All – Ireland LGFA Juinor Final: Glanmire 1-22 Tourlestrand 3-11

Back in the early part of 2018, Glanmire Junior captain, Amy, stood on the stage for a Rose of Tralee section in cork (on behave of I.C.A) and spoke about her interest and love of playing football in Glanmire and how her goal was to win a all Ireland final. Unfortunately Amy didn’t get through to The Big stage in Tralee, instead throwing herself in to football and Amy was names as Glanmire Junior captain for 2018, A passionate and dedicated 20 year old was give a task of leading the team once again, and little did Amy know that her dream and words on that small stage was to become reality 8 months later and would put her on the biggest “stage” she or any other club player want to be on, A All Ireland Final.

After playing and winning at County level and Munster level it was All Ireland Quarter final V Coventry, England and on to the semi-final V Trillick that brought us away from home. Trillick Co Tyrone was a long trip to a country town, where the players, management and community were the kindest of people, it was nearly hard to want to beat them. But we did the business winning against Trillick it was well worth the travel, organising and a nights stay. and as if it was flash we were in a all Ireland Final, Something that every GAA club person in the country dreams about.

The 3weeks since the semi-final was interesting, football continued for our girls while the committee and parents put up the flags, signs, bunting and wrapped houses in anything they could find that was green and yellow. Business in Glanmire were like no other offering well wishes to the club, even holding green and yellow days for us. The support was unbelievable, a big thanks must go to everyone, but especially Supervalu who really stepped up to the mark and gave us a full set of Jerseys, and to McCarthy’s sports where the jerseys were ordered at very short notice.

Our all Ireland final was set for Ballinasloe in Co Galway on Sunday 9th of December a date that will go down in our history. A 45 strong panel and mentors traveled to play the Sligo team of Tourlestrane. The game started with a Glanmire scored by Kate Hannon, Kate would go on to scoop player of the match scoring a total of 11 points, within the haze of 60 mins of play we played great football and a bond of support for each other could be seen. Each and every player on and off the field played their part in the season that got us to the final, but on the day A young Niamh McAllen who ran the field for the full hour scored 1-7 each score as calculated as the last , while at the other end of the field the super keeper Ava Carey stopped at least 3 pointblank range shots on goal.

And just as fast as it started the match was finished, a rush of Glanmire subs and mentors ran on the field, with tears of joy and screams of excitement, this was the first time any of the players would have experienced this at club level. As the team made their way to the presentation podium the large Glanmire crowed gathered on the field to see the Glanmire girls be presented with our first ever All Ireland trophy and more incredibly it is the first ever adult all Ireland trophy to be brought back to Glanmire from any GAA club in the area. A unbelievable season with unbelievable people, it was a amazing to see history been made. Well done to all the players and mentors (Geraldine, Dave, Keith, Mary, Ger, Michael, Mark And Pysio Michelle)

Half time score : Glanmire 0-13 Tourlestrand1-05

End score :

Scorers – Glanmire: K Hannon 0-11 (0-5f), N McAllen 1-7, A McCarthy 0-1, S Murphy 0-1, S O’Brien 0-1, A O’Mahony 0-1

Glanmire: A Carey; R Kelleher, A McNamara, A Turpin; A McCarthy, E Baker, L Cashman; R Crowley, A O’Mahony; N McAllen, S O’Brien, E Twomey; E Murphy, K Hannon, S Murphy.

Subs: C Murphy for Turpin (38), K O’Connor for S Murphy (44).