Sport

from Kilkenny Observer 7th January 2022

by Kilkenny Observer

Marianne Heron

Athletics Ireland Women in Sport strategic plan 2021-2024

Jacqui Mulhall MSB AC

Mia Cullen & Una Farrell St Pats AC Tullow

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS NATHAN CAFOLLA

Ireland is proud to announce the launch of our Women in Sport Strategic Plan 20212024, during the week of the 6th of January coinciding with Nollaig na mBann. is plan is designed to both expresses our commitment to women in sport and our vision of inspiring the nation to be active, healthy and to perform through athletics.

Athletics Ireland is continuing to advocate, contribute and support greater female representation at all levels of our sport. is strategic plan has been in development under Athletics Ireland Women in Sport O cer, Lilly-Ann O’Hora in conjunction with an extensive consultation process to nalise the plan.

Athletics Ireland will ensure that our actions, programmes, and initiatives are membercentred, with a commitment to promoting female athletic endeavours. is plan puts women at the heart of the organisations strategic direction whist continuing the growth of female representation across our membership, participants, partnerships, and supporters. It is an extensive plan that supplies a road map for the hard work ahead to achieve the stretch of objectives and future opportunities identi ed for Women in Sport.

“While athletics has a long history of promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls, it is a sign of leadership that an organisation can recognise the areas where improvements can still occur. Sport Ireland

welcomes and congratulates Athletics Ireland on the junction development and launch of its Women in Sport Strategic Plan, and we look forward to supporting the ongoing consulta- strides the organisation tion process makes in its commitment to to nalise the women in sport.” - Nora Stapleton, Women in

Athletics Ire- Sport Lead, Sport Ireland. land will ensure that our “ e contribution of women to athletics as athletes, coaches, o cials and administrators has been immense. Athletics Ireland is committed to providing equal opportunities to women to achieve their potential and enjoy all the bene ts of our sport. Our Women in Sport Strategic Plan

and sup porters. extensive plan that supplies a Athletics Ireland Women in road map

Sport Lilly-Ann O’Hora for the hard work ahead to achieve the stretch of objectives and future opportunities

Nuala Quigg Star of the Laune AC Michelle Finn Leevale AC Iseult ODonnell Raheny Shamrock AC Jacqui Mulhall MSB AC Saragh Buggy St Abbans Fiona Kelly Newport AC Mary Behan St Pats Tullow

will ensure that we have a structured development of participation and leadership opportunities and ensure that more women are involved in all sectors of our sport.” - Brid Golden, Deputy President of Athletics Ireland & Chair of the Coaching & Development Committee.

“From being an athletics administrator, o cial and parent of athletes, female role models in our sport are vital to inspire more women to get involved, with a strategic plan we can connect, communicate, empower, encourage and support women and provide them with more opportunities to increase their visibility.” - Aisling Hoey, Munster Schools Athletics Secretary, Munster Athletics Juvenile PRO, County Tipperary Registrar & IT Manager.

“As CEO I’ve had the privilege of seeing rst-hand the impacts Women have had across all levels of our sport, particularly in key decisionmaking roles. is strategic plan provides a road map for our organisation to attract, retain and support our female members to develop within athletics across the many roles available. is is an exciting time for our sport.” - Hamish Adams, CEO of Athletics Ireland.

BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR

SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE

It has been a very strange eighteen months across the world, mostly related to the ‘P’ word.

Yes, the pandemic, COVID-19 has cost all of us so much. During these dark times, the GAA has somehow managed to lift our spirits, and through our Hurling, Camogie and Football we have had a glimpse of what normality was like.

Games without supporters was not something that we could ever have imagined, but our players ensured that we had something to cling to. As restrictions eased, we started to see fans returning to our grounds, and this had an energising e ect on games.

LADIES FIRST.

e season began with our senior camogs as All-Ireland champions and our senior hurlers with lofty ambitions of getting their hands on Liam again. e leagues would be the training ground for their assaults on O’Du y & McCarthy.

Brian Dowling’s ladies’ team went through their Littlewoods league campaign with relative ease, but never quite managed a complete 60-minute performance as they marched to the nal showdown in Croker against old foes Galway. For me, the 2-8 registered by Denise Gaule in the semi nal victory over Tipperary at UPMC Nowlan Park, was key to the stripey-women reaching the decider. Goalkeeper Aoife Norris was also impressive in their run to the nal, along with her clubmates, Aoife and Kellyann Doyle.

It was tting that our national broadcaster had decided to televise the league decider live from Croker.

With this match also acting as a ‘test event’ for the reintroduction of spectators, following the easing of COVID restrictions, 3,000 lucky Gaels were in attendance and witnessed an unbelievable advert for the women’ game.

