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48 | SPRING 2019 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie FEATURE t's clear that Michael Ryan's journey with ladies football has come a long way since his first training session, especially when one considers the sheer delight captured on his face after Waterford ladies claimed the Division 2 National League title earlier in the year. To those who follow Waterford ladies football with a "vested interest" as Michael does, this win was hugely significant for a number of reasons. After beating Mayo to become National League Division 1 champions in 2002 and a victory over Cork in the Munster final in the same year, Waterford gradually began to slip down the ranks of ladies football, finding themselves relegated to the intermediate championship and Division 3 of the league by 2010. Since then, it took 5 years to "I got involved in ladies football teams against my will" Michelle Ryan reflects on her father's involvement with Ladies Gaelic Football. reclaim senior championship status and another 4 years to return to the top tier of the National League. This, he explains, was one of the main reasons for such an emotional reaction to the result last weekend, "when that final whistle blew, there was the realisation that Waterford had beaten Kerry in a national final but there was also another very important factor, they were back playing Division one football." The victory and the performance of the team was to him, a throwback to the glory days of Waterford ladies football. Since his first involvement with his local club team Ballymacarbry, Michael has not only witnessed ,but overseen the triumphs of both Ballymacarbry and Waterford ladies football teams during the eighties, nineties and early 00s. During this golden era, Waterford won 5 senior All-Irelands and 5 National League Division 1 titles while Ballymacarbry set a record, winning 10 senior club All-Irelands. He stepped away from the Waterford ladies setup in 2006 after serving 25 years as Waterford manager. Although Michael first began intermittently training Ballymacarbry ladies in 1975, his initial managerial involvement came in 1982 at the request of his sister and wife who were playing with the club at the time. "My sister Bernie and my wife Kate came to me and asked me to train the team and I had absolutely no interest. I went I Clockwise: Former Waterford manager Micheal Ryan celebrates with his daughter Michelle. Brendan Martin, left, and Michael Ryan. Mary O'Donnell, left, and Rebecca Hallahan with former Waterford team manager Michael Ryan.