10 things all past and present camogie players will know to be true

Camogie is one of the best sports in the world.

I spent my time running laps and doing solos like a mad yoke, and it made me ambitious, determined, and fit as heck. G.A.A is truly a magical thing in Ireland, ensuring craic and giggles along the way. Camogie is one of the most exciting and fast-paced sports to watch and I love it, and so should you. These are the key things that every camogie player ever will understand, only too well.

1. Skorts were seriously annoying.

WHY ON EARTH do we have to wear skorts? The combination of shorts and a skirt made nobody happy. They're ugly, too short, and just look dumb. I detested mine with an undying passion.

It's 2015 and you still have to wear a skort playing camogie

— Laura Dempsey (@DempseyLaura) September 13, 2015

2. The slap of a sliotar in your hand was the worst thing ever.

It's a cold, wet day and you've an important match on. There was NOTHING that could stop the feeling of a wet hard sliotar flying into your feeble hand. My hand still tingles now even just thinking about it. YIKES.

3. Hitting a wheel was invaluable training.

We used to have to do the wheel thing at camogie training! #Arrow — She Who Knits (@dactylgirl) February 6, 2014

Training sessions consisted of doing laps, scoring, practicing skills, and most importantly, hitting a wheel to build up strength with your hurl. The whack of a hurl hitting a wheel as I ran is a sound I wil take to the grave.

4. Getting your hair caught in your helmet was very awkward.

Aaaww yyeeaahh!! It's go time!!My Christmas present from my Dad finally came in! #CamogieHelmet #ColoFit #SoExcited pic.twitter.com/YdFYR5FRgV

— Colo Taskowitz (@ColoFit11) April 15, 2016

Having long hair and all those tricky seperate compartments of a helmet meant lots of knots getting caught in your helmet as you pulled it off. OUCH. Trying to take off a helmet was extra frustrating for me as I had to do it without taking all my frizzy, knotty hair off my head.

5. Hurls broke at the drop of a hat.

Despite the expensive prices of hurleys and their everlasting endurance at many training sessions, hurleys always managed to break at the most inopportune times in matches. NIGHTMARE.

6. A hurling wall was a serious privilege.

via Twitter

Look at that beaut.

7. Putting on coloured grips on hurleys was an activity that required serious skill and patience.

Getting a fresh, nicely coloured grip to put on my hurley to make it pretty was a big deal for me.

8. Soloing the ball required a steady hand.

Balancing the ball on your stick and absolutely legging it down the pitch required balance and speed. You could either tap it on your stick and take so many steps, or leave it there to balance and run for miles, but the slightest wind or interference could leave the sliotar flying off.

Had the worst nightmare last night , I forgot how to play camogie and all the girls were running on soloing and I broke a hurl tryna pull??? — caoimhe (@caoimhemoss) January 5, 2014

9. The art of 'hooking' was like a ninja move.

Hooking was clipping someone's hurl (mid solo) from behind to let the sliotar fall off, but one simple hook and the game could be changed in mere seconds. I was always super-afraid I'd get a hurl to the face trying to hook someone, but there's plenty of players out there that are skilled appliers of 'the hook'

Had the worst nightmare last night , I forgot how to play camogie and all the girls were running on soloing and I broke a hurl tryna pull???

— caoimhe (@caoimhemoss) January 5, 2014

10. Playing for your county was a serious task.

via Giphy

Playing at county level involved a serious amount of trials, dedication, blood, sweat and tears. It consisted of a lot of gruelling hours of practice and exercise and a lot of sacrifices to be made. Of course, it always helped that local newspapers were heavily invested in sports and talent, and having your picture or name in the paper after scoring a goal or point ensured your ego would be nice and healthy. Even better, it was something to boast about in front of your siblings as your picture took pride of place on the fridge.