Katie’s memories

In the latest of Gaelic Life’s ‘Our Games’ feature, Katie McAnenly looks back over some of the memorable moments of her career playing and watching camogie.

Name: Katie McAnenly (nee McAuley)

Teams played for: St Malachy’s Castledawson, Derry and Erin’s Own Cargin

Your current involvement: I am currently playing camogie with Erin’s Own Cargin. There’s chat of ladies football for Errigal Ciaran Seconds next year, but we’ll see.

Which club game, that you played in, will you never forget and why?

The 2006 Derry Senior Camogie final against Lavey. We won our first senior championship having previously got there in 2004. We finally got over the line. Our semi-final against Swatragh is a close favourite, we won 6-6 to 3-5. Quite a few could fit in here.

Which club game, that you watched, will you never forget and why?

The day Sleacht Néill camogs won in Croke Park when the snow was covering the ground.

They must have been frozen from beginning to end. It didn’t hamper the skill level anyway.

Which county game, that you played in, will you never forget and why?

The 2012 All Ireland Intermediate replay against Galway. If we had of been beaten that day, I doubt I would have ever got over it. A team with an abundance of talent from 1 to 30.

Which county game, that you watched, will you never forget and why?

Any of the Senior Camogie finals in Croke Park. The skill and fitness levels of those girls are on another level. I thoroughly enjoy all of those games.

What was the funniest thing you ever saw in a game?

In an u-14 game in the All Ireland Community Games the referee curled up into a ball on the ground and I had to jump over him while soloing the ball.

CHAMPIONS…Katie McAnenly (nee McAuley), her sisters Maura, Una, Tom O’Kane and Paddy Henry Jnr celebrate Castledawson’s 2006 Derry title

What was the strangest thing you ever saw in a game?

Playing for Ulster in Dublin with Dominic ‘Woody’ McKinley managing us. A lot of us got lost on the way to the game and had seconds to get onto the pitch. Some girls had no socks or boots on starting the game. Looking back, it was madness.

What was the most memorable performance from a player in a game that you watched?

Quite possibly the performance of Jane Adams in the Ulster Championship back in 2006. She beat us single handed that day with her speed, skill and agility. Jane always performed. Paula McAtamney was also a pleasure to watch. As skilful as any hurler in her prime, she caused havoc for any back line.

What was the most memorable performance from a player in a game that you played?

Anytime we played against Jane Adams was memorable. We played Rossa in 2006 after winning the Derry Championship and she beat us on her own. The highlights were on in The Anchor in Portstewart that night and I can remember we all laughed at how embarrassing it was.

What did you love about the games you played in?

I was blessed to play with my two older sisters Maura and Una for years and still play with Maura for Cargin. Thankfully, I’ve been very lucky to have a long career playing for various teams creating so many friendships. I don’t regret a single second.

What did you hate about the games you played in?

The beginning of the second half in any game. I always feel more nervous at that time as you know this is it. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the same coverage of games like teams get now. It would be great to have a lot of more games to rewatch in years to come.