Redemption on the line as Killeshin chase Laois LGFA Junior glory

Killeshin are preparing to return to the LOETB Junior County Final for a second consecutive year, determined to overturn the disappointment of 2024 when they lost by a single point to St Paul’s in Annanough. 

The club has not claimed the title since 2014, but this year’s squad is confident they have the experience, depth, and preparation needed to bring silverware back to the club.

Siobhan Dowling and Female Liaison Officer Clare Malone spoke to the media at the LOETB Portlaoise Institute on Friday evening, outlining the drive and belief fueling Killeshin ahead of Sunday’s showdown.

Reflecting on last year’s narrow defeat, Dowling admitted it was difficult to take but believes it has strengthened the squad’s determination.

“We were really disappointed last year. We had prepared very well. But look, we actually have a really good panel this year. We have both experienced players, dare I say older players, and we have a lot of younger players as well. The older players definitely pick up the younger players when they're down, and the younger girls learn a lot from them, and it's good to have the experience. We've trained very hard this year. We're training since January, and we have new trainers in this year. Mick (Malone) and Pascal (Brennan) are from Killeshin, and I suppose the words you could use to describe them is passionate. They're Killeshin through and through, so it will be great to win it not only for ourselves and for our family, but for the lads as well.”

Dowling added that winning the championship after an 11-year wait would mean everything to the squad.

“It would be huge. The last time we won the Junior County Final was in 2014, so it's 11 long years in the making. It would mean everything to us. We're confident. Hopefully, we can do it this year.”

Malone highlighted the confidence that comes from having a strong panel, particularly with the younger players driving the squad forward.

“We were definitely confident last year, as we're confident again this year. But our younger girls, because they were always successful right up through their age groups, they don't see that you can't win these matches. That's a good thing from the age groups that are coming up, especially for the younger players. They don't have it instilled that, oh, we can't win. They have it instilled that we can win because they know no different. There's no reason why we can't win this match, absolutely none. The training has been put in, the management system is there, the girls and the calibre of the girls are there, the number on the panel is huge and the structure is there from the committee. Everything is there behind these girls. There's no reason why they can't go and win it.”

She also underlined the significance of the management and committee in building the team’s current success.

“We have a great panel of girls and yes, they were disappointed. I'm not going to say they weren't. We lost out by a point to St. Paul's last year. Again, the girls are used to winning. They don't see, oh well, lose, lose, lose. They just see that we can do this. That's what's instilled from the management point of view. That's what has been instilled from January, from the very beginning of the year, to get us to where we are. We have two finals back-to-back. Next Saturday we have our championship final. Then we also have the league final the following weekend. We have two finals now back-to-back, which for Killeshin is unheard of. I've been involved in Killeshin for a long time; we've never had that before. It's unbelievable that we've actually had two finals back-to-back. It's a credit to the management, to the committee and to the girls for having us in that position that we've never been in before.”

Pride in the club and the commitment of the players and management shines through for Malone.

“I've been involved in Killeshin ladies’ football for years. I came up through the ranks. I'm not playing this year. It's not that long ago since I finished up. I'm super proud of the girls, the way they're training. I'm super proud of their commitment to their fitness and their ball work. It's an absolute joy to watch them. I'm super proud of the management that has come in this year. We're lucky enough that Mick Malone and Pascal Brennan came on board. They have such experience between the two of them. The last time we won this, as Siobhan has said, was 2014. Pascal was the manager of that team. When I was playing back in 2014, I was on that panel. Mick has the experience. He's been playing football for years and years. He played football for Killeshin. He played football for Laois. He has the experience; he has trained junior under Laois as well. He has a lot of experience with girls from other teams, which benefits us. It can only benefit us to have the experience of their knowledge of other girls from other teams and their knowledge of their own playing experience as well. I'm absolutely super proud of the committee, the girls and management.”

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