A Chairde
It gives me great pleasure as Chair of An Riocht Camogie sub- committee to present this annual report to you all at our Annual General meeting. This year has been quite a significant one for Camogie in the Club and I am pleased to report that progress has been made in promoting Camogie to everyone in the Club as a meaningful activity and one worthy of further development.
I would first of all like to say a very big thank you to the Club Chairman James, Secretary Joseph and indeed all the committee members for the support they have shown to the Camogie section this year I know all the players have very much appreciated everything that has been done for them and the vote of confidence and good wishes shown to them has undoubtedly resulted in increased performances on the field of play. I will now, if I may give a brief outline of activity throughout the year.

Under 8 & 10s
Mol an Oige (look after the youth) should be the cornerstone for any GAA Club looking to progress -and it is at the heart of the camogie club. It continues to work tirelessly at juvenile level and the fruits of the labours of the few are starting to be born out at senior level. It is a remarkable fact that 11 underage players were involved in the senior panel and we should never forget the hard work done at this level to sew the seeds of interest in camogie. This team took place in a few tournaments this year which they thoroughly enjoyed. A very big thank you for her ongoing work must go to Veronica Baldwin and special thanks to any of the parents who helped her along the way

Under 12s
In October last the girls were crowned Down league champions for the first time in 18 years amid great celebration. In the season that followed they also gave a good account of themselves losing to Leitrim in the quarter final of the championship and being beaten by Attical in the final of the seven a side Kingdom competition. They were beaten in the league final play off again by Leitrim
Thanks must go to Jody Higgins and Veronica Baldwin for looking after the team and bringing on our senior players of the future!

Under 14s
It was a fabulous season for our u 14s. While they were beaten in the final of the Feile by Portaferry they went on to capture the Shield beating Ballycran. In a tremendous league final they beat Portaferry by a point also winning the Patsy Conkey Shield. Unfortunately this score line was reversed in the semi final of the championship when Portaferry where the victors.

It augurs well for the future of camogie that these girls are making such tremendous strides and congratulations to Nicole Kelly, Sarah Jane Harpur and Maria Higgins who actually made the senior panel this year.

Very many thanks on a job well done must go to Veronica Baldwin, Michelle Fitzpatrick and Ciara Trainor

Under 16s
The girls played in the u-16 league and championship with only 4 other teams. They were successful against all these teams with the exception of Ballycran who beat them in the very first game by a margin of 5-09. They were again beaten by Ballycran in the semi final of the championship but by a very much reduced margin. The girls got stronger with every game so much so that they now meet Ballycran in the league final play off at Ballykinlar this Saturday 15th November 2008 at 1-00p.m. and it is expected that the margin will be even smaller.-who knows they may well chalk up a win. Good luck to them anyway but irrespective of that with a bit more hardwork and dedication next year they could well turn the corner.

A very big thank you to Danielle Morgan Maria Fitzpatrick and Ciara Trainor who looked after the teams and indeed everyone else who helped out in any capacity

Minors
The Minor league this year was a bit of a non-event as many of the matches were won by large margins while other teams failed to field This was probably due to the fact that no fewer than 11 of this panel were also involved in the very successful senior team and this seemed to scare a lot of teams off. The most memorable game of the season so far was the Feis 7s final in Castlewellan where after an epic struggle which went to extra time the girls narrowly lost to Portaferry The loss of Laura Brennan and an injured Naoimh Mulhern did not help the team but it provided huge entertainment for the spectators. The girls have reached the final of the Championship which is scheduled for Saturday 22 November 2008 in Leitrim where they will meet old rivals Portaferry who recently beat them handsomely in the league in Portaferry a reversal of the result earlier in the season at An Riocht.. It should make for an exciting encounter and it is looking increasingly likely that these two will also meet in a league play of at a date to be decided. All in all it promises to be quite a climax to the season.
Again my thanks to all involved in the team – Manager Sean Caughey, Angela Mulhern, Conor Mulhern and Paula Fearon

Seniors
The seniors started the year more in hope than expectation and committed themselves to a very rigorous Sunday morning training regime which started last November and only finished at the end of October following the loss to Dunloy. Much is said of youth nowadays but there are very few of us who would have made such a massive commitment (and stuck rigidly to it). These young girls are certainly to be admired for that effort and I thank them for doing so. I only hope they felt suitably rewarded by winning the Down Championship and League and having enjoyed the new experience of playing the best of Ulster. It is necessary in this day and age to give this sort of commitment and I only hope that they see it in their hearts to make that commitment for a further few years.

My dearest wish for 2009 is that other players will commit to the cause so that we can firmly put ourselves back on the camogie map.

I would also thank them for taking the time out to meet a crowd of hockey girls from Boston who were holidaying in Ireland. The goodwill, politeness and willingness to accommodate them and introduce them to camogie were very favourably commented on by their peers.

I cannot leave this section without giving thanks to the senior team trainer and manager – Sean Caughey. None of the girls (except Niamh Mulhern and Sophie Colgan- who joined him at a quiz night!) had ever heard of him and he took over the team when no-one else wanted to- we even advertised in the papers. The rest we all seen unfold and I would like to thank him for his efforts – I know he is an extremely hardworking businessman but took time out to bring his own brand of management to the Club.

