The chance of a lifetime to Sponsor Cork teams for €100

The chance of a lifetime to Sponsor Cork teams for €100 By Fr. Liam Kelleher

PRO Cork Ladies football have not got an official sponsor for their Jerseys for 2003. One of the Cinderella teams in the country Carlow found themselves in a similar situation 2 months ago and in response to a message on the Internet they came back to me with their solution to the problem. They invited 100 companies or businesses and even private individuals, to contribute 100 Euro each and then have a raffle, to see whose name would go on the Jersey for the year. In a county, with one twentieth the population of Cork, they had no trouble in getting the 100 names and in fact had to turn down some in the end.

Cork with a much bigger population base and boasting of more than 50 clubs, as well as competing at Inter-co level under 14,16 18 Junior and senior would have many more Inter-co matches than Carlow. With Cork’s success rate much higher than the men, in fact you would think, it should have been easy to get a major Sponsor for the year. It has not happened. Cork play the Munster under 14 Semi-final in June and hopefully the team will capture its 4th Munster and All-Ireland title in a row. In July the Rebel girls will play in the Munster Senior, Junior and Minor and the All-Ireland Semi-final under 16

Great year for Cork.

The year 2002 was a great year for Cork Ladies football. The under 14 team won the All-Ireland title for the 3rd year in a row and also the Al-Ireland Blitz. The under 16 team also won the All-Ireland title. The Junior team reached the National league semi-final and won the Munster Championship. The Senior team lost narrowly to Waterford by 4 points in the Munster final after putting out the holders Clare in the Semi-final. Dairygold with the brand name Sno were the sponsors of the Cork teams and more than 100 photos like these appeared in the print media at National and provincial level, in 2002. This year Dairygold ended their 3 year sponsorship. Up to now Cork have not found a major sponsor, because major companies need a lot of time to decide where their Sponsorship is going to go and they usually decide a year in advance. After Cork’s recent final appearances in the Suzuki National League Div 2 and 3 finals The Irish Examiner carried one picture on Monday and two on Tuesday, with no Sponsorship logo on the most famous jersey in Ireland. Cork are in the Munster under 14 final. The Senior Championship this year will be decided on a round robin basis, Cork play Kerry, Clare and Waterford with the top 2 teams getting to the Munster final and the two finalists progressing to the All-Ireland series. Cork will also have very strong teams in the Minor and Junior Championships.

There is a lot to play for.

Last year there were 6 All-Ireland titles at stake and Cork won 3 of the 6. My guess is that they will do even better this year. We are going a little bit further. We are looking for 200 friends, who would bring in 20,000 Euro. We would have a raffle for the name on the jersey and also a raffle for a 5 prizes of 1,000 Euro each for all the others, who we hope will support the venture.

Mayo Senior keeper Denise Horan wrote recently 

” No one could have foreseen such a danger, but it has now arisen; ladies football jerseys looking like support cars in a cycling race. No, the jerseys don’t have the appendages for carrying bikes, but like the colourful vehicles, they are gradually having more and more sponsorship logos slapped on to them. Between team sponsors, championship sponsors and jersey manufacturers, space on the fabric is becoming a bit tight. God help us if a prominent washing powder company decides to lend its financial support to the game: player numbers would have to forfeited entirely”

Have no fears my friends Cork Jerseys are not cluttered, they are quite naked.

It could all change for as little as 100 Euro. So over to you. If you wish to be in the melting pot please contact Fr. Liam Kelleher PRO Cork Ladies Football Board Parochial House Grenagh Co Cork. O21-4886128 Or to Any officer of the Co Board or your local club. We hope to have everything in place for the draw by the middle of June. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I have every confidence that you will jump at this opportunity. Really the ball is at your feet, don’t miss the chance of a lifetime.

Fr. Liam Kelleher PRO Tel 087-8516984 021-4886128