Officers 2019:
Chairperson: Micheal Spillane
Secretary: Angela O’Connell
Treasurer: Catherina Davey
Established to encourage the girls of the parish and surrounding areas to get involved in sport and in particular football, Fethard ladies football club has become one of the forebearers for the sport in the county. From humble beginnings the club has grown from strength to strength and we currently cater for over 150 players ranging in age from U-6 up to Senior Ladies. Fethard has long been a stronghold of football in the county and the girls have proven no different with success at county level at multiple age groups year on year.
2018
U6,U8 and U10s.
2018 proved to be a action packed year for our underage girls. With great numbers we started back our season in March and went on to take part in various blitzes and friendlies through the season. The girls have much improved over the year as a result of their attendance at training and doing their best in the drills and games .A number of the girls attended the Tipp 4girls coaching in the Barrack field in July and had a very enjoyable week. We wish our players moving up the ranks the very best in the future and look forward to season ahead. Thanks to U10 coaches Damian Byrne and Valerie Connolly and U6 and U8 coaches Alan Roche,Ian Kenrick,Ursula Bradshaw and Liam O Sullivan.
U11’s
The U11 summer league started on the 4th of July in the school field against Galtee Rovers. With summer holidays in full swing numbers were tight, we played some great football but just came up a bit short against a good Galtee Rovers team, final score line Fethard 3-8 Galtee 6-4. Next up was an away game in Littleton v Moycarkey on a very warm evening , we were right in the game till the end but with Moycarkey able to spring fresh legs from the bench we lost the game Moycarkey 4-2 to Fethard 1-2. The girls gave everything that evening but just ran out of steam.We had a double header in the main GAA field with the U14s playing after us, when we played Moyle Rovers . We played out of our skins that evening with some great passing and team work finishing up winning Fethard 7-4 to Moyle Rovers 1-0. Slievenamon then gave us a walkover, so next we were up against Clonmel Commercials in a game we were well in control with loads of ball we somehow conceded a late goal to go down Clonmel Commercials 5-4 to 4-5. This saw us 4th in the league table and in a semi final against Galtee Rovers. We headed to Bansha with optimism as this was the first time all summer we had a full panel. After a late start we just never got going against a much physically bigger Galtee side who ran out comfortable winners in the end. They are a super group of girls who gave everything and we couldn’t be more proud of them. Thanks to coaches Ed Collum Megan Coen and Paul Hayes.
U12’s
The U12 championship commenced in April with games against Mullinahone, Slievenamon, St.Pats, Clonmel Commericals, Galtee Rovers and Brian Borus.With 5 wins and 1 defeat we qualified for the U12 A quarter final where our opponents were Thurles Sarsfields, in an exciting game of football Thurles Sarfields started strongly and by half time were 2 goals ahead. In the 2nd half the Fethard girls tore into everything playing some great football to run out winners,Fethard 2-06 Thurles Sarsfields 2-02. In the semi final we played Moycarkey who got off to a great start and despite the girls giving it everything Moycarkey proved too strong on the night and they went on to win the county final afterwards.
In the U12 community games we had wins against Powerstown,New Inn and Cahir which put us through to the county final against Littleton. Yet again the girls gave it their all but a more physical Littleton team proved too strong on the day. Thanks to trainers Micheal Spillane,Sandra Spillane and Ed Collum.
U14’s
We entered two U14 teams for Feile, the league and championship.
First up was the Feile where the white team got to the B semi-final where they were defeated by Slieve Felim Raparees and the blue team got to the A final where unfortunately Templemore proved too strong on the day.
The league took place during the summer with 2 teams competing, one in division 1 and one in division 3.Following the group stages both teams qualified for the finals of their respective divisions. The finals were fixed for Templetouhy with the White team playing Slieve Felim Raparees and the Blue team playing Templemore. First into action were the white team who competed well for most of the game but a stronger Slieve Felim ran out winners in the finish. The Blue team faced Templemore and this time a stronger Fethard performance resulted in the girls being crowned Division 1 league winners.
Next up was the championship and after the group stages both teams qualified for the semi-finals with the white team meeting old rivals Slieve Felim Raparees and while the young Fethard girls gave a great account of themselves Slieve Felim finished stronger and went through to the final.
The blue team were up against Galtee Rovers and in a game that ebbed and flowed Fethard were 3 points in arrears with time nearly up, however one last surge resulted in a last gasp goal and the game ended in a draw. Extra time followed however Galtee had more left in the tank and ran out winners on a score line of Fethard 3-06 Galtee Rovers 3-11.
In the U14 community games the girls got a walkover from Clerihan in the first round, and had wins over Powerstown and Cahir to qualify for the county final against Boherlahan. From the start the Fethard girls took control of the game and ran out comfortable winners on the day playing some great football with some excellent scores being taken.
Next up was the Munster quarter final against the Limerick champions which was played in UL on a scorching summers day. Again, the girls were quickly into their stride and were well on top and ran out convincing winners. It was back to UL where the Munster semi and final were to be played on the one day and in the semi-final the Waterford champions were our opponents and again the girls came through with another good win and were through to the Munster final. The final against the Cork champions was a close affair with the girls slowly getting into their stride and in the 3rd and 4th quarters the girls really pushed on to be crowned Munster champions to the delight of the large Fethard crowd present.
We now went forward to represent Munster in the All-Ireland finals which again were been played in UL. In the All-Ireland semi-final we played the Westmeath and Leinster champions in a game that was very close, until the final quarter when the Westmeath girls got ahead and held on until the final whistle. While everyone was disappointed we needed to pick ourselves up quickly as we had to play for bronze medals with the other beaten semi-finalists from Monaghan. Yet again this was a close encounter but the Fethard girls were determined to go home on a winning note and in the last quarter they closed out the game with some great scores to win All-Ireland bronze medals. This was a great achievement by this bunch of girls.
