Season Five, Episode Two of ‘GAA Minor Moments’ podcast

FROM CAREER THREATENING INJURY TO CAPTAIN: NIAMH ROCKETT SITS DOWN WITH THE ELECTRIC IRELAND GAA MINOR MOMENTS PODCAST

Electric Ireland, proud sponsor of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships and the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships, has today released Season Five, Episode Two of the ‘GAA Minor Moments’ podcast, featuring Waterford Camogie stalwart and All-Star Niamh Rockett.

This week, host Fergal O’Keeffe sits down with the Camogie legend to explore her impressive career to date, spanning 18 seasons. Rockett delves into her formative, underage playing years, going from a near career ending injury to the honour of captaining her county as well as the huge impact playing four years of Minor Camogie had on her career.

Niamh recalls her early days growing up in a busy household playing a number of sports from soccer and hockey to camogie and football. The turning point was in 2009 when Niamh chose to focus on camogie. She recalls losing four All-Ireland finals in one season from U16, Minor and Junior with the Déise, in addition to losing out with her club team St. Anne’s. Niamh explains that these losses, even at such a young age, lit a fire under her.

Rockett was faced with some serious injuries early in her career. Diagnosed with arthritis at the age of 16, Niamh was told she may never play Camogie again and may end up in a wheelchair. She speaks candidly on the struggles associated with her injury and her meticulous rehab, the return to normal life and camogie and learning to run again in the process.

Rockett reminisces on her jump from Minor to Senior and the importance of the Minor Championships to the quality of the Senior game. She fondly calls out some key role models in her own career, noting Patricia Jackman and Ursula Jacob as legends. Niamh offers advice to those currently playing Minor to cherish the environment they are in and get every ounce out of themselves, saying to ‘give it 100% - the more you give it, the more you will enjoy it’.

She also recounts her Minor moment to last a lifetime being Waterford’s one-point loss to Limerick in the All-Ireland final in 2009. Although it was a loss, it was the year she found her true passion for the game, cemented her position on the Minor squad and got called up to the Junior Waterford side.

Electric Ireland’s ‘GAA Minor Moments’ Podcast will air on Tuesdays throughout the Electric Ireland Camogie & GAA Minor Championships as well-known Irish stars share memories from their early sporting careers, reflecting on the defining moments from playing Minor and how it shaped them, both on and off the pitch.

In episode one, Fergal was joined by Cork legend Laura Treacy and will continue to be joined by a host of great guests including Elaine Dowds, as they reflect on their time spent playing Minor and shed light on some great personal stories.

For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships.   

For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to  https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships.

You can also follow the campaign on social media @ElectricIreland and via the hashtag #ThisIsMajor.