GREENFORD’S Tara Camogie Club are close to being crowned champions of the senior London Camogie League for the third year in a row.

The girls in blue and white added a win over Brothers Pearse last week to the list of victories they have accumulated over the season. It takes them through to the league final.

After retaining the London Senior Camogie Championship title in July, Tara will also go on to represent London in the All-Ireland Club Championships in Ireland next month.

Camogie claims to be the fastest women’s field sport in the world. Originating in Ireland in 1903, it is now a national sport, played in schools and clubs all over the Emerald Isle and by 100,000 women worldwide.

Similar to the men’s game of hurling, it involves the use of a stick, known as a ‘hurl’, to strike the ‘sliotar’ ball under an H-shaped set of posts for three points or over the bar for one.

Games consist of 30-minute halves and each team has 15 players.

Tara Camogie Club were formed in 1986 by sisters Carmel and Majella O’Neill. Having previously been based in Wembley and Harrow, they are now settled in Greenford, training at Tir Chonaill Park.

The club has a junior and senior team, based on skill and ability rather than age. The juniors are also no strangers to success, this year winning the Tara Sevens Junior Cup, a tournament hosted by the club itself, and reaching the Junior League final.

Tara’s players range in age from 16 to 40-plus and, while the majority of are of Irish decent, not all were raised with the hurl in hand. The club also has English, American and Australian players who are just as enthusiastic about it.

Treasurer Sheila Fernandes told me: “Camogie is fun and gets you out of the house and doing some exercise. At Tara, you have good fun with the girls and you make some instant friends. We’re a great crowd!”

Tara welcomes anyone of any age or ability, even complete beginners who have never picked up a hurl. You do not have to be of an Irish background to join the club.

Ladies who are keen hockey players tend to take to the game well.

Tara Camogie Club train on Monday and Wednesday from 7.30pm in Greenford. For more information, visit www.camogie.co.uk or contact camogielondon@gmail.com