A family of champs
A Monaghan mother and her two daughters celebrated a remarkable family sporting achievement on Saturday when all three helped the county senior camogie team secure All-Ireland glory.
Michelle Morgan lined out alongside her daughters, Sioneen (27) and Codi (19), as Monaghan overcame Mayo to claim the title, creating a full-circle moment for the Clontibret woman. Mam Michelle was also part of the last Monaghan senior camogie team to win an All-Ireland title in 2011, when the county defeated Wicklow.
Fifteen years later, she found herself sharing the occasion with two of her daughters, who were only small children when she first lifted the trophy.
“Back in 2011, we played Wicklow, it was my first year back playing Camogie in nearly seven years. I joined Clontibret and they asked me to play county. We ended up going all the way to the All-Ireland that year. Fifteen years later, it’s just crazy to think that the two girls have joined me, they were very small the last time.”
The victory means Michelle now has two All-Ireland camogie medals, while the family boasts four medals between mother and daughters.
Reflecting on the achievement, she said the occasion still feels surreal.
“It’s amazing, we’re all just on a high still. Never in a million years, did I think I’d be playing and lining out with my girls. It’s just unbelievable. I’m so proud. I’m really privileged to be out there playing along with the girls after all this time. I never imagined this would happen.”
Michelle played the full match at half-forward despite recovering from a calf injury sustained several weeks earlier: “Thank God the leg held out and I played the whole game. The heat was savage,” she recalled.
The All-Ireland success also represents another milestone in Michelle’s long camogie journey. Monaghan had not fielded a senior team since 2011, making this year’s triumph particularly significant.
Back in 2011, Michelle had returned to the sport after taking time away following her marriage and the birth of her daughters. Although she initially questioned whether she should come back to camogie, she is grateful she did, particularly because it allowed her to share her passion for the game with her children.
Fresh from All-Ireland success, Michelle is keeping her options open about the future but concedes retirement may not be happening anytime soon.
“It’s harder when you get older. Recovery is harder and you can feel it in your joints, but I still enjoy it and I’m still fit enough to play it, so I’ll carry on. I think it’s better to keep moving and active. I’m still enjoying it, it’s the main thing.”
The family dynamic on the pitch has also created plenty of memorable moments, particularly thanks to youngest daughter Codi.
“Codi’s so funny, she’s the middle child and she lives up to her reputation. She loves calling me ‘Mammy’ on the field, whereas my oldest girl’s like: ‘Will I call you Mammy on Michelle?’. But Cody thinks it’s just a total flex playing with her mammy. She’s gas! They love it and they were like ‘you’re not retiring’!”
Dad Seán is also very proud of his girls.
Michelle is delighted both daughters followed her into the sport and hopes their story inspires the next generation of players coming through the county ranks. She believes visibility and role models are crucial for young players.
“I got back into it nearly straight away and haven’t looked back since. There’s a lot of young girls on the team, the 18-year-olds and they need something to aspire to. Then younger girls, under 14 squad stayed on to watch the game. It just inspires the next group that are coming through, because if you don’t have the youth coming on, there’s nothing.”
For Michelle, Saturday’s victory was about more than winning another All-Ireland medal. It was the culmination of a journey that began when she returned to the game as a young mother and ended with an unforgettable sight — sharing an All-Ireland triumph with her two daughters by her side.