At 21 years of age and just their third season of senior inter-county camogie, the Gannon twins, Claire and Aisling have been nominated as 2024 PWC Camogie All-Stars.
The pair have mastered their trade at St.Judes GAA Club, joining the academy through their primary school Bishop Shanahan in Templeogue. They now follow in their club team-mate and former Dublin captain Hannah Hegarty’s footsteps, who was nominated for an All-Star in 2017.
"Thankfully through the school Claire and I joined the Jude’s academy aged six or seven.
"We definitely both preferred the team aspect of camogie instead of the individual sport like badminton, and I think we both liked the physicality of camogie over hockey."
They are quick to highlight older sister Niamh as one of the reasons for their success.
"Niamh has definitely been a massive reason as to why Aisling and I are playing camogie at the level we are today,".
"She is probably the best and toughest coach we could have. She knows the talent and experience that we have, and is always pushing us to be better".
All three Gannon sisters have an Ashbourne medal, but with two different universities; TU Dublin and DCU. It marks the only occasion the twins have played against one another.
"It's absolutely mad to play against your twin.
"I don’t really know how to describe it because it’s like watching yourself play and then you’re obviously on opposite teams", Aisling explained.
"Obviously it's a massive rivalry, I mean the week coming up to those matches with Ashbourne there is a lot of slagging and you're trying to not give any tactics away."
TU Dublin faced DCU in the Ashbourne Cup Semi-Finals earlier this year in the Connacht Dome.To Claire's delight TU Dublin beat DCU by one point as they qualified for back to back finals, but it led with mixed emotions.
"It was a bittersweet moment that day, obviously on one end I was delighted for myself, but I know what it is like losing matches like that so I wanted to be cautious for Aisling. So I was cautious for a few weeks".
"But then I took the bragging rights", Claire smiled.
Photo Credit: Kyran O'Brien
Dublin opened the 2024 season in success winning the 2024 Very Camogie League Division 1B title, ending a 41 year wait for a senior title.
"To win that (league) title meant a lot to our team and it brought us so much belief and confidence," Claire explained.
I think it was the first time in many years that any of us had lifted a trophy with Dublin, so it brought us a lot of confidence going into the Leinster and All-Ireland".
Initial travel plans had them in Chicago on a J1, however to Dublin's delight their plan fell through and they remained in the capital.
"We were dead set on going on our J1 this summer, we spoke to management and told them that we would be here for Leinster (championship) and the league.
"Thankfully the job fell through in May, so we both decided to stay in Dublin for the summer and play the championship".
Dublin's momemtum continued as they reached the All-Ireland semi-finals for the first time in seven seasons. To many it was an unexpected victory over Kilkenny in the quarter finals, with the pair contributing to the scoreboard.
Dublin senior camogie Manager Bill McCormack credits the twins success to their work ethic.
"The nominations are fruits of their dedicated approach to the game and their professionalism on and off the training field.
"To have achieved what they have achieved and all by the age of 21, it's obvious the twins have bright futures ahead for Dublin at the top level of inter-county camogie".
When asked about future goals and aspiratons, they are quick to mention their club St.Judes and their quest for a fourth Dublin senior championship title.
"We're with the club at the moment, so we have a semi-final now, so we're hoping to be back in a final no and retain another championship title with club".
"It's our last year with the college each, so we're trying to push on and get another Ashbourne title to see who will one up each other for the final year"
The PWC Camogie All-Star ceremony takes place on Friday 15 November in Croke Park, in what is already a proud time for the Gannon family.
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