Gailltir’s Aoife Fitzgerald Triumphantly Overcomes Back Injury for County Senior Camogie Glory
Aoife Fitzgerald’s dedication and perseverance shone brightly as she led Gailltir to an unforgettable victory in the county senior camogie final. Despite facing a significant setback due to a back injury, the 2020 All-Ireland club winner emerged triumphant, showcasing her unwavering commitment to the sport and her team.
Battling Through Adversity
The journey to the final was a testament to Fitzgerald’s resilience. “Two years ago, a disc in my back was out of place and it was leaning on nerves in my back,” Fitzgerald revealed on WLR’s Lár Na Páirce show. “I tried to play through it and put off MRIs just in case it went away. It just didn’t. I got sent to Santry then after the MRI. In fairness to Santry, they were outstanding. They tried injections and they didn’t work. I went up for the operation and it was a massive setback. I started to put on a bit of weight. Last year, I was on the sideline and I was in no shape to play. That really did kill me, not being able to get a run.”
Finding Support and Strength
However, Fitzgerald’s determination was met with unwavering support from those around her. Gailltir manager Róisín Hartley and strength and conditioning coach Jimmy Payne played crucial roles in helping her regain her form. “At the start of this year, I met up with Róisín. I was coming and going. I was like ‘do I give it another go or do I stay the way I am.’ Thankfully, Róisín met me and she said ‘Aoife, we need you to keep going, I would do anything to bring you on in a county final.’ I got in touch with our strength and conditioning coach Jimmy Payne and I couldn’t ask for a better man to be beside me through all the hard work throughout the year. Early morning sessions, whatever I could do, I did it. I got the results on Saturday afternoon,” Fitzgerald shared.
A Moment of Glory
As fate would have it, Fitzgerald’s younger sister Emma netted a crucial goal just a minute before she entered the fray. “While the goal was scored, I was waiting on the line to come on. We’ve been talking, throughout the year, about that extra one per cent. There was only one shot for me at the end and thankfully it went between the two posts,” Fitzgerald recounted.
To hear Aoife’s full interview and insights from the historic camogie victory, listen back to Friday’s Lár Na Páirce show on WLR.