“Well what a season the Ladies have had. From week in week out travelling over and back the Cork/Limerick Border to contest against league rivals; to travelling the breadth of the country in Provincial and National Competitions in West Cork, Galway and most recently FAI Cup Quarter Final in Dublin, there are so many memories and hopefully more to come the weekend. The squad this year has really bonded well (as it does of course every season). Whilst it was a slow burner at the beginning of the campaign and on paper our league performance doesn’t look healthy; the quality of football and hardworking attitude the girls applied was top class. Whilst our old guards have been instrumental in our plans this season, our new young talent that have blooded themselves into the squad have really grown and become major players within the group. Aoife McNamara a superb young footballer in the middle of the park, Cayliegh McNamara with lethal striking feet up top and Amy Jenks a fantastic number 1 goalkeeper who has built and built every game in one of the hardest positions in the game and has been a safe pair of hands in crucial games. Each player has put in some much effort throughout the season and every year before but unfortunately when it comes to game day some players have to miss out from that starting eleven spot and that can be hard to do especially at amateur level but someone has to do the job in picking the best possible squad at the end of the day. We would be here all evening chatting if I was to go through all the individual players but each player has played their part in more ways than one and we keep reminding them that it is always a squad game, no I in team.
A big change this season was the fantastic and overwhelming sponsorship support we received from John and Maire O’Halloran and their businesses. A fantastic full jersey kit sponsored by O Halloran Building Solutions and training hoodies supplied by Soul on Fire International Coaching and Mentoring. This added touch for the season added such a professional approach and presentation of the squad and the Ladies at training, game day and in the general public which people began to notice and talk about the Ladies squad and their progression this season. Our supporters have been fantastic this year and following us on the road to all games without fail and making a huge vocal supporting presence for the team.
We have some unfinished business with Abbeyfeale, who normally seemed to be our bogey team each season until late in this year when we over turned them in the National Cup Last 16 game. Last year Desmond Cup Final will be contested by the same two sides and under the Monday night floodlights we lost out to late free kick in extra time. I personally feel we are lot stronger in the last few months and all the girls hard work is coming together and hopefully we can finish the job this weekend and win some overdue and well-deserved silverware. Finally a huge huge thank you goes to the man behind the scene who does all the work Maurice Farrell. We have now been together 8 years strong and his experience and knowledge of the game is second to none. He has huge respect for the Ladies and while at time we all have difference of opinions, at the end of the day it the team and Ladies improving is his main focus and this quality shows out through the Ladies when they step onto the pitch. It’s easy to stand at the fore front and take the plaudits and pick a team, but to week in week out be pushing the girls to achieve the potential we all know they can achieve is down to his hard work and I owe him a lot.
I would encourage as many people as possible to get out on Sunday afternoon and travel to Clounreask to sport the girls. One last game of the season, one last push. Come on the town.”
