It is a year of firsts for the Ladies of Ballycomoyle Football club. In six days they face Moate in an intermediate football final with a talented young coach at the helm who is also debuting as a Ladies coach.

Promoted at the end of last season from the Junior Division, Enda Sheridan and the panel of twenty five women have put in eighty training sessions and competed in 18 matches this season. They banished their first bogey when they defeated the Downs at Castlepollard Community College to retain their intermediate status for the first time. Then onto Clonmellon, where they emerged victorious against Clann Gaels and with that win  the opportunity to field against a team that has already cemented its reputation as a great side.

But this Ballycomoyle team have been quietly impressing north Westmeath for years now and their training for the last number of months has all been about the ball play and the field strategy.

"The girls were training for fitness and strength early in the season, now their minds and their training is all ball play. They have been honing their skills in the pressure setting of challenge matches and fiercely contested competition. Add to that mix Enda, who has been an underage coach stepping up into the Ladies sector and building a programme that was all about commitment and confidence. The fact that the girls are in a final on Saturday is about their confidence, their self belief but mostly their absolute commitment. They have earned this spot and I believe they have the heart and the skill for a win on Saturday in Athlone," said Sean Dermody, Ladies chairman and  father of joint captain Sabrina and player Caoimhe.

"The final will be held in Athlone this Saturday and we hope that everyone will come along and support the girls," said Sean, "h'on the Bal".

The community have also rallied behind this rural club to provide the team with a new strip; Dermody Haulage sponsored the strip, Hotel Castlepollard sponsored the shorts and Salmon Buses sponsored the socks.

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