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CLARE PREMIER JUNIOR REPORT 2020

As a group we started back training in November with an enthusiastic bunch of players, who from the offset committed
100% to training on Friday nights and Sunday mornings early. We carried out early fitness and skills sessions and
equal playing time at challenge matches to pick the final squad. By December we finalized our panel of 26 players
after allowing everyone an equal opportunity to try out for the panel.

We approached the league with an air of confidence that this was going to be a successful campaign. First up was a
trip to Louth, who had home advantage. This game ended in a very comfortable victory for us. The following few
sessions the girls trained with such professionalism and effort that it could only be admired. What came next could
not be foreseen by anyone and put a dark cloud over the finishing of the League for 2020: Covid 19.

As a management team we decided that it was important to continue to train for the player mental wellbeing as much
as their physical health. During this time we set up individual video challenges, zoom training etc to keep in contact
with players. Players reiterated afterwards that this provided an outlet for them each week and kept them focused on
something positive during this unusual time. As part of our online engagement, we felt it was important to interact
with players on a fun level and organized quizzes as a means of getting them to communicate with each other and
enjoy their time off.

The much anticipated club championship started. During this time we set the agenda for management to see all teams
in action, whether it was Junior B or Senior. It provided an opportunity to source out in form players due to the impact
of Covid 19 (some players were unfortunately unable to continue County due to frontline work or living with
vulnerable family members).

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The 15 Sept saw the official return of the Intercounty activity. Training attendance was 100% and we experienced
such commitment from players that it was to be admired. We prepared for the LIT cup Vs Limerick in LIT. The game
resulted in Clare retaining the cup for the second year running. This set up the CPJ schedule nicely over the coming
weeks as we closed in on our opening round championship, a match against the Faithful county, Offaly, in Fr.
McNamara Park. Despite a terrible slow start, the introduction of the new ‘water breaks’ allowed us to settle the team
down and tear into Offaly for the remainder of the game capturing the win. At this point we had one foot in the All
Ireland Semi Final and the girls we eagerly awaiting the next game V Wexford.

Covid 19 again had the final say on our Championship campaign. To say the girls were bitterly disappointed would
be an understatement and not justification for the hard training and commitment to the county jersey over the last year,
and indeed 2-3 years for some players. It was an extremely hard task to explain to the girls that their championship
was over, considering we only realistically would have had two games left to play after Wexford.

Everyone involved with CPJ take great pride, train with dedication and prepare on an equal par to all ‘elite’
sportspeople and greater consideration could have possibly been given to this when making such a hard decision by
the Government.. Ultimately health matters are of the utmost importance. We would sincerely like to thank all those
who helped us throughout the year and in particular the facilities of St. Flannans College and Clarecastle GAA for
looking after us. We look forward to 2021 where the girls will finally be able to get justification for their hard work
over 2020.

Tim McGrath
CPJ management