For most, an All-Ireland Senior Camogie medal would be a warm comfort throughout the cold Christmas nights. But, Orlaith McGrath isn't most people.
2021 was a turbulent year for the Galway camogie star. McGrath left Croke Park on a sunny day in June deflated after losing the league final to Kilkenny by three points. 'I wouldn’t worry, it’s only the league’, you might say.
Then came the big one in September. The holy grail. The pinnacle of the sport. McGrath stood in the Hogan Stand a second time All-Ireland winner after beating Cork 1-15 to 1-12, contributing 0-02 to the scoreboard herself.
Before long, donning the green and white of her club, Sarsfields, McGrath battled for another All-Ireland medal against Wexford’s Oulart the Ballagh on a dreary December day. The journey back west was a long one as the Caroll Cup remained in Leinster after a 4-08 to 2-09 defeat.
It was a disappointing way to bookend the year, admitted McGrath.
"I was busy and fortunate enough that we got to those finals, the league final with Galway, winning the All-Ireland and got to an All-Ireland club final too with Sarsfields. You play because you want to get to those finals and we’re very fortunate with that.
"I suppose though yeah, losing the club All-Ireland in December was a real dampener on the year. I suppose it did mask over a lot of the success with Galway because when you are playing with your club it’s that much closer to the bone and you feel that bit more responsible."
As the saying goes, ‘one club one life’.
"With Galway though it was an absolutely brilliant year and we’ve loads to be happy about but I do think losing the club All-Ireland and the fact that it was so recent definitely does put a dampener on the 2021 season."
Covid put a halt to that final being played in 2020 and after some reconsideration from the Camogie Association (and some outside lobbying) the game was fixed to be played in the winter of 2021.
Whilst McGrath expressed her delight to have had the chance to honor the fixture, the Galway champions haven’t had too much time to dwell on the delayed 2020 final. Next weekend they find themselves back in another All-Ireland semi-final against old rivals Slaughtneil for the honors of 2021.
In the last 12 months, McGrath has rarely had a chance to leave the hurl out of her hand.
"I think particularly in the last two or three years because we’re successful with the club and with Galway there isn’t a huge amount of a break," she said.
"Weaker clubs might have a bigger break period before you return to the county but we don’t. I think since we went back with Galway last year it’s league, championship, club and then the All-Ireland series.
"Christmas we got about 10 days or two weeks off and then we were straight back in training with the club for this current All-Ireland series. It’s all year round but you wouldn’t do it if you didn’t enjoy it and I’m very fortunate to be a part of two very successful teams so it’s only a good thing."
Success breeds success and McGrath has been at the forefront of Galway camogie’s rise to the top. She was just 17 when Galway claimed the O’Duffy Cup in 2013 - a win which sparked the county on an upward trajectory. The last time they had claimed the honors, the 2021 All-Star hadn’t even celebrated her first birthday.
"I played a much larger role last year than with the first one in 2013 so as you get older you appreciate it a lot more," McGrath said.
"I suppose the manner in which we won the All-Ireland last year was huge and it definitely added to the overall feeling. Both of the All-Irelands have been very special but I suppose last year that was nice."
Like with every successful team, it takes a lot of financial backing to get facilities and backroom setups to the highest level in order to give the players every opportunity to perform and achieve. Last week, a monumental sponsorship deal between Galway Camogie and Westerwood Global worth €250,000 was announced.
Chairman of Galway Camogie County Board Brian Griffin, described the deal as "ground-breaking". He said, "what is different about this deal is that it has been conceived and negotiated as a stand-alone deal for camogie in Galway. We believe it is the first significant sponsorship for a county that recognises the substantial commercial value of camogie in its own right, and it sets a new benchmark for the sport."
"It's huge and I think it’s huge to get that kind of financial backing, and it’s needed. It’s needed to progress every team that’s in Galway’s set up"
"I suppose the recent announcement, I think it’s a reflection of where we’re at with Galway camogie and how successful we’ve been in previous years to kind of gain that financial investment, but I suppose it’s also a reflection of how far women’s sport has come in such a short period of time of maybe five or six years," said McGrath.
"It’s huge and I think it’s huge to get that kind of financial backing, and it’s needed. It’s needed to progress every team that’s in Galway’s set up and without financial backing in this day and age at top level you’re going to be left behind. So it’s a huge benefit and plus for us going forward that can only be a positive thing."
Whilst it is evident that recognition of women’s sport is on the rise, research conducted by Littlewoods Ireland revealed that although half the population (51%) are GAA fans, disappointingly the majority of the population (89%) cannot name a current inter-county Camogie player.
"I was quite shocked at that but that is what it is," said McGrath.
"I think the WGPA who are now obviously amalgamated with the GPA, I think they have done a huge amount of work and massive strides in promoting the games. There definitely is as well a bit more promotion about it and a bit more exposure and I can only see that going from strength to strength in the coming years."
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