Oisin’s lift U14B LGFA Championship
Oisins Glenariff GLC v Davitt’s GAC Belfast
In the U14 championship that took place on a beautiful evening at Dunsilly Oisins Glenariffe proved too strong for Michael Davitt’s.
For the winners Oisins Glenariff which was a great achievement. Here are a few words from the Oisins manager, Pauline McIntosh.
“Although Glenariffe Oisins has fielded teams in camogie and ladies gaelic football in the past, it is only in recent years that ladies Gaelic has began to gather momentum again at a juvenile level. The club is long established in hurling and although girls could participate in the younger juvenile age groups, they soon reached an age where they could no longer pull on the club shirt to line out with a team. Starting with the gaelic4girls initiative and an U12 team just a couple of years ago, the club now has juvenile LGFA teams at U12, U14 and for the first time this year U16.
As a club based in a small rural community, we welcome all girls who would like to have a go at playing football. We are fortunate to have players join us from Carnlough, Cushendalland Cushendun not only for our teams but also at the Fundamentals sessions for those kids (U8) just starting to explore the game.
Despite our relative lack of playing experience, we have enjoyed success winning the U14B league for the first time last year and now the U14B Championship. These successes are the result of the dedication of the players and management. They are built on the training pitch, on the friendships formed to help a team pull together and sometimes on the beach after training when the girls are enjoying the craic of a dip in the sea! For us the biggest success is that so many girls who started out when we started up, still pull on a jersey and that every so often we pick up another girl- some who have never played a team sport before. We may not have the biggest playing panels to choose from but that really doesn’t matter as it is incredibly satisfying to watch all the girls grow together by encouraging each other and seeing their skills develop over time.
Playing sport is not only great for fitness and general health, it’s also a super way to socialise and make new friends as well as helping you feel good about yourself. We are delighted that we are able to offer our young people the opportunity to participate and would encourage anyone thinking about joining in with a local team to give it a go! It’s worth a try! “
Meanwhile the Davitt’s manager had this to say about his side
“ I have been mentoring this group of girls from under 8 along with Clare Rowntree Paul Rowntree and Christopher McParland the under 14s are the first Davitt’s girls team to reach a championship final they are a great bunch of young ladies and a pleasure to coach and are totally dedicated to Davitt’s.
Our numbers in ladies football have really taken off in this last few years and the championship final is just deserve for all the hard work the girls have put in.
Our club is very proud of our girls and the achievement in reaching the county final unfortunately we came up against a very talented Oisins and it was no embarrassment to lose to such a well-coached team but we’re still in the hunt for the league so there’s plenty to play for this season and keep an eye out for the girls from the lower falls road they are here to stay”.
