By Niall Gartland
DUNLOY’S success on the camogie front certainly didn’t happen overnight. After years of knocking on the door and the desperate disappointment of falling short on county final day, they have finally reaped the rewards of their perseverance.
The Antrim and Ulster titles are in the bag, and it’s been a long time coming. Captain Katie Laverty and her teammates have lost multiple county finals to Loughgiel, with last year’s defeat stinging deepest given just how close they came to getting the monkey off their backs.
They didn’t give up, however. Indeed, Laverty says there was something of a mindset switch this year, and now they stand proudly as Ulster champions following a hard-earned win over Down champions Clonduff last weekend. It’s a dream come true, really.
Reflecting on their arduous route to the promised land, Laverty said: “It’s been tough, but I suppose it made it so sweet when we actually won. We’ve been so close but so far away.
“This year, we met up at the start of the year and thought that, having put in a lot of work last year, we would have to do the same again and more. That meant extra wall balls, gym work and everything, just being accountable.
“I suppose the hurt of last year really spurred us on. Seeing how far Loughgiel have gone in recent years also gives you a bit of incentive to push on.
“To be fair, the work the girls have put in has been unbelievable. It was a different mindset this year, I think, coming off last year’s final, because that was a hard one to get over.”
So the Dunloy camogs have had their day in the sun. Their hurlers and footballers have won county titles in recent times (indeed, their hurlers take on Portaferry this weekend for a place in the Ulster final), but the camogs have had to wait their turn. The last time they won the provincial prize was back in 2003, which was also the last time they claimed the county title.
“We’ve been used to seeing the lorry come in for the hurlers, and then the footballers last year as well. Even for the young girls in the club, that’s all they’ve ever seen.
“For them to see us coming in, it means so much. It’s just been so special over the past few days, and then with the county final as well, it’s a feeling you can’t even describe. A few people have asked, but it’s something you can’t really put into words.”
Dunloy were forced to do without Nicole McAtamney on Saturday following an injury sustained in the county final. She was still very much at the forefront of proceedings, however, as Laverty explained.
“Nicole was a massive part of our county final win. When I was watching it back, I think it was six or seven seconds into the second half that she got a knock on the thumb.
“I said to her afterwards that I thought there was nothing wrong with her because of how well she continued to play. Then obviously she went up to the hospital and had to get wires.
“It was hard for her. She’s been about for a good while, she’s our free-taker and she’s a good person. She’s a big leader to have on the pitch and she’s great to have around.
“On Saturday, she was a big part of it on the sideline and was there with us at the end. It’s been tough for her, but fair play to her. She’s still contributing and has kept us going.”
They also expected a battle royale with Clonduff, and that’s exactly what they got. There were only four points between the teams at the final whistle, but Laverty never expected a walk in the park with the biggest prize in Ulster Club camogie up for grabs.
“We’ve played Clonduff in friendlies before, albeit not this year. We knew they had a big, strong team. I suppose, looking back at their matches with Loughgiel, they’ve been touch and go.
“We knew it was going to be another step up from the county championship and that they were going to bring a physical side to it, which they did. It was a tough, physical match. They’ve also had the experience of playing in Ulster and have been All-Ireland Intermediate champions, so we knew it was going to be a tough match.”