It was glamour and style as the ladies of Knockainey Ladies Football Club let their hair down to celebrate two landmarks in the club’s history at Bruff Rugby Club last Saturday night. The girls came together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the formation of the club and a ground breaking first county adult title in 2014 when the junior side were crowned county champions.
Club chairman and MC for the evening John McNamara welcomed everybody, especially the special guests for the evening, two of the finest exponents of the code: Mourneabbey and Cork’s Ciara O’Sullivan, the holder of six All-Ireland senior medals and two All-Stars, and her sister Doireann, the holder of three All-Ireland senior medals. Peter Sheehan, chairman of the Limerick Ladies Football Board, was also present.
Mr. McNamara in his opening remarks recounted how the club was formed in 2004 by three girls, Lauren Carroll, Eimear Hartnett and Sarah Enright, with the assistance and guidance of Kathleen Walsh and Debbie Carroll, all of whom were present on Saturday night.
County Board chairman Peter Sheehan in his address paid tribute to the club’s achievements during the year and he called for more people to commit to volunteerism. “You really have to look after and embrace the people that volunteer,” Mr. Sheehan said.
He also called for the club to be ambitious. “Do not be afraid to reach out, we do not do it often enough in Limerick, we need to get our mindset around to when we go out is to win the All-Ireland.”
The County Board chairman paid tribute to Eimear Kirby, who was a member of the Limerick team that won the 2014 All-Ireland Under 14C championship.
“It is a great honour to come to a club that has won so much in such a short space of time,” Ciara O’Sullivan told the packed gathering. “It says a lot for the junior team that having lost the county final the previous year, to come back and win it in 2014 is a massive achievement. Congratulations to you all and to your trainer, he has been there since the start.”
The Cork star said it was important that all age groups appreciate the work and effort of their trainers. “It is important to remember that they are doing all of that for your benefit and it worked out this year.”
“Doireann and I come from a small club similar to Knockainey,” the six times All-Ireland medal winner said, “so we appreciate all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes so it is important to appreciate all the work that the chairman and his committee are doing, not just tonight but throughout the year.”
The O’Sullivan sister presented the county medals to the winning junior panel, all of whom were present except Siochra McCarthy, Ailish O’Sullivan, Erin Carroll, Sarah Finn and Niamh O’Mahony.
Among a number of special presentations on the evening were those from the winning junior team and from the club to successful coach John Hartnett.