All the latest from the Down Ladies

Down Ladies Presentation Night:

The Down Ladies gathered in great numbers in Newry
on Friday night for their annual presentation
& awards ceremony. Upwards of 180 people were
representing their clubs in what proved to be
the most successful awards night in recent years.

Down Ladies Chairman Paul Kelly got the proceedings
under way by thanking the clubs for their continued
support, his dedicated committee, the referee’s,
county team managers and sponsors for all they
had done to help promote the ladies game in 2004.
With the preliminaries over, it was time for the
successful clubs of 2004 to come forward and receive
their silverware. It was a case of double celebrations
for Loughinisland and Bosco as they lifted both
the league and championship trophies in their
respective competitions.

The roll of honour for 2004 was as follows:
U-14 League: Winners: Saval Runner-up:
Bryansford
U-16 Championship: Winners: Bryansford
Runner-up: Castlewellan
U-16 League: Winners Castlewellan Runner-up:
Saval
Junior League: Winners: Tullylish Runner-up:
Ardglass
Junior Championship: Winners Aughlisnafin
Runner-up: Tullylish
Intermediate League: Winners: Loughinisland
Runner-up: Clonduff
Intermediate Championship: Winners: Loughinisland
Runner-up: Clonduff
Senior League: Winners: Bosco Runner-up:
Castlewellan
Senior Championship: Winners: Bosco Runner-up:
Castlewellan

The County U-16 and U-14 teams were also very
successful in 2004. The U-14’s won the Ulster
Blitz earlier in the year and they all received
their medals on the night. Captain Paula Gribben
received the shield on behalf of her teammates.
The U-16’s not to be outdone won the Trudi Kearns
shield and it was left to Kyla Trainor to lift
the Trudi Kearns shield much to the delight of
her teammates.

The Down Ladies County Board paid special thanks
to the outgoing county managers Tommy McGrath
and Declan Larkin along with Conor Laverty for
all the effort they had put into their respective
teams in 2004.

As always our referee’s contribution to our game
does not go unnoticed and as a sign of gratitude
a special award was made to the referee’s who
officiated at our league and championship finals.

U-14 League Final: Peter McClorey

U-16 League Final: Lawerence Murphy

U-16 C’Ship Final: James McGuinness

Junior C’ship Final: Shane Walsh

Inter C’ship Final: Gavin Corrigan

Senior C’ship Final: Eamon McElroy

Finally, well-known Saul Referee Lawerence Murphy
brought to fruition an exciting development in
2004 with the inauguration of the ‘Family Murphy
Saul Memorial Cup’, which will be presented
to the Senior Ladies Player of the year. The first
recipient of this ward was Eleanor Nixon (Castlewellan)
for her outstanding display in the recent Senior
County Final. This cup is in memory of Lawerence’s
son who died quite tragically. Lawerence also
presented Eleanor with a beautiful piece of Waterford
Crystal to mark the occasion.

2004 has been a good year for ladies football
in Down. With the instigation of development squads
and with the abundance of talent available in
the county, it is only a matter of time before
the red and black of Down once again grace the
sods of Croke Pairc.

***The Down Ladies get their NFL campaign under
way on Sunday November 14th with a home match
against Monaghan ‘B’. The Time and Venue have
yet to be decided. Watch press for details. All
support would be greatly appreciated***