Former Galway star Earner is relishing life in Offaly job

By Eanna O’Reilly

LAST December, having served as interim manager of the Offaly seniors in 2020, Eyrecourt and Galway legend Susan Earner was formally offered the job of managing the faithful county’s flagship camogie team. It was an opportunity she hadn’t expected to get at the age of 34, but says she was ‘‘absolutely delighted’’ to take up the position.

‘‘It was brilliant to get the opportunity. I would have been mad not to grab it with two hands. I’ve gotten to know the girls really well in the last year and we have a great group involved. I’m really excited about this year now, we can’t wait to get back (after lockdown ends) and I really hope we’ll have the county season first, like the GAA are doing.’’

For Earner, taking on the Offaly job represents a new chapter in a lifetime involved in camogie. Having represented Galway since the age of eleven, she has so many stories to tell. Stories of good days and bad days, All-Ireland Final defeats and victories (At every level from junior to senior) and the inevitable pressure that goes with being the last line of defence.

For over ten years, after making her senior county debut in 2005, Earner was the first name on the Tribeswomen’s team sheet at number one. Like many Galway players of her generation, she had to endure numerous heart-breaking Croke Park defeats before finally claiming the O’Duffy Cup in 2013. Earner believes she is ‘‘blessed’’ to have her All-Ireland medal, which so many players go through their entire career without winning. It was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for the Eyrecourt native.

‘‘Growing up it was always the ambition to win an All-Ireland. The players I looked up to as a kid were the likes of Áine Hillary, Martina Harkin and Sharon Glynn. They won the All-Ireland in 1996 (with Galway) and they won so much with Pearses, they were fantastic players to look up to.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.