By Eanna O’Reilly

IT has certainly been a whirlwind year for Kate Screene on and off the field. While completing her chartered accountancy exams, the Skehana native has also managed to pick up two county titles in camogie and football, demonstrating her capabilities as a multi-talented individual.

The Athenry full back is enjoying every step of the journey in 2025, even if she rarely has time to take a breath. ‘‘It has been an incredible year,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s funny looking back a few months, I thought I might play a bit of soccer this winter. I didn’t realise I’d be playing camogie and football right up nearly till Christmas. But it’s been absolutely fantastic to be involved in both.

‘‘I did my final chartered accountancy exams in August, so I was focused on those for the summer. The championship started then in camogie and football the week after I finished my exams. Since then, it’s been all go every weekend with one or the other, and sometimes both. It’s been a bit crazy, but I’m enjoying all of it so much.’’

The year has seen her claim county and Connacht Junior A football titles with Menlough-Skehana, for whom she was a key player, before performing superbly at full back for Athenry, as they ended a 16 year wait for senior camogie honours.

‘‘Our aim [in Menlough-Skehana] at the start of the year was to get promoted to intermediate and we achieved that, which was great. The Connacht final on top of that was really, really special. Unfortunately, it came to an end last weekend for us, but we are proud of what we achieved this year.

‘‘In camogie then, our focus was on trying to get to a county final and we were so determined to do that. We’d lost three or four semi-finals in a row, and we really wanted to take that step. On the day of the final, we were just so hungry for it. Things really clicked for us, and it was an amazing feeling at the end when we won.’’

Reflecting on their All-Ireland semi-final win over Dicksboro, Screene credited her teammates for their composure and resilience after making a slow start.

Pictured: Athenry full back Katie Screene putting Dicksboro’s Jenny Clifford under strong pressure in the All-Ireland Club Senior Camogie semi-final in Kinnegad.