WITH OUR Lady of Lourdes in Rosbercon not having any green-area for sport, their camogie challengers must negotiate the sapping ascent up the hill from the town to benefit from the generosity of Geraldine O’Hanrahans lending their facilities to their crusade.

“The achievement just to get to training is a huge testament to the girls and their love of the game,” says Seamus Hearne, the Ballygunner-man who co-manages the senior camogie team with Marian Ryan (Johnstown, Kilkenny) who face St. Augustine’s College from Waterford in Sunday’s All-Ireland ‘D’ championship final, at the grounds of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Carriganore.

It was actually only in late 2012 that the first camogie balls were struck at Our Lady of Lourdes after Seamus joined the staff and jumped at the chance to get this project underway.

The current season has been realising the fruits of the labours of this man and others, with Rosbercon having achieved a Leinster title break-through against a two-game final saga with Heywood of Laois, before continuing with a 4-4 to 2-3 All-Ireland semi-final win in south County Down over St. Louis of Kilkeel.

“That was a daunting task,” Seamus says of the eight-hour round trip up north. “But the girls acquitted themselves particularly well that afternoon, and it was a huge achievement to win that match.”

When going up against a side from his native Waterford, are there any mixed feelings for Seamus?

“I might have split loyalties,” he laughs, before getting serious, stating: “Not at all. This is all about Our Lady of Lourdes, and I have been in the school for five years and I love working here.

“The atmosphere is building nicely, and I am really looking forward to trying to get one over on my own county now on Sunday.”