FORMER camogie Allstar Gráinne McGoldrick says the lessons learned from her underage days have been “invaluable” in terms of building “resilience”.
Speaking at Garvaghey, which played host to the first Electric Ireland skills masterclass, McGoldrick was helping to launch the All-Ireland Minor Championships.
The Eoghan Rua clubwoman spoke of the importance of the minor championships, and how they help to develop young players in more than just a sporting capacity.
“They are massively important, there are so many qualities and skills that you learn about at a young age that set you up for life.
“Not just in sport but as you go through life, applying for jobs, navigating relationships and the ups and downs life throws at you.”
On the pitch, the veteran highlighted just how the minor championships develop the players and prepare them for senior-level competition in their codes.
“You’re playing with the best players in your county and you’re playing against the best players in your province and in Ireland and that’s a huge thing for boys and girls at minor.
“It really does sharpen your skills, fitness, speed, awareness, gameplay and tactics to a whole new level because you have to be at your best to compete with the best.”
The minor championships can be a steep learning curve for a lot of young players and can offer a lot of success but they can also give players a taste of disappointment.
McGoldrick reminisced on her experiences in the minor championship.
“If you’re anything like me at underage level there were a lot of defeats at both club and county. The resilience that you build up in those early years is just invaluable.”
When speaking of the importance of recognising the talent at minor level and having a big sponsorship with Electric Ireland, McGoldrick was glad to see the championships receive a big push.
“I think it’s huge. The promotion of our games ultimately is what you want, at all levels. There are some really talented players coming through.
“There is something lovely about Electric Ireland doing their player of the week on their socials and highlighting players in all the codes. It definitely gives incentives to those players to stick at it.”
She also spoke of the importance of having a big sponsor promoting the championships because of the difficulties minors experience at this level of competition.
“It’s an age-group where you’re likely to lose, especially females, in playing the sport and you want to keep them at it and incentivise them with coverage, promotion of their sport and that people are keen to watch and talk about them then you will retain those players right through to senior level.”
There are more current and former players who are showing their support through the Electric Ireland skills masterclass such as former Donegal captain, Michael Murphy.
Electric Ireland have sponsored the All-Ireland minor championships since 2012 and have recently extended their support until 2027.
To see their minor player of the week they can be followed on Twitter (@ElectricIreland) and they also have a podcast Electric Ireland’s Minor Moments which returned earlier this year.
Later this month, McGoldrick will be delivering the same skills-based masterclass to one Ulster camogie club. The winner will be chosen through a competition run through Electric Ireland NI’s Instagram page.
