*Timmy Ryan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
KILMIHIL’s spirit was evident as they claimed a second senior ladies football championship but they are determined to push on in Munster.
Surrounded by cheering supporters on the famed Shanahan-McNamara pitch in Doonbeg, Kilmihil manager Timmy Ryan was clearly a happy man. “There was a huge amount of hard work put in by these girls to be honest. They probably lost five or six county finals but each year they came back stronger, determined and I am just so happy for them,” he said.
“The spirit of Kilmihil GAA was clearly seen today. No matter how many times teams from the parish were knocked, they keep working, keep training and fighting on. They kept going to the end and that’s what did it today”, explained Timmy, a member of the teaching staff at St. Josephs secondary school in Spanish Point.
Timmy told The Clare Echo, “the Banner are a fantastic team, they always have been and sill are but our girls showed tremendous character like all Kilmihil teams”.
“We had the cushion of a five or six point lead early in the second half and we could afford to drop players back and double up on some of their threats inside and make it very difficult for them. The lead we gained ten minutes into the second half, we never looked like losing it”.
Looking to the future he said, “there will be celebrations but these girls are driven and hey will want to give Munster a right rattle. As I said they could have 5 or 6 county championships won but were unlucky to meet such a great team as the Banner. Now that we have a chance we will make the most of in the Munster championship”, he concluded.
