Ladies Greyhound benefit night a huge success.

Ladies Greyhound benefit night a huge success again.

The support for Cork Ladies Football was very much in evidence
at Curraheen Park on Thursday evening when another huge
crowd turned out for the 3rd Annual Benefit night for the
Cork Ladies Football Board. With close to €10,000 in
prize money on offer, a top class programme with quality
racing from quality dogs was the order of the night. While
there were some thrilling contents with close finishes the
bookmakers had the better of the punters and went home the
happier. One lucky one young punter though, scooped the
massive trio dividend, on the 4th race worth €972 for
a €1 investment .With 5 open races on the card, it
was obvious that some of the top dogs in the country would
be on view . Feature event. The feature event on the programme
the Cashman 525 with a winners purse of €1,200. Track
specialist Mustang Buster, unlucky in the Laurels final
the previous Saturday night, shaded the market and went
off at 9/4 with Laurels consolation winner Confident Choice,
well supported at 3/1, with Droopys Hughes fractionally
behind at 7/2. But when it came to the real business end
of affairs, it was the Owen McKenna trained Droops Hughes,
who was in front when it mattered, on the line. He had just
a length to spare over Confident Choice and Mustang Buster
clocking 28.57.

Opening Race
The opening race the Bowlers Rest Stakes saw the Macroom
owned Jokaje win for Kevin Lee Mullen. In the 2nd race the
Smitclinebeecham/ Tony McGrath Stakes , there was a terrific
run for the Jerome Crowley Blarney owned Aherla Fred who
came in as reserve he made every post a winner, in scoring
in a very fast 28.72, justifying his 1/2 favourites tag.
The Paul Hennessy stakes initiated the first leg of a double
for Liam Dowling Tralee he took the 525 event with Balymac
Lark and repeated the dose in the Open AIB Castltownrbere
Sprint with Balymac Minnie. Paul Hennessy himself brought
a strong bunch from his Black and Amber Kennels, in Kilkenny
and he scored a double with Guess whose Back in the Cork/Cloyne
clergy race and with Airforce Honcho in the Total Wear/
Village Inn Open 750 event.

Track Best
The wining time of 750 race of 41.53 constitutes a track
best and could very well become a new official track record
in time. This distance was introduced in August and a certain
number of races have to be run at the distance before an
official track record is set. So it is the 3rd year in a
row that new figures have been set at the Ladies football
benefit and that must be some record in itself. The 4th
race for the Murray memorial trophy provided great drama
after Brendan Mooneys Jack the Rambler appeared to have
the race at his mercy, he tied up and complete outsider
at 10/1 Gentle Customer owned by Andy Kelleher, brother
of race organiser Fr. Liam, took the race on the line by
a short head. Final race The final race for the Macroom
Motor Services stakes was won by Roseanne Lady at the generous
odds of 5/1 owned by Ned O’Donnell and Sean Feehan, this
one is trained by the former at Castownconyers in Limerick.
After a tremendous nights racing many stayed on to dance
away the ever popular Joe Mac and his band.

This benefit night again highlights the progressive development
of Ladies football within the Co. Cork Interco teams were
the most successful of all teams from Cork at Inter-co level,
winning the All-Ireland under 14 title as well as the All-Ireland
blitz. The Minor team also took the All-Ireland title, while
the Seniors won Div 2 of the Suzuki National League and
lost out by a point to Kerry in the Munster Senior Semi
Final. Cork clubs have won all the Munster club titles available
in recent weeks and the hope that they can go on and capture
All-Ireland titles. The Draw for €2,500 will take place
at the Gala Victory Dinner at the Parkway hotel in Dunmanway
on November 21st. Anybody who missed out on suporting the
dog night, can purcahse a ticket for the draw for €10.

The draw for hampers for those who sponsored dogs will also
take place that night

Footnote
The great pity is that the Ladies Board does not receive,
more support from the GAA in Cork, who missed a glorious
opportunity of showing goodwill, by not coming on board
to support the Ladies Benefit night. One must not forget
the great support there is among the GAA clubs in Cork,
who always provide their pitches for the games. One must
neither forget the role women play in the GAA itself supporting
the players attending the matches officers of clubs, and
no doubt washing the gear etc, and of course contributing
to the Co Board Draw. This support is conveniently forgotten
by the powers that be when comes to the women’s events.
With the proposed integration of the Ladies games with the
GAA in the next few years, it would be a great pity if the
Cork GAA Board, were found wanting and lagging behind in
their support.

Fr. Liam Kelleher PRO 0787-8516984