Clann Girls Chase Historic Success
CORMAC BLEE reports

On Saturday afternoon the minor girls from Clann na nGael enter their Grade One Championship final clash with Killeeshil St. Mary’s attempting to write their names into the history books. They are aiming to become the first side from the North Tyrone club to claim a trophy at such a level. Indeed when one considers that ladies football was only belatedly established in the Donagheady parish in 2004, their progress is all the more remarkable.

Back row (from left):
Kelly Marie Gormley (Manager), Kevin Devine (Manager), Eilish Blee, Tracey Donaghey, Edel Kerlin, Brenda McShane, Caoimhe Browne, Fionnuala Conwell, Maureen Dooher, Aideen Traynor, Colleen Kerlin and Ciara Devine
Front row (from left):
Hannah Ward, Bronagh Gormley, Alana McShane, Claire Knox, Grace Ball, Oonagh Harkin and Cathal McGill (Manager)
Not pictured but also panel members are Taylor-Leigh McElhinney and Orla Kerlin.

The team began their Championship campaign with a facile victory over Carrickmore St. Colmcille’s on home turf in Aughabrack on 18th April in the quarter-final and claimed their place in the showpiece decider after a one point win against Galbally Pearses on 9th May. Unlike the previous round this proved to be a tense and enthralling battle as the sides were nip and tuck for most of the second half before Clann na nGael eventually took the spoils, emerging with the minimum to spare on a scoreline of 4-4 to 4-3.

Led by the management team of Kelly Marie Gormley, Cathal McGill and Kevin Devine the squad’s success is built around the trio of county panellists Tracey Donaghey, Aideen Traynor and Fionnuala Conwell. With the former occupying the number six jersey and the other two starlets lining out at midfield this has given the team a solid base from which to build and allowed them to control the middle third of the park in many of their games to date. The primary threat in the forward division comes from Hannah Ward and Caoimhe Browne although Gormley was keen to stress that it is a collective effort, “The girls have done brilliantly to reach this stage and each and every one of them can be proud of their efforts to date. Although we are delighted to have the services of our county contingent to call on, we are equally satisfied to note that all the players are only too happy to put their shoulders to the wheel when necessary.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s encounter Gormley indicated that her side are quietly confident of delivering on their promise, “We fully anticipate a very tough fixture and indeed we are conscious that when we met Killeeshil in the league we were somewhat fortunate to emerge with the victory after a late goal. Nevertheless the preparations have gone according to plan in the last couple of weeks and we feel we are well placed to deliver an historic success for our club. We are mindful that our opponents will have similar ambitions and certainly they present a massive obstacle to realising our dreams, but a number of the girls have established themselves with the senior ladies team this year and that experience will hopefully stand us in good stead.” Although the availability of Brenda McShane is at this juncture unclear, the remainder of the panel are fit and raring to go. For a small club with limited numbers to pick from there can be no question that reaching this advanced stage of the competition is in itself a source of enormous pride and this was something Gormley sought to reinforce, “The management team are very pleased with the progress we have made so far this year. Our final words to the girls on Saturday will simply be to ensure they relax and enjoy the occasion and if they do so, and perform to their optimum, then we can ask for no more from them.”

A large crowd is anticipated for the encounter which throws in at 12pm in Loughmacrory and with two highly talented sides involved it is expected to be an entertaining contest for those in attendance.