History beckons for Johnstownbridge camogie kingpins as All-Ireland semi-final awaits

By Elaine O’Brien Johnstownbridge v Eglish (Tyrone), All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship semi-final, Sunday 2pm in Donoghmore Ashbourne There is a collage that sits in our clubhouse in Johnstownbridge on which is written the statements. “It’s not just a club…It’s our Home. It’s not just a kit…It’s our colours…We’re not just a crowd…We’re Family and finally, It’s not just a game…It’s our Life” and that epitomises Johnstownbridge Camogie Club. Since its foundation in 1969 our club has provided friendship and fun for the girls of our community. The club as we know it today reformed in 1994 with a focus on building up our underage structure and that focus came to fruition in 2000 when a number of our current senior squad won the division four All-Ireland Feile na nGael competition to bring the first All-Ireland medals back to the club. The fact that some of that team will line out on Sunday, 17 years later, is a testament to their commitment to the game and to each other but also a testament to those coaches over the years who have helped these girls progress to two further All-Ireland medals and to the one man (Dick Flanagan) who has been there encouraging, supporting and managing every year since Feile in 2000. He has managed this group of girls to seven Senior County Championships, two Leinster Junior Club titles and two All-Ireland Junior Club titles. The road for the Johnstownbridge ladies to this weekend’s All-Intermediate Camogie Club Semi-Final has been a long one. It started back in 2011 when a group of young excited county champions travelled to Myshall for their first Leinster club championship match. It was the first time the Johnstownbridge girls witnessed a whole new level of Camogie and the result on the day reflected that. Before this years Leinster Club Final the last time Johnstownbridge and Myshall met was on a cold miserable Sunday back in 2013, on that occasion the Johnstownbridge ladies were no longer girls and they matched Myshall score for score until the final heartbreaking moments when Myshall scored a goal to win the game. Since that faithful day Myshall had won a Junior and Intermediate All-Ireland Club title and Johnstownbridge had won two Junior All-Ireland Club titles. Sunday November 19 presented Johnstownbridge Camogie ladies with the opportunity to demonstrate just how far they had come since 2013. Every ounce of the blood, sweat and tears that these players and their multiple coaches had put into their fitness, skills and teamwork was called upon and the Johnstownbridge girls grabbed their opportunity with both hands coming out 2-09 to 1-08 victors and become Leinster Intermediate Camogie Club Champions. On their way to being crowned Leinster champions the Johnstownbridge ladies have defeated teams from Wexford, Offaly and 18 times county champsions from Carlow with wins like that these girls have every right to believe they can make it to Croke Park on All-Ireland Camogie Club Final Sunday.