Cuala Camogie Meets Lacrosse

This year, our third camogie team have welcomed a new bunch of girls to the squad.

Haley Crossan, Catherine DeKorte, Anna Wolfe, and Grace Maclellan all began playing lacrosse from a young age over in the US, after relocating to Ireland they joined Dublin Lacrosse. This year they decided to pick up camogie with Cuala, as well as continuing to promote and grow the lacrosse scene here in Ireland.

We were fortunate to get the chance to chat to the girls and ask them about their experiences playing lacrosse and camogie.
Thanks very much to the girls for taking part.

HALEY CROSSON

1. When did you start playing Lacrosse? And what team/s did you play for?

I started playing lacrosse at five years old. It is the most popular sport where I grew up – Long Island, New York. I played for Cold Spring Harbor High school in New York and then went on to play at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

2. Do you play any other sports?

I played field hockey until graduating high school. Now I play both Gaelic Sports – Football and Camogie!

3. Why did you decide to move here to Ireland?

I have an Irish passport as well and have visited many times. My job gave me the opportunity to move abroad and I said Ireland would be my only choice. I’m so happy with my decision and have no plans to leave anytime soon!

4. What made you want to try camogie, and how did you end up coming to Cuala?

Anna, Catherine and the rest of the American girls started Camogie a couple months before me and kept saying how much they enjoyed it. Word got out that they needed a Keeper and I rocked up to the next training session!

5. How would you compare camogie to lacrosse? Has it been easy to transfer your skills or is there anything in camogie that is very different to lacrosse?

Camogie has been so fun to play as I think it’s the ultimate test of athleticism. I play Keeper in Lacrosse and have transferred over the Hand eye coordination that is necessary for Camogie. I very much enjoy catching passes in my hand and my lacrosse coaches have specifically told me that it’s noticeably improved my skills. There is less possession in Camogie as Lacrosse sticks have a net in them. Players must be in top shape and have a long list of skills.

6. How have you found playing lacrosse for the Irish team? Are there any similarities or differences between playing lacrosse in Ireland vs in the States?

Playing for Ireland, and internationally, has been by far the coolest athletic experience of my lifetime. I am grateful to say that I’ve played in the first ever Women’s Box Lacrosse World Cup as well as the first ever Women’s Box Lacrosse European championship. I also play for the Women’s 6ixes team who are currently working on qualifying for the 2028 Olympics. Being able to travel and meet people from all around the world who share a love for the same sport has been such an amazing experience. Lacrosse is a growing sport in Ireland. I coach as much as I can and try to share my knowledge and experience I have had of playing the sport in one of the most built out markets in the USA. The main markets for Lacrosse in Ireland are: Dublin, Cork, and Belfast. I intend on helping other markets grow! The next ones up will be: Limerick, Waterford, and Galway. This past weekend I brought some athletes over from Ireland to play in one of the top lacrosse tournaments in the U.S. It was a great learning experience.

7. What has been the highlight of your sporting career up to date?

Currently I am most proud of the opportunity I have to grow the sport I love in a country that has welcomed me with open arms. Playing in the first ever Women’s World Cup and European Box lacrosse championship was an unforgettable experience. Lastly, our Irish 6ixes Lacrosse team took home the Gold medal at the European Champions in March 2025.

8. Are there any goals that you would like to achieve in the future, in lacrosse, camogie etc.

Currently I am working on getting more experience in both Football and Camogie by attending training and watching as many matches as possible. I’d love to contribute even more to our matches next season. Both the girls on the team and coaches have been so supportive and have eased the learning curve.

9. What is an interesting fact about yourself?

I have a twin Brother! He also played lacrosse at a high level – at Ithaca College in New York.

CATHERINE DEKORTE

1. When did you start playing Lacrosse? And what team/s did you play for?

I started playing when I was 7 years old! I played for my local youth and highschool team until I went away for university at Florida Southern. I played there for 5 years and had the most amazing experience. I now currently play and coach for Dublin Lacrosse Club as well as have competed on the Ireland Sixes and Box Lacrosse National teams!

