I’m open to correction on the matter, but was the Castleisland Ladies’ team of 1984 the last one to bring an All-Ireland title to the club. I was there on the day in The Heath GAA Club in Co. Laois when the Bridget Leen captained Desmonds team defeated the home team by a single point. And the football mad Jackie M. McGlynn was drafted in as an umpire.
Best wishes to this new generation of Desmonds Ladies’ footballers today as they head to the Co. Clare village of Corofin to take on Galway club, Clonbur in the All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship final at 1-30pm.
Both teams have been in flying form over the past few months and have beaten the best the rest could throw at them.
From the Desmonds point of view, the fright they got against Kilmacud Crokes here at home a couple of weeks ago will work to their advantage today.
They’ll know that, should they need it, they have an amazing reserve of character and guts not to mention skill to get them through any crisis – if it comes to that.
The Galway Advertiser of course played up the chances of their county ladies while pointing out the dangers in the Castleisland side.
“The An Fhairche ladies, under the guidance of the experienced Martin Joyce, will travel from the Joyce County this Saturday to Corofin in Clare where they will meet Castleisland Desmond’s from Kerry at 1.30pm. Clonbur have been in great form over the past few months and have a lively attack with veteran Galway star Lorna Joyce at full-forward. Castleisland have plenty of experience on their side too, in the form of Kerry senior players Cáit Lynch, Aoife Lyons and Lorraine Scanlon, and it promises to be a very close and exciting encounter,” according to ‘The Advertiser.’
All the preparation is done and we can only wish the Desmonds ladies well in their bid to end their year on a high. It would put the cap on an amazing year for the club if they can do it today. Good Luck to them in their quest.