Lauren Homan points the way to Cork camogie success in league final

TO score nine points in a league final is no mean achievement for any player.

But that’s what Lauren Homan did as she guided the Cork camogie side to success in the Division 2B league final at Abbottstown.

Not only did Lauren captain the side to victory, but she was also named Player of the Game, showing that she is a natural leader on and off the pitch.

For that, coupled with outstanding displays throughout the league, the Brian Dillons star was named the March winner of The Echo Women in Sport award.

During Cork’s league campaign, Lauren played five of the six games and scored 3-35, making her the division's top scorer and showing just how important a player she is for the county team.

Her love affair with camogie started in primary school and the 24-year-old said it has gone from strength to strength since then.

“I started playing at Cloghroe National School, got on the Sciath na Scol team and it just kind of went from there,” said Lauren.

“The teachers always encouraged me and all my friends were playing. Most of them played for Inniscarra, so I just went along.

“I ended up playing at a northside club, as my dad (Tom) is originally from the northside, so I went up there to play.

“I think I was nine when I picked up a hurley and started playing at club level soon after.”

Not too many years later and she started to come to the attention of the Cork set-up and has been involved in many Cork teams over the years and has a few All-Ireland medals safely tucked away at home, including two senior ones from 2017 and 2018.

But Lauren is far from finished and would love to lead Cork up the steps of the Hogan Stand to collect another All-Ireland title as captain of this side.

Right now though she is trying to fit in work and college as well as training and in the coming weeks will be sitting her final exams at MTU.

Lauren is an honours business student and if her camogie skills and dedication are anything to go by then she will come out of college with first-class honours from her course.

But it can be tough and at present Lauren can start her day before 6am and not be home until 9-10pm that night.

She works part-time at Sports Direct, starting at 6am, before heading to college and then training that evening, often not getting home until 10pm.

“I'd probably work three or four mornings a week, depending on how many shifts they give me. Then I train with Cork on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and then I have my own gym work and running schedule as well.”

But that busy schedule doesn’t stand in her way and Lauren is far from finished with her season yet.

But no matter what happens the league win is one she will remember as effectively it was with a new team from last year and a new manager in Donie Daly as well.

“So we had a brand new team this year, we lost loads of girls from last year. We had minors from last year joining the squad. So we were trying to get used to each other and then having to get used to a new manager, new setup, and a new way of playing.

“It was completely different to how the previous manager wanted us to play. So an awful lot was going on and considering all that to win the league title was brilliant.”

But for Lauren that win has to be put on hold for now and attention first turns to the Munster championship, before the All-Ireland series.

Unfortunately for her, and several others, they can’t play in the Munster series having been part of the team that won that title last year. That means they are ineligible to play this season so she will be cheering them on from the sidelines.

“A number of us can’t play but that just allows others to grab a jersey and step up and hopefully go on and win the title.”

Down the road, the All-Ireland series will start and Lauren will “I want to win an All-Ireland, I want to be walking up the steps of the Hogan stand in August. I don't care who gets on the scoresheet to be honest, once we get over the line and win.

“I get chills thinking about it, and I've said it to Donie, I literally will do anything it takes to be able to go up the steps and be able to thank them (management) on behalf of all the girls. It's a dream, to be honest,” concluded Lauren.

And if the determination they have shown in the league, led by Lauren, is anything to go by then don’t rule out her dream coming true this year.