I am sure we all in the club wish him the best for the future wherever that might take him.
I would like to thank anyone who helped us with the running of the team this year including Conor Mulhern, Angela Mulhern and a special word of thanks to Mary Allen who joined us at the eleventh hour to provide much needed First Aid support. I know she played a crucial part in the Dunloy matches which became particularly nasty at times and I know the young girls were very much comforted by her calming nature, her administering of first aid and her words of encouragement.

Thanks also to Maura Trainor, Christina Donnelly Veronica Baldwin Michelle Fitzpatrick and Daryl for officiating at the games. All this assistance is an integral part of a senior team set up and often goes unnoticed and unrecognised but I know the management and players appreciate the efforts of these people on their behalf.

Sub Committee
An ad hoc subcommittee met on a couple of occasions during the year and thanks must go to those who attended namely Veronica Baldwin, Michelle Fitzpatrick, Danielle Morgan, Michelle Fitzpatrick, Angela Mulhern, Sean Caughey and Joe Donnan.. To cement the progress of camogie within the club it is imperative that such a committee is kept next year and I will be seeking nominations from our members for a Committee of 6 people and myself to officially reform a sub- committee that will work towards the preparation of a 3 year strategic plan for camogie and oversee the running of camogie within the club. I would ask the Main Committee for its support in these measures which will I am sure lead to a more coherent and purpose led structure for Camogie going forward.

Administration
Administration is key to the success of any club and I would like to thank Joe Donnan our secretary for always being available to assist in anyway possible.

If I may be forgiven there is one person I would particularly like to thank. She has come back to her roots…come home if you like …and has played probably the most significant part in keeping the ship steered in the right direction. She has acted as Secretary of the Camogie club and has taken on the role with absolutely no experience save a willingness to learn. She has done so with a willing heart and a love of camogie (and even managed to keep the girls supplied with half time refreshments), she has arranged matches, claimed points, organised travel, attended County Board meetings, purchased hurls…the Club owes her a very big thank you…

I owe her a very big thank you and I only hope that she sticks around for many years to come as our club is certainly better of for her coming…Angela Mulhern…ladies and gentlemen.

County Matters
I would like to thank everyone who attended County Board meetings on our behalf and indeed served on the County Board including Veronica Baldwin (Vice Chair) Angela Mulhern and Michelle Fitzpatrick I would also thank Michelle Fitzpatrick and Veronica Baldwin for acting as our club referees- often a thankless job but a crucial one. I would congratulate Veronica in taking charge of a major county final.

I would congratulate all our players who served on County teams this year. It is again a testimony to the work done at juvenile level that the following were selected for County duty: Niamh Mulhern and Laura Brennan (Senior and Minor) Coleen Fearon and Sophie Colgan (Minor) Nicole Kelly Maria Higgins (Development Squad) and Lauren Clarke who was chosen to represent Down at the Feile in Dunloy Camogie is very much at a crossroads generally within the County and in An Riocht specifically. No Club can stand still. you either move forward or you fall into decline. Thankfully Camogie has moved forward this year but we must take nothing for granted and redouble our efforts to try and move to an even greater level of operation and competition.

I would thank the County Board and particularly Maureen O Higgins, Maura Quinn, Angeline Fearon and Eileen Hamill for their efforts at County level. They were always eager to help with any demands or queries we put upon them. We were glad to be able to provide our facilities for the County finals and the Ulster Championship and it is hoped that maybe we can assist with these finals in the future and maybe even some county games!

Sponsorship
The costs of running clubs are always on the rise particularly in camogie clubs and we cannot operate without the help of our sponsors. I would on behalf of the club like to thank all our sponsors who gave so generously to enable us to go on our remarkable journey this year. This includes all who sponsored our tracksuits and jerseys, all who sponsored our communal breakfasts and meals and all who helped in anyway with our publications and advertisements. I would also like to thank Jerry Quinn (Outlook), Paddy McAvoy (Mourne Observer) Jimmy Davis (Newry Reporter) and Diarmuid Cahill (Down and An Riocht websites) for the fantastic coverage they gave us all year

Looking forward and looking back
The team of 1980/1981 achieved great heights and the help and support they were prepared to give the girls this year was a key aspect of how well our teams progressed. I personally would like to thank them sincerely for the interest and commitment they showed at the drop of a hat. Indeed I would thank each and everyone of you – parents supporters friends and club members for your commitment and goodwill towards us. We sometimes forget that our whole club is as a family… we may argue from time to time like all families do but we are proud of our Club (as a family).
We certainly showed that this year when we came together as a family Club to back our camogie girls (who will ever forget the Championship final in Attical and the titanic struggles against Dunloy) that comradery I feel showed how close we really are and we must not forget that. Like a family we will go through good times and bad and thankfully we involved in camogie as part of the club family can look forward to marching on in progress and possibly the return of even greater times.

Thank you all for being part of that

Patricia Clarke
Cathaorleach