SEVEN-months-old Cara Graffin just had to accompany her mother up the steps of the Hogan Stand on Saturday evening in Croke Park. Camogie in the past might have been close to the top of Sara Louise’s agenda for most of her life. The arrival of Cara in May changed that.
Joint-manager Alastair McGilligan, who is married to Sara Louise’s aunt Guinevra, referenced a special photograph in the Carr house of Ross after Down had won the All-Ireland football title in 1991. Fionnuala, Aidan and baby Sara Louise are pictured with their father around the Sam Maguire Cup.
“It was great to go up the steps with Cara tonight and lift the trophy with Fionnuala and Finn. The two children being there make it so much more meaningful," said Graffin.
“We grew up in a house where the GAA and camogie was a big part of our lives and Cara and Finn will do the same.”
The sisters and their team-mate Paula O’Hagan all had children during 2022 (Paula’s son Charlie will celebrate his first birthday in January) and all three returned to play as important a role in regaining their county, provincial and All-Ireland titles as they had done first time around.
Graffin picked up Player of the Match in final with three points, while the previous weekend she dragged her team through a marathon semi-final with Clanmaurice scoring six points.
“I had plenty of doubts during the summer about whether I would ever get back playing, never mind winning and contributing to winning.
“Fitness was a real battle and there was a lot of individual work and also a mental battle. You doubt yourself and keep asking yourself is it worth it, am I wise at all.
“But it’s days like today that make it all worthwhile. To be able to celebrate with Cara at the end and all the other mothers and the families. It is just so special.”
For Graffin, the game flew in.
“We had a great start, but I think we took the foot off the pedal a bit. I gave the ball away and it led to their goal. But we got in at half-time and we told ourselves to keep doing what we had done in training, what we have been told to do in matches, because it was working and would pay off.
“We just needed that breather to reset and get going again.
“A one-point, two-point lead on a wet, cold day like that. You always have it in the back of your mind that you could concede a goal. That was why it was so important to get that comfort score at the end.
“Katie Morgan put an unbelievable point over the bar and it was nothing more than she deserved. She has been so good for us all year and it is so great seeing some of our younger players stepping up the way they can.”
