The Red and Black Ladies from The
DOWN LADIES
THE RED AND BLACK LADIES FROM THE
MOUNTAINS OF MOURNE
Ladies football in Down was formed in April ’94. In January that year the president of the G.A.A. Jack Boothman attended the Down Men’s Convention and in his 30-minute speech to the delegates he asked that every County should have a Ladies Gaelic Football competition. Shortly afterwards all interested clubs in the County were called to a meeting in the Downshire Arms Hotel in Hilltown. A further meeting was held in Annaclone. A County Board was formed to run a Senior League and Championship, Feis, Seven’s and U-16 Championship. Five teams took part in 1994, Annaclone, Bredagh, Iveagh, Kilclief and Tullyish.
A County team was set up in July 1995. Dromara man Seamus Branniff was appointed as County Manager. A series of trials were held. A panel of players were drawn up. The County team’s first outing was in the All-Ireland B Championship, 8th October 1995 with the team making the long journey to face Galway in Invirin. Although losing to the more experienced Westeners by 6-17 to 2-04 Down gained valuable experience and then opted to enter a team in the National League.
This was Down’s first venture into the National Junior League where they met more experienced sides such as: Armagh, Cavan, Fermanagh, Leitrim and Tyrone. Down tasted victory for the first time 19/5/96 against Fermanagh by 4-03 to 3-05 at Saval, Co. Down. Down lost out to Tyrone in the Ulster Junior Championship at Glenn, Co. Down in June ’96.
The 1996 All-Ireland B Championship campaign began with a two-point victory at home to Leitrim, while in the quarter final Down defeated Cavan at Emyvale, Co. Monaghan. Wicklow were Down’s next opponents in the Semi-final. The Red and Blacks rising to the occasion with a five-point victory at Newry. Down played Longford in the All-Ireland B Championship final at Scotstown, Co. Monaghan on the 30th November 1996. Down lost out to Longford on a score line 3-14 to 0-06. Down had arrived onto the Ladies Football map in a very short time in existence.
DOWN LADIES
Down continued to progress with good performances in the National League in the ’97 season by qualifying for the Junior League Quarter Final but lost out to Limerick by one point. Down’s first ever piece of silverware came in the Ulster B Championship with a 0-12 to 0-05 win over Fermanagh in Clones to collect the Trudy Kearns Cup. The ’98 season also saw Down qualify for the Junior National League Quarter Final where again they lost to Wicklow by a solitary point. Down’s Ulster Championship began with a win over Fermanagh in Irvinestown.
Down played Derry in Newcastle and had five points to spare to gain an historic first ever appearance against red-hot favourites Tyrone. Down were apparently making up the numbers in the final. The Down team had other ideas. Trailing 1-07 to 0-03 at half time, Down came out in the second half like a team possessed and dominated the second half and narrowed the score to just one point with two minutes remaining. Tyrone held on to win on a score line 1-12 to 0-09. Later on in November 1998 Down retained the Ulster B Championship title with a five-point victory over Derry in Ballykinler.
Down again qualified out of Division Three North to play Cork in the Quarter Final. Cork beat Down by 7 points. Down’s next obstacle was an away game in the Ulster Junior Championship against Donegal in Donegal town on the 18/7/99. Down came away with a four-point victory to set up another clash against Tyrone. The Ulster final at Clones was a one sided game with the experienced Tyrone team winning on a score line 3-23 to 1-04.
Down finished top of Division 3 North in the year 2000, but lost out to Leitrim by five points in the Quarter Final in Carrick-on-Shannon.
DOWN LADIES SUPERB YEAR
It has been a superb year for the Down Ladies senior football team. Historic first wins to lift the Ulster title was surpassed by annexing the All-Ireland junior title with a memorable final victory over Galway.
It all started twelve months ago with a 9-9 to 3-4 victory over Derry in the NFL. That win was followed by victories over Cavan, Fermanagh, Armagh and Donegal as they finished unbeaten at the top of their section. In the quarter final they tasted their first and only defeat of the year when they lost to eventual league winners Leitrim by 2-14 to 3-6 in the quarter final.
All efforts were now turned to the Ulster JFC. Fermanagh provided the first hurdle at Aghadrumsee. A 3-12 to 0-10 win signalled the start of a Down unbeaten run. Cavan provided the semi-final opposition. This game in Drungath proved to be a real thriller. It took extra time before Down won by 0-12 to 1-8. Donegal in the Ulster final beckoned.
Once again the famous red and black flags proudly flew in St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones on July 30. But this time it was the ladies from the Mournes who were proudly wearing the famous colours. Bitter memories of previous final defeats by Tyrone were erased as the girls from Down blazed a new historic trail.
Donegal made the better start with a goal from Denise Dunnion. Lisa Morgan and Martina McCafferty had Down points. Then the Mourne girls suffered another hammer blow when Dunnion shot a second Donegal goal. Again Down responded in style with two points each from Michaela Downey and Joanne Lavery to leave halt time Donegal 2-1, Down 0-6.
