Even though she’s only twenty three years old, Chloe Morey is preparing herself for what will be her ninth championship campaign with Clare.
2008 was her first year on what was then the Clare Junior Camogie team who would go on to win the All-Ireland title and return to the Senior ranks with a fourteen year old midfielder. In the intervening years, the Banner County have failed to make their mark in the top grade but the Sixmilebridge woman is adamant that they are as good as the highest performing teams in the Country. “We’re just as good as Cork and Galway that’s the way we feel, we know they don’t think of us like that and that’s fine we like that”.
Leading into their opening round of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship, Chloe says the mood in the camp is very positive. “I think it’s actually very good, it’s probably I’d say if I was being honest it’s been more positive than it has been in recent seasons maybe just because Trish has brought in a lot of new girls and maybe because the core of us have been there for a bit now, we’re getting a bit older, a bit wiser so it’s probably a bit more positive”.
One of the noticeable changes Trish O’Grady has made to the Clare management since taking on the top job is the introduction of Stonehall’s Ged McNamara as the side’s strength and conditioning coach. Morey has lauded the impact McNamara has had on the team’s preparations.
“With camogie or ladies sports, it is behind the men’s game and to have someone like Ged McNamara who doesn’t see any difference to be honest between Clare hurlers going into his gym or Clare camogie players, he has an excellent vision for us all and he’s all about quickness, agility. Maybe again I’m being biased but I was with him myself last year and I couldn’t speak highly enough of him, he’s absolutely brilliant and he’s probably changed the way I play camogie and for a lot of the girls how they approach it”.
She explains what changes McNamara has made to improve her game. “If you’re talking specifically more agility and speedwork, I’m not the fastest so he instils a bit of belief in you, it’s a lot of power stuff, a lot of agility, you can go down to his gym and use it for free and everything like that, he’s there every day, constantly you’ve to check in with him, he’s just excellent to have around but I suppose agility, speed and power is what we’re really focusing on and he’s helping us with our high ball so just our core stability and I wouldn’t know too much about it now but they would be the specifics he would be talking to me about”.
Helping to make the setup more positive is the continued backing from Joe Robbins, Clare Camogie Chairperson and co-founder of CareerWise recruitment the main sponsor of the Senior Camogie team. Key to this according to Chloe is Robbins’ unwavering support for the team.
“I can’t even explain, I hear of other sponsors obviously in other counties of how good they are but I don’t think they’re as good as Joe Robbins, like he put up a barbeque for us just an example, like food everything, he’s such a decent man and he’s so behind everything we do and everything we’re revolutionising, what we’re all about and he’s big into women sport and trying to promote that as best he can so Joe is excellent”.
Securing an increased amount of media coverage is one of the dreams for members of the Clare panel. Morey gives her views on how much publicity the sport receives and what can be done to promote the game. “You’re here talking to me now so that’s a good step I suppose. Myself and Maire McGrath are the WGPA reps and I suppose that’s the view we’re always trying to take but having Trish as your manager, she’s been there, done it and unfortunately that team didn’t get what they needed what they wanted but she knows, she’s trying to right the wrongs I suppose and the WGPA, Clare Camogie, Joe Robbins, everyone is behind trying to promote it. I think if we can get the media yourselves on board a bit more if we can get Clare hurling on board a bit more that’d be excellent Clare GAA helping us out a bit more, that would definitely be a huge help, a huge boost”.
The NUIG student admits that they are taking inspiration from their hurling counterparts in bringing a greater intensity to their game. “I’d be putting more effort into my individual training, working around things like that. You just look at the Clare hurlers and you’re trying to mirror their commitment and as a core group get older we’re all trying to do that and bring the younger ones on, maybe before we would have let people slip away but we’re trying to keep everyone within the panel so I suppose it’s just bringing that team spirit and ethos up and just workrate this year is definitely what Brian has instilled in us this year, Trish and Brian workrate and intensity. You dare not walk in training or Brian Enright will be onto you straight away”.
©INPHO/James Crombie
As the freetaker of the side, Chloe doesn’t feel any extra anxiety when standing over placed balls and instead adapts ‘the pressure is for tyres’ mentality. “I want to be able to contribute in any way I can so if its freetaking if that’s what I have to do if that’s my responsibility for the day I’ll do it, I wouldn’t see it as added pressure at all, I like taking frees I mightn’t be very good at them I’d want to start practicing a small bit more.
“Denise Lynch has her puckouts, everyone has a responsibility and I know the girls wouldn’t look at it upon me and I may put a small bit of pressure on myself that’s the way I like to do it anyway. No I definitely wouldn’t see it as an added pressure, I like taking them and everyone has a responsibility, Orlaith’s the captain, you’ve the Newmarket girls they’re County champions, they’ve a responsibility, young girls have a responsibility to lift to team and be there when they can they’ve also the Leaving Cert and they’re always here so everyone has a responsibility and I wouldn’t see it as added pressure unless you’re after putting it on me” she laughed.