UCC and Tipperary's Eimear Heffernan pictured at the launch of the Electric Ireland Championships. Alongside the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Leagues and Championships sponsorship and the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level sponsorship, Electric Ireland is committed to supporting the development of the Gaelic Games across the island through their Minor GAA and Camogie sponsorship ensuring young players are supported and celebrated through these important stages of their career.
By Cian O’Connell
“I remember the first match I went to,” Eimear Heffernan responds when asked about the relevance of role models for emerging camogie players.
Hurling and camogie will always matter deeply in Tipperary. “I think I was U13, so I was about 12 or so,” she adds. “It was Cork versus Tipperary in a Munster final in Cashel, I remember Cáit Devane playing, she was taking frees. It inspired me. I just wanted to be out there when I was older, I wanted to be representing my county like that.”
A decade later Heffernan is a key performer for Tipperary. In the winter she is busy on Ashbourne Cup duty with UCC and that provides another opportunity to learn about sport and approaches.
As a fourth year Agricultural Science student, Heffernan is enjoying Leeside life. “I love Cork, to be honest,” Heffernan says
“I find it hard sometimes travelling up and down to training, but it is worth it, you meet all of the girls. Even training with the Cork girls, it brings a different look to training and a different way of seeing the game, that you can nearly bring into Tipp Camogie too and stuff.”
Heffernan likes the college course, too, which is a significant help. “I'm in fourth year, my last semester,” she remarks. “I come from a farming background, a dairy farm. That is where I grew my love for farming, I'm hoping to become an ag science teacher and maybe doing some farming on the side, in the future.”
In the last two All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championships, Tipperary have reached the semi-final stage, losing narrowly. “There is momentum every year, last year we lost by a point, it could've went any way,” Heffernan reflects on the narrow defeat to Galway.
Eimear Heffernan, Tipperary, and Dervla Higgins, Galway, in All-Ireland Camogie Semi-Final action last year. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
“Even this year we've more players in the squad, a few of the minors, who won the All-Ireland last year, and a few of the junior team that won the All-Ireland, too. That has brought a bit of freshness, driving us on at training. It is positive at the moment.”
Something is beginning to stir in Tipperary, Heffernan highlights the emergence of a new crop of players. “Tipp Camogie, with the underage, it is looking promising,” Heffernan says.
“We've a good few players coming up each year. It is good getting them in as soon as possible after minor, developing them.
Even this year, the players coming in, they're not just happy being there, they want to maximise their potential, to get close to it, to try to make the team.”
The fact that an increasing number of counties are hopeful of making of an impact in league and championship is important according to Heffernan. “It is,” she says.
“The last few years you've had Galway, Cork, and Kilkenny. I think each year there is always another team that are matching up and improving every year.
“It inspires a lot of young girls, seeing how far their county is going. It is painting a good picture for camogie in different counties, too.”