‘Keeper Aoife Norris was outstanding, pulling o a string of ne saves. Denise Gaule, supported by others kept the scoreboard ticking over, but Aoife Doyle’s second half goal was a thing of beauty. e speed, the control, but most importantly the nish – BOOM! A blistering start to the 2nd half saw our ladies turn a three-point de cit into a ve-point advantage. ey weren’t to be beaten and had three points to spare on the long whistle. Winning is a good habit and this team were showing all the traits necessary of champions. e ladies rst taste of championship action came against the women of Clare. As expected, Dowling’s charges saw o the challenge of Ger O’Connell’s side, and then found themselves on the road to Mullingar to face Westmeath. is game would lead bainisteoir Dowling to call it the worst performance during his time in charge – but importantly, his side ran out 9-point winners, despite trailing by four at the short whistle. Along with Denise Gaule, it would be St Martin’s sharp shooter, Katie Nolan that was carrying the major threat to opposition defenders. e Final group game saw the Tribeswomen of Galway rock up to Callan. Games between these two are notoriously tight, and this encounter proved no di erent. Despite having a numerical advantage for the majority of the match, our ladies came up just short by the minimum on the long whistle. e westerners topped the group, and Dowling’s side would have to navigate a tricky quarter- nal trip to Pairc Ui Chaoimh to face-o against neighbours Wexford. A super rst half from those in black and amber gave the ladies a platform to rack up a decent winning total of 3-19 and see them over the line by the banks of the Lee.

A little trip to headquarters was next up, and the small matter of an All-Ireland semi- nal against the Rebels of Cork. Despite a second-half comeback, Brian Dowling’s side fell to a late point from Cork captain Linda Collins.

While many had earmarked Kilkenny as favourites for the semi- nal tie at headquarters, the rebels desire to reach their rst nal in three years was evident.

It was a rip-roaring a air, that could have gone either way, but over the course of the near 65 minutes, Cork probably just about deserved their victory.

At Intermediate level, John Scott’s side navigated their way to an All-Ireland nal, where there came up just short against a slick Antrim side. ere was much to admire about our intermediate ladies’ e orts over the season, Sophie O’Dwyer, along with Danielle Quigley, Eva Hynes and Ciara O’Keefe all showed up well, and more will be expected in 2022. e brightest spark in 2021 was undoubtably Mike Wall’s minor ladies. A fantastic campaign saw his charges claim their rst minor crown since 2015 – and guess who was in charge then? Yes, you guessed it – Mr. Mike Wall! e campaign began with an entertaining draw against Waterford, before the minor ladies upped the ante in omastown in a 6-point win over Wexford. e Model victory set-up an All-Ireland quarter- nal tie with Limerick in Fermoy. e ease with which our minor’s dismantled the opposition sent warning signs to all other remaining competitors. Amy

with lofty ambitions of getting their hands on Liam e leagues would be the training ground for their Littlewoods league campaign with relative ease, but never quite managed a complete 60-minute performance as they marched to the nal showdown in Croker against old foes Galway. For me, the 2-8 registered by Denise Gaule in the semi nal victory over Tipperary at UPMC Nowlan Park, was key to

All pix: Danny Lahart

Kilkenny co-captains Niamh Phelan and Sarah O’Donnell li the cup

KK manager Mike Wall

The Right Man! Ladies manager Brian Dowling Intermediate manager John Scott

Ladies & Gentlemen... 2021– A Mixed Bag!

St Martins Sharp-shooter Katie Nolan

Sarah Barcoe - a scintilating talent Cli ord hit 1-14 as Mike Wall’s team romped to a 19-point victory. Next up was a semi nal meeting with Galway in

Abbottstown. is game would test the nerves of all involved. e tie ebbed and owed and had a little bit of everything, but it would take a goal of real quality from rising star Sarah Barcoe to force extra-time. omastown attacker Barcoe would register further scores and nish with a tally of 2-5 to help see her side home by 2 points.

LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick would be the venue for the nal showpiece against the minor ladies of Cork. We started well, ladies of Cork. We started well, had a 4-point lead at the short had a 4-point lead at the short whistle. Cork battled hard, but whistle. Cork battled hard, but a second green ag raised by a second green ag raised by

Emma Shortall in the 52nd Emma Shortall in the 52nd minute ensured there minute ensured there would be no nail-biting would be no nail-biting nish to this game. Mike nish to this game. Mike Wall had delivered Wall had delivered what he set out to, what he set out to, another Síghle Nic another Síghle Nic an Ultaigh Cup for an Ultaigh Cup for the Noresiders. Sarah Barcoe. Wow. What a talent. e scintillating omastown attacker, I believe, has the camogie world at her feet. Dicksboro duo Dicksboro duo Asha McHardy and Asha McHardy and Amy Cli ord excelled Amy Cli ord excelled also, the latter deadly also, the latter deadly accurate from play and accurate from play and vitally, the placed ball. In vitally, the placed ball. In many ways she reminds me many ways she reminds me of a young Denise Gaule. row of a young Denise Gaule. row Clara’s Emma Shortall into the Clara’s Emma Shortall into the

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AOIFE NORRIS - Dowling’s Numero Uno!