Thanks to community games Selectors Micheal Spillane, Sandra Spillane, Willie Morrissey and Ed Collum and also Blue and White team trainers Seanie O Loughlin, Bill Fogarty, Sandra Spillane, Willie Morrissey, Micheal Spillane and Ed Collum.
U16’s
The U16s commenced training in January on the astro turf on Wednesday nights as the first round of the championship was fixed for 24th of February. With 7 teams in the A championship we had to play 6 games against Galtee Rovers, Clerihan, Aherlow, Brian Borus, Clonmel Commericals and Templemore. We topped our group and this qualified us for the semi final against Templemore where Fethard came out on top on a scoreline of Fethard 4-14 Templemore 3-09.
Our opponents in the final were Brian Borus but unfortunately they couldn’t field a team on the day the final was fixed for and Fethard received a walkover. Fethard were crowned U16A champions for 2018 without a ball being kicked in the final.This was extremely disappointing for the Fethard girls as we all wanted to play the game but it wasn’t to be. This was the clubs 2nd U16 A championship in a row and 3rd in 4 years. We also entered a 7 aside blitz in Thurles Sarsfields where we won all our games and the final comprehensively.
Most of these girls were on the U17 league panel which competed in Division 1 against Clonmel Commericals, Brian Borus and Galtee Rovers and we qualified for the semi final against Galtee Rovers where we were victorious and qualified for the final against Clonmel Commericals. This was played in Monroe and the Fethard girls were quickly out of the blocks and dominated the game from the start to run out comprehensive winners on the day.
U19’s
The U19 Championship commenced at the end of August and Fethard competed in the A along with Moyle Rovers, Aherlow, Brian Borus and Lattin Cullen/Emly. Folllowing the group stages we qualified for the semi final where our opponents were Brian Borus but on the day a dominant Fethard team ran out easy winners on a scoreline of Fethard 2-22 to Brian Borus 1-05.
Neighbors Moyle Rovers awaited us in the final which was to be played in Littleton on Saturday October 27th. Moyle Rovers were an older more physical team but the girls got off to a flying start and by half time had built up an 8 point lead. Moyle Rovers rallied in the 2nd half and brought the deficit back to 4 points but the Fethard girls kicked on in the last few minutes with 3 points to come out victorious on a scoreline of Fethard 1-13 Moyle Roves 0-09 much to the delight of the large Fethard following. This was the clubs 2nd U19A title in a row. Thanks to trainers Willie Morrissey, Micheal Spillane, Chris Coen and Annette Connolly.
Intermediate Ladies
2018 was another successful year for the Intermediate Ladies. After winning their first ever Junior A Championship in 2017, hopes were high for a successful run in the Intermediate championship. They began the year playing in the league, but failed to make it out of the group stages. The championship consisted of three teams Boherlahan, Ardfinnian and Fethard . Each team played one another home and away, with the top team qualifying for the final and the other two contesting the semi final. Fethard topped the group and went straight through to the final with Boherlahan winning the semi final. On Sunday 23rd of September at Sean Treacy Park Tipperary Town, Fethard Ladies played Boherlahan in their first Intermediate Final, pushed all the way especially in the first half, Fethard were victorious in the end on a scoreline of Fethard 6-13 to Boherlahan 3-05. A marvelous achievement for such a young team, from junior B to Senior Level in Just 3 years. Lauren Dowling captain accepted the Meehan and Slattery cup on behalf of her team with Leah Coen picking up the player of the match award. Celebrations started and continued well in the early hour of Monday morning. The Munster club championship was next on the agenda and this was against 2017 All-Ireland junior champions Aghada from Cork.This took place in Mallow and a more mature and physical Aghada team proved too strong on the day and won Aghada 3-09 to Fethard 1-03.
Looking forward to competing in the Senior Championship in 2019. A big huge and hearty congratulations to this tremendous bunch of girls and many thanks to coaches Chris Coen and Sharon O Meara who have done great work with the girls.
County Scene
Success at club level has not gone unnoticed by county management either with a number of girls making the step up to inter-county football.
Congratulations to Kelly Ryan, Kate Burke and Jess Gleeson who were on the Tipperary U14 panel who won the Munster U14 B championship and lost out to Mayo in the All-Ireland final. Nicole Delaney,Gillian Fogarty, Kerri Doyle and Aoibheann Collum who were part of the Tipperary U13 panel.
Well done to Carrie Davey, Alison Connolly, Leah Coen and Niamh Hayes who were on the Tipperary U16 panel narrowly beaten by Kerry in the U16 A Munster final.
Congratulations to Lucy Spillane, Muireann O Connell, Maggie Fitzgerald and Sophie Ryan who were all part of the Tipperary minor panel beaten by Kerry in the Munster minor A semi final.
Well done also to two of the Intermediate panel Kate Davey and Lucy Spillane who were part of the Tipperary Ladies Senior team who won the National league division 2 final and were narrowly beaten by Cork in the Munster senior semi final.
Code of Good Behaviour
The Code of Good Behaviour outlines briefly the rules and procedures, which should be observed by all players. Adherence to the code should ensure that everyone will enjoy his/her involvement with Fethard GAA Club. The Code of Good Behaviour booklet can be viewed/downloaded here Code of Behaviour
Maintaining Appropriate Levels of Behaviour in our Work with Children & Young People complements Sport Ireland Code of Ethics and the Code of Behaviour (Underage), the joint Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport and addresses the appropriate levels of behaviour, practice and conduct required from our young players, officials, coaches, trainers, mentors, supporters, parents/guardians and clubs. This document can be viewed/downloaded here: Behaviour in our Work with Children
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