Róisín Begley getting used to winning feeling with Clare

Michael Bolton

As the Clare Camogie side ended their wait for silverware, Róisín Begley is determined to get used to this feeling.

2026 is the year that has kept on delivering for Clare in Camogie.

After winning Division 1B when they defeated Dublin in the final, the All-Ireland championship has seen the Banner continue their performances.

Three wins from three in the group stages put them in a great place to get to the quarter-finals, with Begley's performances earning her player of the month for May.

Looking back on the league success, Begley says it was a big moment for the team.

"It was huge. I am one of those players that have never had a medal or silverware with senior inter-county camogie. We took great confidence from it into the championship.

"We have took great confidence from winning against Dublin and took it into the championship."

It has not been all good news for Clare, however, following a cruciate injury suffered by key player Lorna McNamara.

Having come back from previous injury setbacks, McNamara and Begley's performances in the front line have given defences all sorts of problems so far in the championship.

Just as McNamara's injury woes looked to be behind her, her awful luck continued after just 17 minutes against Wexford.

In a huge blow to Clare, she says McNamara will be on their minds moving forward.

"I don't know if I'd be sitting here if Lorna hadn't gotten injured.

"She's in form that we've never seen her in before and works so hard. So unfortunately we've lost her and that just means the rest of us have to step up and get those goals and get us over the line.

"They're huge boots to fill. She's phenomenal on the frees as well as putting the ball in the back of the net – she did it twice in the matches she played. It’s really unfortunate.

"Last Saturday, she went up and down to Santry [clinic] and came straight to Cusack Park to be in the dressing room with us.

"It's a shocking injury, and she's not long back from having surgery in her groin; we're definitely going to be playing every ball with her in mind, it's disappointing to lose her."

Next up for Clare will be Kilkenny, who they are joint top of the table with.

The new format is cutthroat, as two teams from the group of six go through, in tight and intense games so far.

In the other group, the four semi-finalists from last season will all go through, with the top two through to the semi-finals.

It leaves no room for error for Clare, but the Truagh-Clonlara woman enjoys the pressure it brings.

"I suppose it is a cut-throat, but if you look at the men's, their championship is very cut-throat, and we want to be in the same playing field as them.

"Winning, it's great, but I suppose if we had lost our first few matches it would have been a long slog to get over the line.

"We will have lots of matches under our belts and we'll take great confidence in that going into the quarter-final, hopefully, if we can manage to get one more win."