This article is from page 91 of the 2008-10-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 91 JPG
WOMEN are renowned for their ability to multi-task but the ladies that make up the Kilmihil Football team are taking this skill to a whole new level.
A number of years ago when the club needed a new committee, the team members decided it was time the sisters did it for themselves.
So on Sunday when Fiona O’Neill led her team to victory at the clubs first ever Munster Intermediate Championship Final on Sunday, she was not just the centre back, or the captain, she was also the club’s chair- person. Her fellow Ulster Bank col- league Rosemary Currane was not just a forward for the team, but also
club secretary.
These women like so many of the others who are dedicated to club and team have eaten, drank and slept football since last February.
Training began for the team nine months ago and since then the ladies have met three times a week to train.
Many of the dedicated team travel from Limerick, Cork and Dublin to ensure they are at training.
This year the squad of 26, along with management team Damien De- vine and Thomas McMahon were determined to win the county inter- mediate championship, having come so close in the last two years.
Kilmihil Ladies Football Club was re-established in its current format in Re
It started out as an underage club that grew with its members.
In its first year it won an under 14 B and C final. From there its teams went on to win competitions at all ages including Under 16 B and C finals and Minor As and B titles, as well as numerous national school ti- Coxe
At the turn of the century – just eight years ago – a junior team was formed in the club and in the same year they won the junior title.
In 2000 Kilmihil fielded a senior team with Crusheen, called Kilero- nan and reached the county final.
In 2001 Kilmihil won the All Ire- land seven aside and two years later joined Doonebeg to form the senior team Kildoon Gaels that won the
county final.
Next year Kilmihil will reach the senior grade in their own right.
Despite not fielding a team for three years the Ladies club came back to win a Junior League title in 2006.
Despite winning the Intermediate League title too, the championship evaded the team until this year when it beat Shannon Gaels.
Now the Ladies Team are looking forward to next season at senior lev- el, and even more local support.
“Before people were not that in- terested in Ladies Club, but new we have a lot of support. Local spon- sors played a big part this year as we wouldn’t have a lot and would have been scrapping through,” said Rose- nerve