2. Do you play any other sports?

I grew up playing soccer and basketball but around 11 I stopped to play lacrosse year round! Picking up camogie as an adult has been such a fun challenge after being so focused on only one sport for so many years!

3. Why did you decide to move here to Ireland?

My mom is Irish! I grew up constantly coming over to visit family in Galway and Kildare or having them at the house in New Jersey. When I got my Irish passport when I was 17 I always knew I would live here at some point!

4. What made you want to try camogie, and how did you end up coming to Cuala?

For the two years I’ve been in Dublin, every time I start explaining lacrosse, the first remark is always that I should try Camogie, It was only a matter of time before it happened. When we finally decided to start we obviously weren’t going to seperate clubs. Anna’s boyfriend grew up playing in Cuala so it was truly the only viable option!

5. How would you compare camogie to lacrosse? Has it been easy to transfer your skills or is there anything in camogie that is very different to lacrosse?

It has truly been such a humbling experience! It has a few transferable skills but probably less than we anticipated. We don’t have a 4 step rule in lacrosse so thats been a massive adjustment, we also hold our dominant hand on the stick the opposite way you would a hurl! Any camogie player would make a fantastic lacrosse player but not every lacrosse player would be even a decent camogie player.

6. How have you found playing lacrosse for the Irish team? Are there any similarities or differences between playing lacrosse in Ireland vs in the States?

Playing for Ireland has by far been the highest privilege of my lacrosse career! I love this sport and this country with all my heart so to be able to represent at this level is sometimes surreal. It’s been amazing to play as an adult in a country that puts such significant value on sports and community. I’ve found love for playing and competing again as a result of it!

7. What has been the highlight of your sporting career up to date?

Either competing in the National Championship(s) with Florida Southern in 2017 or 2018, or any opportunity I get big or small to represent Ireland. In March 2025, we took home Gold for Ireland in the Sixes European Championship!

8. Are there any goals that you would like to achieve in the future, in lacrosse, camogie etc.

Haley and I are currently training for our next Sixes Lacrosse event (Sixes lacrosse to traditional field lacrosse would be a similar comparison to Rugby 7s vs Rugby 15s). We travel to Spain in November for the European Championships, which qualifies us for the 2027 World Championships. The top 6 teams from Worlds are set to be featured in the 2028 Summer Olympics for the first time since 1908!

9. What is an interesting fact about yourself?

After I graduated and before I moved to Ireland, I traveled the world for nearly 3 years working in the yachting industry!

ANNA WOLFE

1.When did you start playing Lacrosse? And what team/s did you play for?

I started playing lacrosse at age 11, just as it became available as a sport in my local community. I played for New Albany High School, some midwest travel clubs, and DePaul University’s club team in Chicago. After 6 or 7 years away, I returned to lacrosse with the Dublin club in 2024.

2.Do you play any other sports?

Growing up I couldn’t sit still so tried a bit of everything. Softball, soccer, field hockey, track & field, cross country, diving. I danced ballet for 10 years. But everything was supplemental to lacrosse, which my schedule was based around.

And this year I’ve loved picking up Gaelic and camogie. Great pace, contact and community in both sports!

3.Why did you decide to move here to Ireland?

I’d visited in June 2023 with some friends, and was really taken with the beauty of the country. I spend my free time hiking, so the varying landscapes and routes across all 4 provinces drew me in. I looked into what it would take to move and haven’t looked back since!

4.What made you want to try camogie, and how did you end up coming to Cuala?

I’d been wanting to try Gaelic since moving here, but when the rest of the lacrosse girls got on board with joining Cuala, there was more interest in starting with camogie. I think we figured the hurl in hand would be a more direct translation of what we’re used to with the lacrosse stick. I figured why not try both!

I ended up in Cuala because my partner grew up in the club, and could show me the ropes getting started. I also live in Dun Laoghaire so I suppose it’s my local parish, too.

5.How would you compare camogie to lacrosse? Has it been easy to transfer your skills or is there anything in camogie that is very different to lacrosse?

The hand eye coordination, stamina and agility required are similar. The field setup is also similar, though camogie has more players on the pitch.

