Ladies Gaelic Football

Ireland quarter final, they were playing Sligo in Croke Park. I came in just before that game so I made my debut in Croke Park. It was a nice wee introduction," said McCarron. "Like these girls, I came in from the Minor team, we had a really good underage team back then. It was amazing coming into a team with the likes of Niamh Kindlon and Edel Byrne being on your team. It was something special. "But we were stepping up into a top class team then. We were competing and got to the All-Ireland final that year. We had a good few years where we didn't get the All-Ireland wins, but we were in the final in 2008, '11 and '13. "That's what we want these younger players to see again, we want to get back up to that level and let them see that. That's what we have to build up towards." McAnespie made her Monaghan Senior debut a year earlier than McCarron, and she thinks the involvement of former players from the 90s and 00s in the coaching set- up is the key to Monaghan's future success. "I played in the three All-Irelands against Cork, unfortunately we came out on the wrong side of all three of them," said McAnespie. "At the time you think it will probably come more often, but my start with Monaghan Ladies was more successful than it has been in the last few years. You soon realise All-Ireland final days don't come around too easy. "When I stepped into the Senior squad, the likes of Niamh Kindlon, Christina O'Reilly, Amanda Casey, Sharon Courtney, they were all big players at the time and had been there for a number of years. "Growing up, Niamh Kindlon was a player that you'd feel inspired to be like her, and her commitment and dedication to Monaghan was unreal. When I came on board in 2007, she was a great help to have there and she really encouraged me. "Niamh is with the U14 county team now, herself and her sister Fiona are over that team. It is great to have the likes of those players involved in the underage teams. "That's something that I'd love to do when I finish playing county. I'd like to help out with my own club at underage. I'd like to be fit to give a bit more time to it. That is something I'd like to help out with. "When you are there as a player, you just try to do your best. The most important thing is that you want to give it your full commitment. If the younger girls see you committing fully to the cause, then hopefully they will follow in your footsteps. It's just a matter of working hard and being committed to the Monaghan jersey." The accelerated graduation to the Senior ranks of so many of that Minor team tells us Monaghan Ladies football certainly has the talent required to continue to improve in the years to come. An All-Ireland Minor title in 1994 was followed by Senior successes in 1996 and 1997, although their five subsequent All-Ireland Final appearances have ended in defeat. After a few fallow years, that underage system has started to produce results again, and Murphy thinks his side will reap the benefits in the coming seasons. "There is great work going on at underage level for us. Our own Senior goalkeeper, Edel Corrigan, she's heavily involved with the juvenile teams too. It is all coming together. "You have Darren Greenan there doing great work with the development too. When you have good people over them at that age, it makes it easier when they come up to seniors. They are fit and ready to go. "We had a few girls who didn't get games this year from that age group, but they have been in with the panel, so that will only help them going forward next year." Looking in from the outside it might appear that the club game in Monaghan is in a bit of trouble. Donaghmoyne recently picked up their 18th county senior title in a row and they show no signs of slowing down either, but Murphy believes the standard behind them is improving all the time. In their recent Ulster Final defeat, the Monaghan panel featured players from 11 different clubs, and the manager is thrilled with the talent at his disposal. "Donaghmoyne are flying it and have been for around 20 years now. But there are other teams there now too. "Éire Óg have improved dramatically, you have Emyvale who were always a good side, O'Neill Shamrocks and Latton too. Behind that you have a few clubs that have come up from Intermediate and they are all pushing their standards too. "The good thing we have is we are not just picking from one pot. I'd say we have representatives from 11 or 12 clubs in with us overall, which is brilliant. We have a good mix of everyone, which can only be a positive for us going forward." McCARRON ON THE FUTURE I think we just need to keep these younger players in, filtering them into the senior team, that's what is all about. For a few years there it was a bit stale and there wasn't many players coming through. Now we have that going we need to keep developing that underage structure in Monaghan which needs working at all the time. In the last year or two we've had really good managers now. U14s have had ex players in with them which is really helping. That needs to be put in place as a foundation and then we need to make sure they build up into senior and keep at it the way we're going. We are losing one player this year with Therese McNally retiring, but apart from that we are keeping everybody. Keeping that team together is vital, we have to keep going. McANESPIE ON THE PATH TO THE TOP Playing in an All-Ireland final was a brilliant experience, especially to have only joined the panel in 2007. So to get to Croke Park and an All-Ireland final the following year was a brilliant experience. It is something I really enjoyed. At the time you think it will probably come more often, but my start with Monaghan Ladies was more successful than it has been in the last few. You soon realise All-Ireland final days don't come around too easy. FEATURE 36 | WINTER 2020 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie

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