*Timmy Ryan addresses the Kilmihil panel. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
KILMIHIL senior ladies football know they are facing a big challenge on Sunday but manager Timmy Ryan says they are focusing “on what we have and if we deliver on that we have a great chance”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo this week as Sunday’s final moves closer he acknowledged that “the Banner have very talented players but I am expecting a very tight game”.
A strong player with club and county, Ryan a member of the teaching staff at St. Joseph’s Spanish Point is a passionate Kilmihil man. “We are one of only a few clubs in Clare to have teams competing at senior men’s and ladies levels and we are very proud of that. The community is very supportive of both and the ladies will have a big following on Sunday”.
All of the panel that contested the semi-final last year are involved again this year while three girls from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Jenny Kelly, Carol O’Leary and Grainne McMahon joined the squad this year. Kelly and O’Leary were part of their 2019 championship winning squad.
Unlucky to lose out by a point in last year’s semi-final the manager is happy that he has a fully fit squad available for selection.
Noting that “we beat them in the opening round when we got three goals in the opening half but it was a closely contested game. Both sides were missing players on that occasion and these players will be available this week”.
Kilmihil’s only senior title was won in 2019 and most of that squad are still available. Sisters Eimear and Ailish Considine who have gone on to achieve huge success on the international rugby fields and in Australlian Rules football, played starring roles in that success and both are part of this year’s panel.
This year’s side is captained by defender Rosie Currane and also includes key players in Becky Mahon, Dearbhla Higgins, Ellie O’Gorman and the McNamaras, Aoife, Edel and Aine.
The Kilmihil manager has no doubt but that his charges will be playing in front of “one of the biggest crowds of the season. We have great support which we appreciate”.
Asked if he is concerned that the game is going ahead in opposition to the county senior hurling final he said “a few have said that the clash is disappointing but we are totally focussed on our game and we don’t even know that the hurling is on. It would be a good idea to give the girls a day on their own”, he concluded.