But the physicality of camogie is a bit more direct (which I enjoy), and learning to puck the ball has been a humbling experience.

Some other key differences:
– Lacrosse resets the draw after each score, so it’s not as continuous
– In lacrosse we catch and throw the ball in the net of the stick, never touching it with our hands
– The goal is much smaller in lacrosse, requiring very precise shots, realistically taken within a smaller range of space
– In lacrosse you’d see the offensive side run more scripted plays and strategic preset formations, whereas in camogie it less choreographed as a result of the 5-line set up. Everyone has their place!

6.What has been the highlight of your sporting career up to date?

Winning our Ohio state championship in high school was a high I’ll never forget! A few years back my team had our 10 year anniversary of the event and celebrated.

Fintan also made me aware that I’m the first foreign national to play both codes in Cuala, which is exciting!

But now my favorite moment has to be coaching the U15 Irish girls to their first ever victory representing their country abroad, in Wales last summer! Éire abú!

7.Are there any goals that you would like to achieve in the future, in lacrosse, camogie etc.

I’d love to continue growing lacrosse as a sport in Ireland. I’ve had the opportunity to do sessions in secondary schools in Dublin, and help out with the Éire club team, which is open to anyone interested.

With Gaelic and camogie, I’d love to keep learning and compete at a higher level over time. I’m highly competitive with myself, so my goal will always be to grow new skills and be a better support for my teammates, who have been an incredible resource for me to learn from!

8.What is an interesting fact about yourself?

When I moved to Ireland I shipped upwards of 500 books across the Atlantic on a pallet, because I couldn’t be without my growing library! A bit mad, I know.

GRACE MACLELLAN

1. When did you start playing Lacrosse? And what team/s did you play for?

I started playing lacrosse my first year of high school when I was 14. I had never played before but a friend encouraged me to give the sport a try with her! Before moving to Ireland I played for Plymouth High School and for Eastern Michigan University’s club team. Now I play for Dublin Lacrosse.

2. Do you play any other sports?

I play volleyball when I can and have been training for my first 10k.

3. Why did you decide to move here to Ireland?

I moved for work in 2024. I had been living in Madrid for the year previous, and was actually looking for a job to stay in Spain. Originally I thought I had found the perfect remote job, but after a few interviews they asked if I would be willing to move closer to the company headquarters in Scotland. I was initially hesitant, but when they told me there was an office in Ireland I took the plunge! I’m very happy with my decision even if I do occasionally miss the Spanish sunshine.

4. What made you want to try camogie, and how did you end up coming to Cuala?

I decided to try camogie along with several friends from Dublin Lacrosse. I had an interest in camogie ever since I saw my first hurling match, which was unlike any sport I’d seen before so I was eager to try it out myself!
In general I think we were all interested in GAA sports, but we were also hoping to introduce and build an interest in lacrosse in exchange! I like to think it’s been a success for both sides.

5. How would you compare camogie to lacrosse? Has it been easy to transfer your skills or is there anything in camogie that is very different to lacrosse?

There are definitely a lot of core skills that are useful in both sports, especially concerning defensive strategy (mark up on players, don’t pass across the middle, etc) and general awareness of positioning on the field. Even the motions for jab lifting are quite similar to how we would go for ground balls in lacrosse.
The hardest part at first was also one of the most basic, and that’s how to hold the hurl! It’s completely the opposite as I would hold a lacrosse stick, so for those first trainings it felt terribly awkward and unnatural doing just about anything. Happy to say that passed quickly enough!

6. What has been the highlight of your sporting career up to date?

My highlight so far has been when the Dublin lacrosse team played in an international tournament hosted in Bern, Switzerland. It was such a fun weekend full of great competition which ended with Dublin winning the whole thing!

7. Are there any goals that you would like to achieve in the future, in lacrosse, camogie etc.

In the future, I’d love to build up a strong strike that goes the distance! Especially one I can send off with good accuracy and under pressure.

8. What is an interesting fact about yourself?

An interesting fact about me is I’m one of the shortest in my family at 5’11.