Senior Ladies Intermediate Championship Final FT Austin Stacks 1-14 Na Gaeil 1-13
report by Adrienne Mc Loughlin/Elma Nix
The omens were good as word came through in the early afternoon that Austin Stacks had just won the prestigious Sandra Keane U13 Tournament Cup Final and those who made the trip to Strand Road on Saturday evening (29th July) to cheer on our Senior Ladies in the Kerry Ladies Football/Randles Bros. Ltd. Intermediate Championship Final against Na Gaeil did so with added hope. The Referee was Sean Joy and a fancied Na Gaeil side led by one point at half time, 1-8 to 1-7, with Austin Stacks goal coming from a penalty taken by Megan O’Brien (her tally for the day coming to 1-6.) A determined Austin Stacks team fought tooth and nail for everything in the second half, and were deserving victors by a solitary point at the final whistle, 1-14 to 1-13. Marina Barry Walsh and Laura Rogers led by example up front, and our defence dug deep in the second half fighting off many attacks from Na Gaeil. Deborah Mangan had a great game between the posts, saving several of Na Gaeil’s scoring chances.
Austin Stacks are now Intermediate champions for the first time. Marina Barry Walsh now has championship medals at Senior, Intermediate and Junior level – some record – and a great role model for the ladies game.
The Randles Bros. Ltd. Perpetual Cup was presented to winning captain, Norma O’Connor by Padraig McCarthy of Randles Bros Ltd, Dan Kearney PRO and Christena Curtin Vice-Chair of KLGF. Thanks to all who turned out to support the ladies team in Strand Road, and to their management team of Aidan McCarthy, Martin McKivergan and Paul Lucey before the team returned to Connolly Park to celebrate their victory.
This win is a great boost to all those dedicated to retaining and developing Ladies football in the club. How rewarding to see some of Una Moynihan’s “football babies” from the 2003 Girls Academy graduate with style yesterday by winning a Co. Championship medal, the significance of this victory cannot be understated. The gap has been bridged and the exciting talent now coming through from our Juvenile ranks all bodes well for a bright future for Austin Stacks Ladies Club.
Team: Deborah Mangan, Karena Slattery, Norma O’Connor (Capt), Sarah Higgins, Deirdre O’Shea, Caitriona Horgan, Ellen O’Connell, Laura Rogers 0-2, Aoife Dillane, Breda Slattery 0-1, Caoimhe Barry-Walsh 0-1, Karina Quilter, Megan O’Brien 1-6, Marina Barry Walsh 0-3, Maeve McKivergan. Subs: Ciara Rogers for Norma O’Connor, Sarah Hoare for Deirdre O’Shea, Clare Brennan 0-1 for Caitriona Horgan. Panel: Jemma O’Connell, Lauren Murphy, Gemma O’Connor, Sarah Fitzgerald, Leanne Hanafin, Lorna O’Sullivan, Lauren Barrett, Dakotah Carter Flynn, Mollie O’Carroll.
