Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh named Munster Footballer of the Year

Munster Young Ladies Footballer of the Year

Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh was this week named Munster Ladies Young
footballer of the year. The 16 year old Corca Dhuibhne girl was
instrumental in guiding Kerry to the U-16 All Ireland semi-final
against Cork where Kerry went down in heart breaking fashion to
a late penalty as the Rebelettes held on for a dramatic 2-10 to
1-12 victory. Louise played much of the season at centre forward
and chipped in with 1-4 in Kerry’s Munster Final loss to Cork. Denis
Healy’s side faced Dublin in the back door route (Quarter final)
and again she showed cool and poise as her late points sent Kerry
through to the last four on an evening when she contributed 0-7
of Kerry’s 2-11 tally.

Her five points in the semi final against Cork was not enough to
turn the tide Kerry’s way. Her latest award follows on from a plethora
of honours that have come her way in recent years. As a 9 year old
she was the Primary schools skills winner within the County. She
has played in all grades for Kerry underage and was also a key member
of the Kerry ladies Minor side that lost the Munster Final in Strand
road to Cork in May. Aside from football she also excels at handball
and has 11 All Ireland medals to her name from a combination of
single, doubles and team titles.

The Baile an Fheirtearaigh girl is a student at Pobal Scoil in Dingle
and will be presented with her award in a few weeks time at City
West Hotel in Dublin on the night that the Ladies all stars will
be picked. It’s a fitting reward for the player who has led Kerry’s
underage challenge on several fronts this season and will hopefully
erase the painful memories of that heartbreaking late loss to Cork
in the All Ireland semi-final in Killorglin.

Incidentally, while Kerry’s U-16 ladies side were going down in
such a devastating manner Louise’s older brother Colm O Muircheartaigh
wasn’t having much better luck the same day with the Kerry minors
as John Kennedy’s side bowed out to the eventual winners Galway
in Croke Park.