Hagney hoping to lead Granemore back to the top

By Shaun Casey

GRANEMORE have shown amazing consistency across the last decade in the Armagh Camogie Championship, and now they’er aiming to get their hands back on the crown.

After winning the Junior A All-Ireland in 2023, they surrendered their title in the 2024 decider and lost out to Crossmaglen in last season’s county final, so they are eager to get back on track.

The Rangers halted Granemore’s bid for four in a row this time last year and had to withstand a late Granemore comeback to claim a two-point victory.

That defeat still lingers in the Granemore changing room and captain Edel Hagney insists that it has driven her side as they look ahead to this Sunday’s Armagh Senior Camogie Championship final showdown with Crossmalgen.

“Coming into the county final, it’s where we want to be. Getting beaten by Crossmaglen last year has really motivated us this year to come back again and now, we’re just looking forward to the game,” she said.

Granemore have been the dominant force in Armagh Camogie in recent years and this season, they had enough players to enter a team in the Junior Championship. That side also reached the final at that grade.

“Nobody likes losing but that’s sport,” Hagney continued. “We’ve been in ten finals in the last eleven years and that’s some achievement for our club, and to have the juniors as well, it’s just class.

“There’s a great buzz around the club and to have that many girls out playing camogie at senior level is so encouraging. The amount of girls we have out training and driving each other on is brilliant for the club.”

Armagh finally got over the line in the Premier Junior All-Ireland Championship this year and PJ O’Mullan’s side was backboned by the best that Granemore have to offer.

Sharpshooter Rachael Trainor top scored with 0-6 as they beat Cavan by two-points while fellow forward chipped in with 0-3 and was named as the official player of the match.

Midfielder Ciara Hill has been nominated for Player of the Year while Ciarrai Devlin and youngster Fiadhna Loughran were also key for the Orchard County.

Hagney hopes that the experience Granemore have on the field can help them get over the line. “We know what to expect from Cross’ and we have plenty of experience on the field as well,” she added.

“The likes of Rachael Trainor and Colleen Gribben, they so much experience, and they really drive us on.”