Offaly Legend Catherine Daly reflects on Early Years

I Catherine Daly {Hanlon) am delighted to be asked to write on behalf of our great Offaly Ladies Jubilee teams from   1974 – 1982 who took part in All Ireland finals and this its 40th
anniversary of its foundation.

In that time we managed to win two all Ireland titles and nine Leinster medals in a row. There were five girls on that team who have achieved that great honour Ann Moran, Tona Redmond, Geraldine Carroll, Agnes Gorman and Catherine Daly.

I suppose we were very unlucky to have been beaten by Tipperary in the first all Ireland by one point. We finally made the breakthrough in 1979 when we played Tipperary in the Heath and played out a trilling draw in the final moments of the match.

The much anticipated replay took place in the Mill field beside Odlums Mills Portarlington and we went on to win this great final on a score line Offaly 2.09 Tipperary  1.06. We came back again in 1981 to a packed Duggan Park Ballinasloe to beat Cavan on a scoreline Offaly 1.11 Cavan 4.0. This was a bitter sweet revenge as Cavan had been a thorn in our sides for a few years. In hign sight this great team should have won at least a few more titles.

We had great back room men in Mick Talbot RIP, Joe Feery Rip. Hooper Farrell and a special  mention for John Conroy who managed both of the two All Ireland winning teams.

On behalf of the girls on The Jubilee teams I would like to wish our Junior team the best of luck in their quest to bring back another long awaited All Ireland title to this our Faithful County.