Kilkenny women rewrite the history books

Women's soccer in Kilkenny before 1968 was virtually unheard of. A local League was established as a consequence of the activities of a youth club known as 'Club Kilkenny' and established by Fr Jerry Joyce in 1968. Local junior soccer man Michael Walshe, an employee of Fit Remoulds started a team at the tyre factory which was located at the Dublin Road near where several businesses operate from today at Leggettsrath.

In point of fact, Fit Remoulds entered the very first Irish Women's Cup competition played under the auspices of the Ladies Football Association of Ireland in 1972. Ninety five teams from all over Ireland partook in the knockout competition. Under their astute coach Michael Walshe and their captain Anne Griffith they reached the inaugural final of ’72. However, they came out on the wrong side of a 1-0 defeat to the all star Suffragettes team from Dublin.

The final was unique in so far as it was played at a GAA grounds, St John’s Park, now the home of O'Loughlin Gaels. This was a hugely magnanimous gesture by the local GAA club at the time as the 'Ban' on foreign games had only been removed by the GAA in 1971. This sporting ecumenism was copper fastened fifty years later with O’Loughlin Gaels graciously permitting a 50th Anniversary plaque to be erected at their club house this year to commemorate the event.

The Kilkenny girls did not have to wait for long to walk up the winners steps when this time playing as Evergreen Ladies AFC they defeated Avengers from Dublin 2-0 in the 1973 final at Terryland Park in Galway. They followed this win up the following season with back to back final wins on a 2-1 scoreline and their opponents on this occasion were Galway Town and the game was played at Tennypark, Kilkenny. In point of fact Evergreen Ladies became founder members of the first Women’s National League of Ireland along with clubs from Dublin, Dundalk, Waterford, Limerick, Cork, Donegal, Sligo, Galway and Tipperary.

For 50 years these games and the results were not recognised by the FAI establishment as the Ladies FAI were not affiliated at that time to the national body. It has taken almost two years of campaigning to have the records corrected. Press cuttings from the Kilkenny People and the national newspapers of the day proved hugely helpful. The final piece of the jigsaw was the location of the actual Cup presented for the competitions as well as a poster from the first match.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has now acknowledged the women's achievements in a public way by recognising the participants in those first three finals at the recent Women’s National Cup Final, Athlone Town V Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium.

The players and officials of all three finalists were invited to the game as guests of the FAI on a joyous occasion for them and their families. 

The Kilkenny players over the three seasons were: Anne Griffith, Moira Ryan, Theresa Byrne, Kay Ramsbottom, Mary Langton, Kathleen Delaney, Mary Grace, Ursula Grace, Connie Jordan, Mary Walshe, Marie Walsh, Mandy Slattery, Marian Kelly, Noelle Walsh, Marian Heffernan, Margaret Delaney, Geraldine Downey, Mary Trehy, Caroline Grace, Margaret Brady, Mary Lanigan, Bride
Martin, Rita Wemyss, Angela Trehy, Monica Murray, Kathleen Stapleton and Mary Doheny. Anne Griffith (Captained the side in the first two finals) and Kay Ramsbottom (Captain in 1974).

The goal scorers for Evergreen were Kay Ramsbottom and Mary Trehy in 1973 and Angela Trehy and Ursula Grace in 1974.

Stay tuned to Kilkenny Live / Kilkenny People in the coming days for more.