Inaugural camogie tournament a fitting tribute to Lisa Browne

Blessed with fine weather last Friday week, the inaugural Lisa Browne Memorial Tournament turned out be a great success. All the planning and preparation was rewarded by the enthusiasm of camogie players from seven local primary schools. This over 10 to under 14 blitz was more than the organisers could have hoped for.

The Maryland GAA grounds in Drumraney became juvenile camogie land on Friday, June 14 with 100 helmeted girls approximately working their magic with their camogie stick wands. It was a fitting tribute to the late Lisa Browne, who so often worked her magic on the playing fields of Westmeath for her beloved Drumraney.

Lisa worked in the Mater Hospital, Dublin as a nurse and after a long shift, she would drive the hour and a half journey to Drumraney for training and then drive back again to Dublin, such was her dedication to the club. It was individuals like Lisa who kept the camogie flame alive in South Westmeath and laid the foundations for the thriving club that Drumraney is today.

With eleven teams involved, as some schools fielded two teams, there were 24 seven-a-side games played. In the division 2 shield final, a Baylin team overcame a strong challenge from Moyvore.

Tang and Ballymore locked horns in the Division 1 cup final. Ballymore with a better balance of more experienced players overcame a serious Tang challenge. All participants were presented with a Lisa Browne Memorial Tournament medal.

Lisa’s husband, Dave Montgomery, her mother, Mary, and her sister Ita were present on the day with Ita and Dave doing the presentations of medals and trophies. Ita also spoke in honour of her sister Lisa.