Glinsk Ladies GAA club have only been in existence since 1998 but this year they claimed their second county trophy. Team manager Shane Curley and club secretary/team player Anne Marie Beirne spoke to Hogan Stand about their progress in 2006. Over the last eight years or so, Glinsk ladies GAA club have proven their worth in Galway club football. They were quickly off the mark in winning silverware: in their first year Glinsk played in the Galway junior B league and were county champions only six months after their establishment. This year, with a number of survivors still left from 1998 and some fresh new blood, they won the county junior C league, defeating Naomh Mhuire in the final. Siutated on the hinterlands of East Galway, Glinsk is bordered by Glenamaddy, Creeggs and Ballymoe. This team comprises players from the Glinsk area and its half parish Kilbegnet-Creggs. Stephen Neary and Paul O Boyle Building Contractors Ltd along with existing sponsors Gannon Bros Plant Hire (jerseys) and Michael Timothy Electrical Contractor (new gear bags) sponsored tracksuits for the club. The company has been established for the last four years or so. Both have played with the club for years and this represented an opportunity for them to advance their own firm. Stephen's sister Christina played an important part in the team's success. The company has just finished twelve houses in Glinsk and generally work in the local area as much as possible with most of the work based in Roscommon. In the course of a conversation with team manager Shane Curley, it became apparent that Glinsk possessed some tremendous characteristics. Desire and self-belief were two of these. That will-to-win became clear when, in several games, they displayed a ruthless streak, refusing to relax even when games were practically won at half-time. Such commitment culminated in their eventual success in the county final. "We had always said that we would keep up the intensity right up to the final whistle. I knew from watching ladies matches over the year how they can suddenly change," says Shane. This year Glinsk played seven round-robin league matches. Their journey began on April 22nd when they overcame Claregalway by six points. In this game and against their next opponents Naomh Mhuire, (Oranmore) Glinsk were made work very hard for their victories. "There was a lot of uncertainty about what to expect against Claregalway as we were in a different division from the previous year. So we didn't really know what to expect. The game was a tough encounter and damp weather conditions made things difficult. But we got through it. "The Naomh Mhuire game was an extremely tough match which we came through on a 5-5 to 3-10 scoreline. We were behind at half-time but everything we did through the year was based on self-belief and we came back. A late goal from full-forward Anne-Marie Beirne got us level and we managed to secure the points with a fine individual score from our captain Lisa Nolan," he says. Clarinbridge were then accounted for before last year's beaten finalists Renmore were defeated. Beirne and centre-half forward Donna Timothy were proving their value up front and Glinsk were hitting form at just the right time. An amalgamation of Tuam Stars and Cortoon's second team provided the opposition in the quarter-final. Victory then ensured a semi-final berth against the Aran Islands. Glinsk won comfortably. By this stage only Naomh Mhuire stood between them and their second trophy since their foundation. "We knew what we were going to be up against in that match. We got off to a great start getting the first score on the board. Later in the half Donna Timothy got us a very fortuitous goal from 30 yards to settle things down for us and we led by 1-6 to 0-4." However Naomh Mhuire refused to lie down. They laid siege to the Glinsk goal, striking the upright and forcing a superb save from Marie-Theresa Kelly. The goalkeeper was "the hero", with a string of superb saves denying Naomh Mhuire. With fifteen minutes to go, Karina Morgan scored a second goal to leave the scoreline standing at 2-8 to 0-5. Naomh Mhuire weren't quite finished. They scored a goal and with seven minutes remaining were awarded a penalty. MT Kelly saved but Naomh Mhuire scored a second goal to put only three points between the teams. Things were getting tense but Glinsk were not to be denied. "It was extremely nerve-wracking when they got that second goal. They added another point but it was in injury-time by that stage and we held on to win by 2-8 to 2-6," Shane says. "Credit has to go to Naomh Mhuire. It was a never-say-die effort from them. Many teams would've fallen asunder when they were so much in arrears but they just kept at it, kept plugging away. "And I don't think we took the foot off the pedal at all. It was just that they put up such a struggle; they wouldn't lie down even when we looked in control." Glinsk also had a good championship run, defeating Eire Og and Renmore to advance to the final. Despite losing the final to St Colman's, the league victory renders this year a marvelous success. Full-forward and club secretary Anne-Maire Beirne was involved in the team when it was first established in 1998. There were several surviving members from that team but she says, winning the county league this year has marked a wonderful year. "It has been an amazing journey for a team full of spirit and courage, commitment and a never-say-die attitude. The approach and general enthusiasm of all the players right from the start made the team click throughout the year. "The ultimate message from the beginning was quite clear. The team that puts in the hard work, refuses to take no for an answer can win," she says. "It was truly a marvelous achievement for the team to win the league and contest a championship final. Obviously we all had put in a huge commitment during the year training but it was all worth it. Bringing home the County League junior title under our belts proved to be the most memorable occasion for all the players. The homecoming which we received is something that we will never forget." Through this team, lifetime friendships have been formed. People from both ends of the Glinsk and Kilbegnet-Creggs area have been brought together. Huge numbers of supporters from the Glinsk-Creggs area attended the final and winning the league gave both communities a "great lift". Now, she says, the aim is to win back to back county league titles. Having lost this year's championship final against St Colman's, she says they want to win the league and championship double. Winning the league this year is a "stepping stone" for the next grade of football. Anne Marie believes the future is bright. "Success breaths success. What the club achieved this year has certainly brought a greater attention to the club and a number of younger players have expressed huge interest of being involved in the team next year. This is the fruits of success and certainly the club is in a promising position for 2007." Sport plays a central role in the lives of the Glinsk players. Some have completed degree programmes in Athlone IT in sport and leisure while several of the team who are Leaving Certificate Students are aspiring to become PE teachers. A number of players on the Glinsk panel aim to play in Croke Park at some stage in their lives. This year's success can be a stepping stone towards that aim. Next year provides a new challenge for this group of players. Nevertheless, if they can show the same level of hunger and desire next year, success may not be too far away. Panel: Mary T Kelly; Lisa Ward, Mary Morris, Christina Neary; Donna Kelly, Gerdina Kelly, Tanya Curley; Lisa Nolan (captain), Denise Ward, Emma Morgan, Donna Timothy, Karina Morgan; Stacey Kelly, Anne Marie Beirne, Lorraine Ryan, Susie Fannon, Hannah Hannant, Sinead Nolan, Alicia Collins; Andrea Curley, Carla McDonagh, Donna Caulfield; Laura Scanlon, Breda Raftery; Caroline Barlow, Michelle Curley; Michelle Timothy, Annouska Grady; Grace Cunniffe, Nicola Hughes, Oonagh McDonagh, Amanda McDermott. Tweet

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