*Joint captain, Aoibheann Ryan. Photograph: John Sheridan
COMPETING in the Munster colleges senior ladies A football final on Saturday is a huge occasion for St. Josephs, Spanish Point according to team joint captain Aoibheann Ryan from Doonbeg.
“The school has a great record in colleges football. We have been trying really hard for the past few years to get to this level. At the start of the year we didn’t really know that we would be getting this far. We have surprised ourselves We have been training really hard on Sunday evenings and during school days as well”, Aoibheann told The Clare Echo.
The progress made by ladies teams from the school in recent years is reflected in the fact that it is only a few seasons since they were competing a C level. Having won that title they went on to win the B competition and now, for the first time in many years, a team from Clare is competing in the A grade and just one step away from capturing the title
“We have come a long way, it’s unbelievable for the school and for the clubs that the players represent. There are quite a few of the panel on a variety of county squads at this time also”, Aoibhinn explained.
The joint team captain who usually lines out at wing forward expects Saturday’s final to be “our toughest game so far this season. This is a great chance for us. It would be great for the school and for Clare football”.
Concluding Aoibheann said “this is a very young team. There are only four Leaving cert students in the side. Apart from Clodagh Mescall who is recovering from a long term injury we have all the squad available. Ellie Hanrahan is back from injury and that is a big asset to the team”.
Along with fellow joint captain Kayla Darcy Talty, Aoibheann will lead the team into action on Saturday in front of what is expected to be a big Spanish Point and Clare following confident that they can extend their winning run
Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s Ide O’Connor lines out at midfield in the Spanish Point side and she is one of twelve Kilmurry Ibrickane club players in the squad. “The squad members come from neighbouring clubs and we all intertwine very well. Ladies football is really coming on and the encouragement we get is incredible. Seeing the girls winning and enjoying themselves, motivates us”, the midfielder told The Clare Echo.
She believes that there is “a great management team in place. Paul Reidy, Eimear Considine, Shauna Harvey and Fiona Lafferty give us excellent coaching. They want us to win and that motivates us.
There will be excitement and nervousness in the squad as they face into Saturday’s final. “Excitement and nervousness is good, it brings us on. We are getting big support from the clubs we represent. There are big numbers going to the games and that has been a huge support as well. This is another huge occasion for the school and hopefully we can reward all involved with another win”, she concluded.
