Anyone who plays sport whether it's part of a team or individually knows that there is no joy like that felt after winning an important game, especially after you have really earned it. Personally what made winning this match even more significant was the fact it was my last year playing with the school and for any of us Waterford girls we were playing against many of our team mates which makes the victory even sweeter!
The feeling is indescribable of when that final whistle blew and I realised I had won my third Munster championship for Greenhill. For some people the best thing was finding out we could get jackets with, and I quote 'Munster Champs' written on them but for me it was knowing that all the hard work that every single person on that field had put in had finally paid off. And of course the hard work put in by our excellent coach, we love you Ms. O'C! The one disappointing thing that came from this whole thing is the fact that seven of us won't be around next year to give Senior A a bash! My father has even asked me would we be willing to repeat the Leaving just to keep the team together. As appealing as another year here sounds I think I will have to pass on that one!
Unfortunately as everyone knows there is the other side of this victory which is the losing team. From experience I can tell you there is nothing worse then sitting in that losing dressing room after a match, everyone with their heads down and the sound of people trying to hold back the tears. Listening to coaches tell ye 'you're a lovely bunch and this obviously just wasn't our year..blah blah blah!' The emotion felt on those days sticks in your mind for the rest of your playing career if you ask me but I honestly do believe that losing is one of the few things that can actually make a team stronger and willing to push harder. (Granted I am not saying you are better off losing because that would be going against the GAA players code of 1980 something!)
One last thing I would like to say is that even though there are just as many lows in sport as there are highs it is definitely worth your while taking up a sport, even if you do end up getting the nickname ''the jersey puller''.
PS. I hope to see ye all at our All-Ireland semi which will be played in March, dates and times will be provided!
CM