05/12/2003
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
Speech by Mayor Maire Ardagh at Civic Reception for Team on 3rd Dec at County Hall
Good evening and welcome to the Dublin Senior Ladies Football Team
Their coach Mick Bohan & mentors ( Chairman of the Ladies County Board Mr John Hillary,Councillors- Members of SPC, Management and special Guests
For a few moments I wish to recap on the road that led to Croke Park ….
The 2003 Tg4 Ladies All Ireland Final played on October 5th was Dublin’s eighth championship game after many tough encounters along the way.
For those of us who watched it on TV will remember it as the All Ireland final that was snatched away from Dublin – we were so close to embracing the Brendan Martin cup for a historic first time!
However the gutsy performance of the Ladies of the West showed, why they have won four out of the last five All Ireland’s. The final score Mayo 1-4, Dublin 0-05.
Let us not despair but rather reflect on a truly progressive year that these Dublin Ladies or The Jackies have had – Dublin’s objective in the 2003 championship campaign was to retain their Leinster title and go one step further than last season by making it to the 2003 All Ireland Final, they achieved both.
Dublin Leinster’s campaign was very impressive with victories over Longford, Westmeath, Louth, Meath and Laois. Dublin beat Monaghan in the first ever Tg4 All Ireland quarterfinal for a place in the All Ireland semi final against Kerry. This they won even with a lady short with 25 minutes to go, to secure a place in the All Ireland final against Mayo scheduled for the 5th October.
Dublin Ladies Football has undergone continuous developed over the last number of years with the 2003 season being the most successful to date for Dublin.
· Dublin won back to back senior Leinster titles, a first for the County.
· Dublin appeared in their first All Ireland final,
· Eight Dublin players were nominated for All Stars, Cliodha O’Connor, Sorcha Farrelly, Maria Kavanagh, Niamh Hurley, Martina Farrell, Angie McNally, Mary Nevin and Bernie Finlay, Maria Kavanagh, Martina Farrell and Angie McNally
· The successful All-Star recipients were - Maria Kavanagh (Round Towers), Martina Farrell (Ballyboden St. Endas & Captain) and Angie McNally (Ballinteer St. Johns).
The other successes for Dublin during 2003 include:
· Senior Leinster Champions,
· Junior Leinster Runners up,
· Under-16 Leinster Champions,
· Under-14 Leinster Champions,
· Junior Leinster Club Champions,
· Intermediate Leinster Club Champions,
· Under-12 A Leinster Blitz Champions and
· Under-14 A Leinster Blitz Champions.
As Patricia Monahan Dublin PRO stated that ….†The hunt for the Holy Grail will continue but it won’t be long now before we can witness a winning Dublin captain raise aloft the Brendan Martin cup, a vision we all look forward too with pride!â€
I cannot let this evening past without acknowledging the extraordinary commitment of the Ladies here present – who entertain us with their skill, agility and pure sporting talent. And for the coach and mentors for their hard work and commitment throughout the year who encourage and ensure that the Ladies play to their best potential in every game.
And finally – I have to acknowledge the 100’s of volunteers involved in Sport throughout, not just South Dublin but throughout Ireland, for their time, effort and commitment they give to ensuring that players are given the opportunity to experience the joy (and hard work), friendships, and victories that are part of our sporting culture.
That is why I take great pleasure in todays ceremony, it is a chance for our Council to congratulate the achievement of this wonderful team and club and wish them the very best for the future. We will all continue to support them with pride. I wish also to specially congratulate the All Star recipients –Maria Kavanagh (Round Towers),
Angie McNally (Ballinteer St. Johns) and Martina Farrell (Ballyboden St. Endas & Captain of the Dublin team)
Staying with the Ladies Sporting Achievement I should like to take this opportunity to congratulate and make a small presentation to two Staff Members of South Dublin County Council. We are very proud of Antoinette Mooney and Simone Gilabert who played for Kildare in the All Ireland Juniors on 5th October. Antoinette has been on the Kildare County Team for the last 10 years and is a holder of 4 Leinster Championship medals. She won the County Player of the year in 1998. Simone has been on the Kildare team for 4 years. She was also on the four in a row team and on the runner up team in the 2001 All Ireland.
Before we go to the presentations there are a number of tributes and congratulations to be heard and I call firstly, on the Chair of the Sports, Recreation Community and Parks Strategic Policy Committee Councillor Eamon Walsh