Ladies Football History

History of Ladies Football in Naomh Mearnog

Ladies Football was introduced to the club in 1996 by Michael Walsh.
An Under 16 team was entered in 1996 and the first taste of success was winning the Dublin Minor B Championship in 1999 and being runners up in the U16 Championship in the same year.  From humble beginnings and considering Ladies Football is just over 10 years in existence, Naomh Mearnog now fields 3 juvenile teams at U12, U13 and U15 and two teams at adult level Senior and Junior. 

Ladies Senior Team

Our adult team won the Dublin Junior championship in 2001, the Intermediate championship in 2002 and were beaten senior finalists in the 2004 Dublin Championship.

2005 saw the Ladies Senior section amalgamate with neighboring club St Sylvester’s.  The prospect of no adult ladies football team in neighboring club St. Sylvester’s focused the minds of their management and players.  The Ladies section within both clubs have a history of working together though ‘guest player’ arrangements  and amalgamation of the two clubs at adult level was agreed by both clubs. The amalgamation was agreed by both club executives and approved by the Dublin County Board.   The amalgamated intermediate team of Naomh Mearnog/ St Sylvester’s enjoyed unprecedented success winning the Dublin Intermediate Champion and going on to win the Leinster Club Championship. They were beaten by Inch Rovers from Cork in the All Ireland Club Intermediate Final.  The amalgamated team are now competing in the Senior Dublin League and Championship.

Ladies Junior Football 2007
 
First formed in 2004, the Junior Ladies team provides football for girls from age 15 and upwards. The main objectives are to provide an outlet for all those who wish to play football regardless of levels of skill, and to prepare players to progress to a higher level. As with the Senior squad, the Juniors joined forces with St. Sylvesters in 2006, quickly combining into a cohesive unit to capture both League and Championship titles. 2007 sees a continuation of the amalgamation, resulting in more people playing Ladies Football in Naomh Mearnog than ever before.

ALL STAR

History was made for Naomh Mearnog when Cliodhna O’Connor was a recipient of an all star award.  The highest accolade a GAA player can receive for individual performance.  This is another first for the club.

Club players representing Dublin 2007

Cliodha O’Connor, Orla Colreavy, Karen Kennedy, Ann Clarke, Emma Dunne are on the Dublin Senior Ladies Football panel for 2007.

Theresa MConnell and Meave Redmond represent the club on the Junior Dublin Team.

Niamh Fallon is on the U14 Dublin panel who have reached the All-Ireland final.