*Michael Carmody. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

Michael Carmody is in his first season as manager of West Clare Gaels ladies football team but the O’Curry’s clubman is well versed in what being involved in club football in Clare means.

A key figure in the O’Curry’s mens football team for many years he has been involved in the preparation of numerous teams including teams representing St Joseph’s College in Kilkee.

He readily accepts that “the Banner are overwhelming favourites” going into this Sunday’s Clare senior ladies final. “They have won ten out of the last twelve titles and they have already beaten us well in this year’s championship”, he said before adding “finals can be different”.

Michael is joined in the backroom team by Kieran DeLoughrey who has been part of the West Clare management team in recent years and by Pat Walsh.

West Clare Gaels last contested the senior final in 2015 when they lost out to Sunday’s opponents while one has to go back to 2010 for the West Clare side’s last win in the championship. Shauna Harvey and Niamh Lardner are survivors from that championship winning side.

The West Clare Gaels club was formed in 2004 but prior to that there was a senior team known as O’Currys/Kilkee. “There has been ladies football in the area since the mid 80’s. There wasn’t much else to do in the area but to play football. There is a great sense of community in the West Clare penninsula and there is great support for the team”, according to the team manager.

“We have a full pack to select from for this final. We have known for a while that our joint captain Shauna Melican won’t be available as she had to return to work in England some time ago. We have nothing to lose. All the pressure is on the Banner who are the hot favourites. To win would be huge for the club. Any title is worth winning”, according to Carmody.

The team has improved steadily since round one when they suffered a heavy loss to Sunday’s opponents. That game was played in mid week having been postponed for a few days due to the death of a prominent West Clare supporter and O’Currys clubman, Michael Troy.

“Look, of course it would be huge for this area if we could win the title. Any club would be delighted to win a championship, particularly at senior level. The girls have worked hard in recent weeks and we are confident that they will represent the club well on Sunday”, concluded the team manager.

Advertisement

Related News

rineen ns 1
11 Clare schools removed from Hot School Meals scheme
green cross pharmacy killaloe
Two men arrested who drove into Garda car after series of burglaries in Killaloe & Roscrea
gerardine joe quinlivan 1
Springfield residents can sleep soundly as flooding nightmare ends
ambulance coast guard scariff 1
Bodyke hurler recovering after picking up head injury which forced abandonment of game vs Whitegate
Latest News
rineen ns 1
11 Clare schools removed from Hot School Meals scheme
mikey o'neill sean kennedy 1-2
O'Neill rolls back the years to nab player of the week
clonlara v crusheen 23-08-25 oisin o'brien breffni horner 1
'We left it behind us against The Bridge' - Crusheen reflect on latest championship crusade
green cross pharmacy killaloe
Two men arrested who drove into Garda car after series of burglaries in Killaloe & Roscrea
naomh eoin v liscannor 03-08-25 darren nagle 1
Liscannor extend life in intermediate ranks & send Ennistymon into relegation decider
Premium
gerardine joe quinlivan 1
Springfield residents can sleep soundly as flooding nightmare ends
st josephs miltown vs doonbeg 30-08-25 conor cleary darragh burns 1
Miltown down Doonbeg and march onto quarter-finals
kildysart v kilmihil 29-08-25 conall casey stan lineen 1
Kildysart produce extra time kick to seal senior status & leave Kilmihil in relegation final
feakle v newmarket-on-fergus 08-08-25 oisin donnellan 1
'Next man up' the focus in Feakle despite injury crisis
Shannon, Ireland, June
Shannon will not receive 15 extra Gardaí despite claims of Govt TDs

Advertisement

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.