Desmonds Ladies One Step Away from Championship Title

Castleisland Desmonds Ladies’ GAA Club captain, Lorraine Scanlon receiving a set of track-suits from Con’s Bar and Grill and River Island Hotel manager, Willie Buckley with team spokesperson, Aileen Lynch at a recent team training session. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Was this the last team to bring an All-Ireland Ladies’ Football Club Championship title to Castleisland ? Let’s hope that the 30-year gulf will be bridged in Corofin today. That team defeated The Heath by 0-9 to 1-5 on their home patch in Co. Laois in May 1984. I’ll add the names as soon as possible. ©Photograph: John Reidy 20-5-1984

At The Heath GAA Club in Co. Laois for the 1984 All-Ireland Ladies’ Club Football Championship final were from left: John Curtin – who did a video of the final; a yet to be identified man; John Reidy, The Kingdom Newspaper and Jackie McGlynn. ©Photograph: John Reidy 20-5-1984

The Castleisland Desmonds squad pictured after they qualified for the Tesco Homegrown All-Ireland Intermediate Football Final by defeating Kilmacud Crokes on a score of 0-16 to 3-3 in Castleislanbd on Sunday, November 16th. Front from left: Elaine Guiney, Marion Shine, Leanne Mangan, Eda Mangan, Shauna O’Connor, Lorraine Scanlon, captain; Mariah Curtin, Andrea Murphy, Alicia O’Sullivan and Tina Mangan. Back from left: Jane Lynch, Karen Mangan, Leanne O’Connor, Ashling Leonard, Eilís Lynch, Cáit Lynch, Áine O’Connor, Melissa Holland, Stephanie Murphy, Aoife Lyons, Rachel Cronin and Kayla O’Connor. Photograph: John Reidy www.mainevalleypost.com 16-11-2014

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.