Twice points were exchanged before Lisa Morgan levelled from a free. Down took control in the final quarter. Michaela Downey pointed. When Martina McCafferty put Lisa Morgan through for a goal the Hugh Meehan Cup was on its way to the Mournes for the first time held high by team captain Jacqui Clarke.
Down scorers: Lisa Morgan (1-2), Michaela Downey (0-4), Joanne Lavery (0-2), Martina McCafferty (0-1), Michelle Fearon (0-1).
The semi-final saw Down having to travel to New York to play the home side. This too was an historic occasion the first game played outside Ireland. First however £25,000 had to be secured to finance the trip. That was done in the five period between the games by the team panel and helpers. They combined their training under Michelle Clancy with their fund raising.
The semi-final in the famous Gaelic park was memorable. Down struck for three early points by Martina McCafferty. New York responded with two points from Gillian Bennett. Midway through the half Michaela Downey, who dominated midfield throughout, sent a long ball into the New York goal area. Lisa Morgan flicked it to the net. New York came back with a string of points from Bennett but Down led by 1-8 to 0-9 at half time.
The second half opened dramatically with Joanne Lavery slotting home from a penalty after Michaela Downey had been brought down going through. Down were coasting to victory when they relaxed and allowed New York back into the game. A scrambled goal from Gillian Bennett left a point between the sides with minutes left. But Michaela Downey, who starred throughout the campaign, slotted over a point from a free to give Down a 2-13 to 1-14 win. Lisa Morgan topped the scoring list with 1-6.
Galway now stood between Down and All-Ireland glory. On a wet and cold 1st October the red and blacks again took Croke Park by storm Michaela Downey at Midfield, Lisa Morgan and Joanne Lavery in attack and Aoibheann Downey, Mairead Guinness and Maura McCabe in defence were shining lights in a star-studded team. While Down missed many good chances it was the coolness under pressure of expert free taker Lisa Morgan who scored 0-6 and Joanne Lavery with 0-4 that steered Down to a deserved 0-14 to 1-8 victory.
A delighted Down captain Jacqui Clarke, who led by example, received the City West Hotel Cup from Ladies GAA President Wally Thompson. The celebrations began immediately.
But Down’s day of history had one bright spark left. At the Bank of Ireland after match banquet in the Burlington Hotel Lisa Morgan received the player of the match award.
For historical purposes the Down team and scorers was: Elaine McCourt, Jacqui Clarke (Capt), Mairead Guinness, Veronica Ward, Bronagh McCurry, Aoibheann Downey, Maura McCabe, Michaela Downey (0-1), Marianna Devlin, Aoine Keary, Joanne Lavery (0-4), Michelle Fearon (0-
2), Martina McCafferty (0-1), Lisa Morgan (0-6), Cathy Gallagher. Sub: Brenda Russell for B.McCurry.
Monday night October 2nd saw a crowd of over 1,000 wait in the cold in Castlewellan to welcome their new Down heroines led by a cavalcade of cars, the players on an open topped bus were paraded to a special platform in the square where they were given a tumultuous welcome. At last the champions were home.
In the U16 Ulster Championship Down had a 6-10 to 0-1 win over Donegal. However Tyrone proved too strong in the Ulster final winning by 2-17 to 1-12. On the home front Iveagh Bosco retained the county title with a 3-6 to 0-14 victory over
Bredagh. Three first half Iveagh Bosco set them up for victory. In the Ulster
club championship Iveagh accounted for Dungannon. In the club final Monaghan Harps came from behind in injury time to beat the Down champions by 1-12 to 1-11.
Loughinisland won the county junior title with a positive 4-4 to 1-5 victory over Tullyish. Lisa Toman notched two goals while Claire Mason and Emma Joyce were the ‘Island’ other goal scorers. However they were well beaten by Fermanagh champions Cleenish in the Ulster club junior championship.
So a great year for Down ladies football has drawn to a close. All look forward to next year when they will compete in the senior ranks. Photos:
Down come home to noisy welcome:
New ladies All-Ireland Junior football champions Down made an historic and memorable return to the county last night, welcomed by a crowd of over 1,000 in
Castlewellan. After crossing the border with the City West Hotel Cup, Jacqui Clarke
and her team-mates arrived at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry where a good welcome awaited them. They journeyed to The Cove at Mayobridge where they were again
greeted. But it was the trip from there to Castlewellan which proved the most
prosperous and affectionate for all the players and management. On the outskirts of Castlewellan, on the Dublin Road, they left their team coach and boarded an open topped bus to be paraded to a special platform in the square in the town, where they were given a tumultuous welcome. Johnnie O’Neill, the President of the Castlewellan club, paid a special tribute to local star Lisa Morgan who, on Sunday, received the Bank of Ireland Player of the Match award.
Speaking to the assembled throng, team manager Seamus Branniff said that their road to victory began 12 months ago when he brought the panel together. They had trained four nights a week in all weathers and the current success was due to hard work and excellent coaching by Michelle Clancy, whom he said was the best acquisition he had made to the management team. As each of the players was introduced to the crowd, they were received rapturously. Team captain Jacqui Clarke, still hoarse from her exertions in Croke Park on Sunday, thanked everyone concerned and especially her team-mates and the management team for making their success possible.
