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IT WAS a good day for the Carr family yesterday with Dad Ross guiding Down to a narrow two-point National League Division Three football win over Roscommon at Hyde Park, while his daughters Sara Louise and Fionnuala made history with the Mourne County taking the National League Division Three Camogie title with only the minimum to spare over Laois, 0-15 to 2-8 following a tense contest at Donaghmore Ashbourne.

This was a first-class performance by the Northern ladies who will move up to Division Two in 2010. There was a mix-up with the scoreboard in the final quarter, but both teams agreed with referee Joe Kennedy’s tally following a nail-biting finish.

Down, after playing with the wind in the opening half held a 0-7 to 1-1 lead at the changeover, but with Laois emerging strong in the second half they had their work cut out. The Laois goal from Sarah Cuddy put her team in a formidable position at the break.

However, Catherine McGourty brought her A-game, chipping in with a massive 11 points tally (four from play), and with centre back Lisa McCrickard and full back Fionnuala Carr rock solid, they withstood the pressure when the O’Moore County rallied with a second green flag from Sarah Ann Fitzgerald.

Meanwhile, Kildare won promotion to Division Three following their 3-7 to 1-10 Division Four victory over Westmeath in the curtain-raiser also at Donaghmore Ashbourne.

President Joan O’Flynn had to contend with her big match day nerves before presenting her first trophy of the year to her adopted county. Westmeath came into the decider with a win over the Lilywhites earlier in the league, but in a keen contest, Kildare managed to hold out for their three point triumph despite intense pressure in the closing 10 minutes.

Kildare got off the mark with three first half goals that yielded them a 3-4 to 0-4 interval lead. The impressive Susie O’Carroll at wing forward, Ciara Tallon and Cliona McSweeney, they all found the target in the 2nd, 15th and 25th minute. While the forward line was on target up front, the Kildare defence was staunch, in particular the experienced Melanie and Reitin Treacy and Niamh Breen in the corner.

However, a goal from Joanne Walsh six minutes after the restart put Westmeath right back in contention and with Dinagh Loughlin in fine point scoring form the Lake County set about reducing the margin.

O’Carroll scored Kildare’s final point on 50 minutes, and for the remainder of the game goalkeeper Tanya Johnson and her rearguard had to withstand huge pressure as Westmeath closed the gap to three. But, Kildare held out for the trophy in a tight finish.

If you’re lookin’ a bit of craic and god knows what else, get yourself down to the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh for the annual Congress of Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael. The weekend will also mark the swansong of President Liz Howard’s spell in charge.

Looking back over Liz’s period in the hotseat, it has been interesting to say the least, with a few curious outbursts. Readers of Talking Balls will recall her giving the local broadcasters a good caning over their coverage of foreign sports whilst all the while failing to broadcast mna na hEireann ag imirt.

Liz’s time in charge also included a curious demonstration at the All Stars last year where a troupe of semi-naked men with man boobs drummed furiously up on the stage, as the All Star award winners looked on, slightly bemused. At the same awards ceremony some of the unsuccessful nominees were a little disappointed at the absence of the usual kitbag of gear – that despite requests from the organizers that they provide their sizes in advance.

It has long been a bugbear of Talking Balls that camogie suffers in comparison to Ladies football. Talking Balls prefers camogie to the peile every time, but you have to hand it to the ladies footballers – they really have their hands on the big balls when it comes to PR and television coverage. One experienced TV exec told us: “Camogie needs to look at the way its presented, take a look at other games and sex itself up a bit to remove some of the starch.”

One of the motions to the CamogieCongress highlights the perception problems that camogie has with itself. The motion put forward by Ard Comhairle proposes that “every club affiliated to Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael is required to purchase two adult tickets for the All Ireland Camogie finals in Croke Park.”

This is a particularly camogie-esque approach to marketing their own game – not for them the intention to market the occasion as an irresistible and ‘must see’ occasion for camogiers the length and breadth of the country. Instead, we have this ridiculous school-marmish Thatcheresque dictat.

The other matter of note is the inauguration of new uachtaran Joan O’Flynn of Kildare (originally from Cork). Ahead of the weekend’s clár, craic, ceoil agus cúirtéireacht, Joan commented, “I am honoured and excited to lead Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael for the next three years. Camogie is a thrilling and exciting game. . . We want to build on the progress already made. I want to develop our thriving club scene and expand playing opportunities for players of all ages and abilities.”

Indeed. It’s a long way from Tipperary, but we’ll see what happens.