Minor ladies begin season at home to Donegal

Ladies football

Aideen Coyle

Cavan minors get Cavan ladies’ inter-county season underway this Saturday as they play host to Donegal in the 3G at Kingspan Breffni with a 2pm throw-in. Cavan will compete in tier one of the Ulster ladies competition and face Donegal, Monaghan, Tyrone and Antrim, with the top two teams progressing to the Platinum Final.

Cavan will once again be under the management team of joint managers Laura Brown and Padraic Sheridan and coaches Barry McGovern and Damian McCormick for the 2022 season.

"We have a difficult championship with a round Robin four games coming up," stated Brown, who added that they are in a very good position going into the game with “a very strong panel of 30 girls from 18 different clubs across the county".

"There is a great bond with all 30 and they’ve worked really hard. There’s been some tough trainings over the last few months and all girls have worked very well. Damien and Barry have again been excellent so far this year, working the girls very hard.”

Sheridan said: “A total of 55 to 65 players trialed this year for the panel and we had to dwindle it down which was a very hard job to do that and unfortunately some girls just didn't make the panel but hopefully they'll keep up the work with their clubs and come back stronger next year. The panel we have are working very hard and putting in a serious commitment and effort.”

Gowna’s Ellyanna Madden will captain the side for the season and is ably assisted by vice-captain Christina Charters from the Crosserlough club. Both girls bring a wealth of experience and leadership having represented Cavan all through the underage ranks. Most notably the girls were key players in Cavan’s success in 2016 when they defeated Dublin to pick up an U14 All-Ireland A title. Charters was captain of the side and Madden was a key playe, scoring a crucial first half goal in Dunleer. The girls are just two of 15 who represented Cavan on that historic day.

Speaking about her appointment, Ellyanna stated: “It is a huge honour for me and for my family, mam, dad and DJ and to be representing my club Gowna as well. It’s an honour to be captain and working with all the girls that's in there as well I'm just delighted to be leading that team."

Vice-captain Christina smiled and added: “It feels great to be vice and to have Elly as captain. I don’t have much to do, I’m just behind Elly and the team the whole time.”

Speaking about the preparations for the season ahead the Gowna woman added: “There’s a really good buzz about the camp, after Covid and everything we are all just glad to be back. There is great excitement and a great atmosphere. Every training girls are leaving with smiles on their faces. It’s just good to be back! There is a good mix of clubs, it’s probably the first year we’ve had such a diverse group and everyone is clicking really well.”

Cavan have 18 clubs represented in a strong panel which boasts plenty of talent. Eight of the panel were part of Loreto Cavan’s success last Friday, one of which was Belturbet’s Gemma Beatty who picked up player of the match as the Cavan school defeated Our Lady’s Castleblayney in the Ulster ‘A’ final. As well as that Cavan have two Ulster PPS All Stars in their ranks with vice-captain Charters and attacker Aisling Doughty from St. Killians being selected for the prestigious honours.

When speaking about this achievement Christina said “It was a big honor to be mentioned as one of the All Stars. It’s great to be playing with girls at such a high standard as well and girls that we're going up against in this competition from different counties. It’s just such an honor to be selected.” As well as the two girls Saoirse Kiernan from Ballymachugh also received an All Star. The three girls will pick up their awards at a presentation night in the coming months.

Looking ahead to the championship opener on Saturday, Madden added that Donegal will definitely be tough competition.

"Ulster is always a good fight and we're really looking forward to it. We just can’t wait to be back in that atmosphere with the Cavan supporters behind us on Saturday.”

Sheridan commented that they are “looking forward to what’s coming in front of us. The last few years have been very difficult with Covid, we didn’t get progressing further than we thought with our teams, restrictions made training very hard but thank God it’s back to normality. All’s going well so far and we are looking forward to what’s in front of us next weekend and throughout the season.”

Cavan Minor panel 2022: Siog Reilly (Arva/Killeshandra). Gemma Beatty, Ellen Murphy (Belturbet). Aoibhe Conaty, Aisling McEnroe (Castlerahan/Denn). Emma McInyre (Cavan Gaels). Aine Smith, Christina Charters, Cara Reilly (Crosserlough), Catherine Ahearne (Drumgoon), Tara McAnenna, Roisin Gunn (Drumlane). Ellyanna Madden (Gowna). Aoibheann Morrisson, Sinead Livingstone (Killygarry). Ava McCaul (Kingscourt), Abbi Connor, Katie Mulvey (Knockbride). Lucy Crowe (Lacken). Ella Kenny (Lavey). Letizia Sheridan-Seery (Mullahoran). Niamh Tolan, Meabh Kelly, Eabha Hayes, Caoimhe Halpin (Lurgan). Molly Smith, Sophie Daly (St. Finbarrs). Aisling Doughty, Amy Kellett (St. Killians). Uainionn McManus (Templeport)