 the Shamrocks club was awarded the prestige Irish News Ulster Club award for commitment to under-age teams and coaching. This was a memorable day for the camogs when they saw that their groundwork was at last paying off .

In 2005, the club organised “The Patricia Bateson Ulster Memorial Camogie Competition” in memory of the late Patricia who played camogie for Ballinderry Shamrocks.  The competition was hugely successful with sixteen top teams from all over Ulster competing.  Ballinderry Shamrocks proved to all in Ulster that they were a force to be reckoned with, by beating teams such as Slaughtneil, Swatragh and Lavey and winning the overall competition, a further confidence booster for the club as well as a fitting tribute to Patricia. 

Now in 2006, the girls are continuing to raise their profile further. They received the Golden clubmark, which recognises the club’s coaching portfolio.  The girls have embraced community sports development iniatives and integrated coaching sessions and programmes into set programmes organised by Cookstown District council.   .

With new sponsorship from Crossroad fuels, the camogs are determined to make their mark on both the league and championship campaigns this year.  On behalf of the Ballinderry Camogie Club we would like to thank Brian McKinless for his generous sponsorship and we hope that we will continue to do the parish proud.

Martina Devlin