No holds barred as high octane Wheelchair hurling takes centre stage

Many of those who rocked up to Athboy Community School for the All-Ireland Wheelchair Hurling/Camogie finals recently were greeted as they walked in the front door by the sound of some sweet traditional music expertly played by the school’s trad band.

They were also greeted by a babble of different accents that filled the school’s spacious, cheerful, naturally illuminated foyer.

The accents belonged to folk from many parts of the country who were at the university-like, modern school for the finals.

Normally the four provinces feature in these finals but this time around Connacht were unable to take part. Some of their personnel were required for basketball matches the same day – an unfortunate clash of fixtures between two sports if there was ever one - sounds familiar.

The absence of one team demanded that the three provinces should play each other. The top two – who turned out to be Ulster and Munster – then faced off in the final. Munster prevailed to claim their sixth successive crown.

Wheelchair hurling/camogie is an all-action, high-tempo game and it’s easy to understand why players enjoy it.

Each starting team contains six players with rolling subs allowed. Both women and men can be selected on the same team. Age is not a factor either. “Players could be from 12 to 50 and beyond,” was how one of the Munster coaches, Davy Fitzgerald (no not that one), put it.

He also added something else that was revealing. “As coaches we do not see the chair,” he said. One of the Munster players, Stephen Casey, feels the game needs to be promoted more because it has many benefits for those taking part.

The scoring in the Wheelchair game is the same as on-field hurling or camogie with similar goalposts. Each contest lasts for 12 minutes, split into two halves - and once the ball is thrown in it’s all action from start to finish. The wheelchairs are specially adapted for hurling/camogie - and basketball.

The ‘sliotar’ is bigger than the ball normally used. It is softer too, as might be expected for an indoor sport, and has much more of a bounce.

There is, however, nothing soft about the game once the action gets underway. The players are there to win and are allowed to crash into each other in the quest for possession – and crucial scores. There is no holding back.

That was certainly the case when the action got underway in the Community School’s roomy sports hall. Movement, skill, determination, team-work were as important as any All-Ireland SHC final played at Croke Park.

The day’s entertainment got underway with a parade that was led out by one of Meath’s most famous footballers Graham Geraghty.

The winner of All-Ireland senior medals in 1996 and ’99 and two All-Star awards was accompanied by another local hero, the tricolour-wielding Jack O’Connor who has represented Ireland in the discus, shot-putt and javelin.

Not only that, Jack, who is a former student of Athboy CS, won medals on the international stage and has represented the Fr Murphy club in Frayne with distinction. He is also aiming to qualify for the 2028 Paralympics.

This was his first time to see Wheelchair hurling/camogie and he was greatly impressed with the “very fast, hard-hitting” nature of the contests that were played out.

Another talented local had a part to play in the pre-action routine – Athboy CS student Emily Doherty. She delivered a superb rendition of the national anthem.

There was no shortage of well-known faces in the hall either as the games got underway - and among them was Maggie Farrelly.

The Cavan woman is renowned as a referee in ladies’ football and she was one of the match officials also for the hurling/camogie finals. She applied herself to the role with characteristic diligence.

As part of the pre-tournament routine Meath GAA representative Nick Fitzgerald welcomed everyone to Athboy. He had words of praise for those involved in the finals – and those who made sure everything was ready for the big day.

“Events like today just don’t happen, they take a lot of planning and there are a lot of people involved in doing that,” he said. Cathal Seoighe also laid out the welcome mat on behalf of the Clann na nGael club.

Then there was Meath resident Martin Donnelly who sponsors the Wheelchair finals and has done so for some time now.

Over the years he has become one of the chief sponsors in the GAA, backing such tournaments as the inter-provincial hurling and football tournament that used to go by the name of the Railway Cup.

He also sponsored the Poc Fada as well as the Meath hurling team for around a decade. Few have given more to the GAA in terms of financial support of one kind or another.

“It’s great to see the Wheelchair finals in Meath, I have been sponsoring them for 15 years at least, it could be more, I’m not counting,” he added as he watched the action unfold.

The Leinster team was made up of players from Laois, Offaly, Carlow, Dublin as well as Alex Henerby from Waterford and Margaret Maher from Tipperary. Included in the squad also was the husband and wife combination of Ciaran and Nicola Cushen from Stradbally.

One of the Leinster coaches on the day was Pat Cleary, a talented forward back in the day who won an All-Ireland SHC medal with Offaly as well as three Leinster titles and one All-Star award.

Another member of the provincial coaching team was Brian Carberry, the St Vincent’s clubman who in the past has filled various roles on the Meath GAA Co Board including coaching officer for 20 years as well as planning and training officer. He has also served as chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Committee in Leinster.

These days he is secretary of the Games for All Committee on the Leinster Council.

“I’ve been involved in Wheelchair hurling/camogie for the past 11, 12 years. I enjoy it, it’s about inclusion, diversity and seeing people who use a wheelchair enjoying themselves, getting out and playing our games.”

He is hoping that in the near future a player from Meath will be part of the Leinster squad vying for an All-Ireland Wheelchair title.

“It would be great to see a Meath representatives on the team. If there are any candidates out there who want to become involved they will be very welcome indeed. Very welcome,” he added.

After all the action was over at Athboy CS the various people (and their accents) who were involved with the teams headed for home again having manfully and womanfully battled for the glory of their provinces.

Another great day of sporting drama had concluded.