Thomastown’s Aine Kirwan

Ladies & Gentlemen... 2021– A Mixed Bag!

... CONTINUED

mix, and it’s a potent forward line. In defence, there was great discipline shown throughout the campaign. Niamh Phelan and Aine Kirwan just two of the stand-outs here. James Stephens clubwoman Emma Manogue found her way to mid eld and put in stellar performances. e bench was crucial to the successful season, with St Brigids Claire Doheny impressing when called upon. e future’s bright – the future is black and amber.

ABOUT A BOY......

Kilkenny senior hurlers had a largely successful league campaign, topping Division 1B. As no league nal was scheduled in this season’s calendar, the title was shared between both Galway and the Cats. e league saw captain Adrian Mullen return to action and allowed Brian Cody to shu e his pack game to game. It became clear early on in the league campaign that Glenmore’s Eoin Murphy was a keeper of the highest quality. Murphy would go on to have a great season, and this was duly recognised with an All-Star award in the number one position.

Victories over Dublin, Antrim, Laois and Wexford would come before a nal league game against Clare. Perhaps it was the trip to Ennis that helped put some perspective on the shape Brian Cody’s team were in. Clare racked up 4-20 in their home win, as doubts surrounding the Kilkenny defence resurfaced. e Banners win continued their winning streak against the Noresiders – making it six games without a loss.

It was TJ, yet again who nished top of the league scoring charts for Kilkenny – hitting 1-34 across the campaign and making him the only black and amber player in the ‘Top Ten’ Scorer’s list. e reliance on the Ballyhale legend continues.

As we all know, the league’s for playing. It’s the championship that gets the Gael’s going. As Leinster got under way, Cody’s panel watched with interest as their semi- nal opponents were con rmed. As expected, Davy Fitz & co prevailed against Laois in Nowlan Park, setting up what was to be his nal dig at the cats with the yellowbellies.

In arguably the greatest game of Hurling this year so far, the lads took fans on one hell of a rollercoaster. In front of 8,000 fans at headquarters, both sides provided a fantastic spectacle. In a game that ebbed and owed for its entirety, Wexford somehow managed to force extra-time by hitting three late scores. e Kilkenny faithful feared the worst when keeper Eoin Murphy was sent to the ‘bin’ for a foul. Wexford scored the penalty and the cats trailed by the minimum at the interval in extra-time. Our boys would go to the well again and nish the game strongly, hitting 1-6 without reply in the second period, including a lovely goal from Walter which saw them claim a nal berth against the Dubs. e Leinster decider was never going to live up to the semi- nal spectacle, the home side lost some players to COVID-19 in the buildup, and despite their best e orts, Kilkenny claimed a 73rd O’Keefe cup in front of 18,000 Gaels. Leinster was done. Cody knew a bigger, stronger challenge lay ahead, if the cats were to end the wait for Liam.

Kilkenny continued their preparations in their quest for the ultimate prize. Once Cork overcame Dublin in the quarter- nal, Cody could focus on what was to prove to be the last match of the season.

Another extra-time a air. Another visit to the well. Ultimately the well ran dry in the nal ten minutes of the semi- nal battle. Cork’s pace and running game won the day. Semi- nal defeat and heartache for our boys. Our leader and legend, Brian Cody admitted the better team won on the day. As usual Kilkenny went down ghting. ey will return hungrier than ever when 2022 season gets under way.

Eoin Cody, named young hurler of the year for the second season running, will no doubt be brimming with con dence for the next campaign. His clubmates, Joe Cuddihy, Ronan Corcoran and Dean Mason could also nd themselves seeing some inter-county action in 2022.

Other names in the mix include, Eoin Wall, Luke Scanlon and Cian Kenny.

From the juvenile ranks, we should keep a close eye on the Dicksboro lads – there are a few tasty talents plying their trade in Palmerstown. Harry Shine, Liam Moore, Timmy Cli ord and Cillian Hackett to name but four. omastown minor captain, Peter McDonald looks like a leader and a real gem. e club championship has shown Brian Cody that there is plenty of talent around the county. It will be up to our legendary leader to integrate some of this talent into his senior inter-county panel in the pre-season competition and national league. 2022 – Bring it on!