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Weekly Notes - 26th July 2006

The ladies would argue that their match being the final of the Junior A – the second most important competition in Ladies football in the county – should be rated as the more important, while the Intermediates would claim that theirs is a ‘make or break’ game in a competition of equal status in the men’s game and that they have history on their side when it comes to precedence. The ladies match is a local derby –apologies for the geography lesson – and will be spiced with all the concomitant ingredients. If the previous meeting of the teams in the league is anything to go by, it should be a humdinger of a game and very worthwhile going to see. The Intermediates are beginning to show a bit of consistency and form and should give a good account of themselves against Dunlavin. Hardly a sentence to inspire! But it’s hard to gauge their chances, particularly with Paul Pegman out through injury, so hedging seems to be the best bet. Either way, both teams play a nice brand of open football and there is much pleasure to be derived from watching them in action. They are well worthy of your support and we hope to see you in numbers at both venues. Go raibh an t-ádh leis and dá fhoireann ar an Domnach – best of luck to both teams.

On their way to the final the ladies had a hard won victory over Baltinglass in the preliminary round and rather facile wins against relative newcomers, St. Pats and Newtown, in the later rounds. At this time of year the team struggles with numbers –holidays, work etc. – so the club is lucky to have a good back-up reservoir of substitutes which proved particularly valuable against Newtown. Over the season the team has developed into quite a cohesive unit through improved timing and accuracy in both their hand and foot passing epitomised in the play of backs Jade Coffey and Luka Hargan. Leah Horan, recently returned from Brussels, has added to the incisiveness of the forwards – she took some nice scores against Pats and Newtown. Maria O’Neill, at centre-back, has coped well with the most difficult of opponents. Kelley Ryder, besides her all-round contribution, scored a wonderful goal against Pats. Lorna Fusciardi and Louise Young, at centre-field, have been excellent throughout while Erin Wylie and Fiona Lavelle played well against Newtown.

My ears are ringing in anticipation of the "chawing" they will be subjected to by the Junior B management if their charges are not given due recognition for their heroics against Donard/Glen in the 1st round of the championship in Roundwood on Saturday. For the record, they won by 5 points thanks to having scored the only goal in an absorbing contest in which, so close were the exchanges and so keen the competition, that it did not allow for a moment’s slacking in the spectators’ attention. Yet, while the exchanges were uncompromising, as one would expect of a championship match, the game was played in the spirit of the highest sportsmanship.

Sorry lads, have to finish now. If I continue, the typist will be on overtime and the parlous financial state of the club does not allow for that!