To the strains of the ‘Star of the County Down’, sung by the team members, the night air in Castlewellan reverberated to the musical overture.
At long last the All-Ireland champions were home.
This is the fourth time in 10 years Castlewellan has welcomed home All-Ireland champions in different grades.
BREDAGH LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL CLUB
Background:
Bredagh Ladies Gaelic Football Club (LGFC) was set up in 1993, at a time when Ladies Gaelic Football was the fastest growing sport in Ireland. The ladies club is part of Bredagh G.A.C. which has kept Gaelic football alive in the community for over 30 years. Bredagh is the only Belfast based club competing in County Down.
Achievements in 2002
Bredagh won their first ever Down Championship on September 2002 by defeating the defending champions with a score line of 3-13 to 3-04. Bredagh Ladies will now face St. Eunan’s in the Senior Ulster Club Championship.
Achievements:
Down Senior Championship
Winners 2002, Runners Up 1999, 2000 & 2001.
Down Senior League Unfinished yet in 2002, Runners Up 2001, 2000, 1999.
Down Feis Seven’s. Winners 1999, Runners Up 2000.
All-Ireland Seven’s. Quarter Finalists of Shield 2001.
Castlewellan 7’2 – Runners up 2001 and 2000.
Club Personalities
Ulster & All-Ireland Junior Winners with Down in 2000.
Bredagh ladies are proud to have no fewer than six players on the Down team that won the All Ireland Junior title in Croke Park in 1999, beating Galway, including team captain Jacqui Clarke.
Ulster & All-Ireland Junior Winners with Tyrone in 1999.
Bredagh are also fortunate to have yet another All-Ireland winner with Tyrone midfielder and 2000 All-Star Arlene McCloskey. Arlene also captained Ulster to win the Inter-provincial title in 2002.
Youth:
Last year Bredagh Ladies in conjunction with the men’s club ran a very successful
10-week youth scheme, with an average of 30 girls turning out every week. The club have built on the success of last year and formed the first ever Bredagh under age girls team which has been entered into the Down League this season.
BREDAGH SCHEME SIGNS OPF IN STYLE
Gaelic football stars Paul Brewster of Fermanagh and Down captain, Brian
Burns helped Bredagh GAC end their successful Youth Scheme in style at
Cherryvale on Saturday.
Ladies County players Eilish Gormley and Arlene McCloskey (Tyrone), and
Michaela Downey from Down reflected the Scheme’s determination to boost
girls Gaelic football in the area. Down captain Brian Burns represented
main sponsors HELM, while the South Belfast News provided a prize and
sponsorship of the final day of the 10-week scheme. “The sun came out, the boys and girls cheered all the winners and their parents joined in”. “It was the perfect end to the Scheme”, commented organiser Jerome Quinn. “Another gratifying aspect is that
dozens of them went home wearing Gaelic county jerseys”. “At the start of the scheme, hardly any of them knew the county colours but now they do”. “They are mainly from three primary schools, in South Belfast – St. Michael’s, St. Bernard’s and Holy Rosary”. Many of the boys and girls have signed up for a week of the Down Summer Camp at Lough Moss Leisure Centre in August, and forms are available from the club for anyone else interested.
OTHER CLUB NEWS
Bredagh Senior men lost by three points at Ardglass in Division Four of the Down Leagues on Friday night, despite a second-half comeback. Points from Paddy Finnegan, Paul McEvoy and Conor O’Keefe, and a goal from Jerome Quinn were not quite enough to take the points. On Sunday evening, Bredagh Reserves were much too good for Saul in a game played at Cherryvale. Finnegan, Conal Donnelly and O’Keefe all scored goals. Down Ladies lost to Monaghan in Sunday’s Ulster SFC Semi-final at Crossmaglen. Captain Jacqui Clarke, from Bredagh, was philosophical in defeat. “It was a big step up for us, but we did well to score 1-12 over the
hour and we’ll be back”. (photos)
The future is bright … the future’s blue and gold as Brigid’s Under-16’s end on
a high. Saint Brigid’s finished their first ever season at Under 16 grade in Antrim with an impressive victory over Sarsfields, thereby securing Division One football for this three-year-old club next season.
While that in itself is a major achievement, it was all the more remarkable given that St.Brigid’s were forced to field no less than four under 14’s due to holidays and other commitments.
Mark Toland, Aidan Owens, Ryan Murphy and N.J.Convery, called in as a late replacement for Toland, were the youngsters who equipped themselves so well and helped secure this win.
If these four were impressive however, special mention must be made of Ruari O’Neill who, starting as play-maker at the centre half forward, finished the day with a personal tally of 3-3. Along with his brother and team captain Francis. Playing in the unfamiliar position of the edge of the opposition square rather than his own, the O’Neill boys ran the Sarsfields defence ragged.
Played in glorious sunshine, the game started brightly with the visitors getting off to a great start, some impressive play from the boys in green and black saw them race into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after 10 minutes. It was then however that O’Neill struck for the first time, latching on to a flick from his brother after a surging run from wing back James Loughrey.