Is there any justice in the world?
Is there any sense left in Ireland.
This should be one of the most exciting weekends in the lives of some of the students of St. Joseph’s Rochfortbridge.
After months – no, years – of training with the school, honing their camogie skills and building bonds and dreaming together, the girls made it the whole way to the Post-Primary B Leinster Camogie final and Saturday 21 January is their date with destiny. At least it was supposed to be.
For some of them, they’ve also been trekking around the province giving up time and sweat to meet the demands of an inter-provincial footballer. Saturday 21 January is where all that work was leading to as well – the Post-Primary School Inter-Pros Blitz.
“We, their team mates, have to watch some of our closest friends cry over a situation they should not be in…” https://t.co/597UYsqQ1D
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 20, 2017
Now they must choose between their school and province. Now, they might not get to play what could be their last ever game with their school.
Moments like these – especially for Leaving Cert students – can be the culmination of not just your sporting endeavours, but your whole time at school with your friends. These are the big days you’ll look back on and remember, win or lose. These are what cap off years spent together, growing together.
But, a day out from both big events and common sense has not prevailed. Both events are still scheduled for Saturday and the girls involved must choose.
Hannah Core of Killucan reached out and contacted SportsJOE in a heartbreaking letter that describes what she is going through right now.
“I’m in a bit of a predicament and hoping that maybe by spreading word about what’s happening something can be done to resolve the issue.
“Myself and at least seven other girls are being made choose between playing with our Leinster schools camogie final and having the honour of taking part in an All-Ireland inter-provincial blitz having been chosen for the team.
“To begin I attend St. Joseph’s Rochfortbridge. My two friends and I participated in a trials process that began on the 31st of October all the way down in Carlow. After this trial there were three more trials and then we were told to our delight that we’d made the Leinster team and not only this but my very talented friend Ruth O’Connor was made captain of this team.”
“From there, we travelled to training every weekend across Leinster, giving up half our weekend and investing our time and energy into the Leinster team while I was trying to balance being a Leaving Cert student and the other girls balancing school as well – but, of course, we were over the moon for the opportunity so we didn’t mind putting in the work.
“We were informed that the inter-provincial blitz that we were training for was to be on the 21st of January 2017.
“In schools camogie we were looking forward to having made it to a Leinster semi final which was to be played on the 17th of January.
“Then, on the 13th of January, we went to the launch night for the Leinster and we were chatting to the other girls on the team and we found out that all of the Leinster camogie finals were clashing with the inter-provincial blitz and that neither side was going to postpone either event so we were going to be made to choose.
“Now, of course, we still had our Leinster schools semi-final to play if there was any chance of us proceeding to this Leinster final and, besides, we figured obviously if we make it through to the Leinster final that one side would have the decency and common sense to change the fixtures.
“To our delight we won the semi and were now going on to play in the Leinster final. It’s where any sportsperson wants to be. The chance to compete in another final was just magnificent but after the match we didn’t even get to celebrate because we knew in the back of our minds that we were going to have to make a decision but we were still holding out hope.
“It is now Friday and, to our disbelief, still neither side has a bit of cop on or decency for player welfare to change the fixtures. Me and my friends, Ruth and Aoife, my coaches from both the football and the camogie, my teachers and my team mates and the other girls also affected are extremely disappointed.
“This decision is extremely hard as we have to choose over two of our loves, camogie and football, and as far as I can see: whichever team I choose, I’m letting the other team down and I don’t think I should have to make this decision nor my other team mates.
“I think that this predicament could definitely be avoided and I understand the amount of background work that goes into the running of both associations but I still feel this problem should and could be resolved. The amount of work my coaches and school and the Westmeath county board have put in to try and find a solution to accommodate me and my friends so that we could participate in both events is incredible.
“But still it is Friday and the two matches are tomorrow and neither side is giving in. I’m extremely disappointed that neither side has taken into account the effect that this decision is having on my friends and I. We are being made choose in an impossible situation where either choice we decide we are letting someone down.
“We are at a loss but I still think there’s time and I am still holding out hope that it’s not too late and that one side will help us and resolve the situation before tomorrow.”
Nothing else needs to be said. If the higher-uppers can’t understand these emotions, they’ll understand nothing.
Feature image by Maureen Ahearn.
