SIX ALL-IRELAND SENIOR titles in seven years is a record even the mighty Brian Cody would be envious of and it’s one Eamonn Ryan would like to extend in 2012 if he gets the chance.
Manager of Cork’s Ladies football team, Ryan is now in his eighth year with a squad that had never registered any All-Ireland success before his arrival. In the years since, the Rebelettes have dominated Ladies football and only a shock defeat to Tyrone last year prevented his side from attempting six consecutive title victories.
That defeat proved ideal motivation for the Leeside ladies this year though, and Ryan was delighted to see his charges come through a difficult task against Monaghan last Sunday.
“The overriding emotion was one of relief that we got past the winning post,” he revealed to TheScore.ie this week.
“We felt under a bit of pressure after last year’s disappointment – from ourselves more than anyone – and we felt we had to make up for that.
“There was a sense of apprehension and nervousness before the game but the players were very focused. The Monaghan forward line are a huge threat and we knew we’d have to mark them well if we were to curb their top players. We succeeded in doing that – our backs were magnificent on the day.”
Goals were the critical difference between the two teams, the opening three-point score coming from the boot of Nollaig Cleary after Monaghan goalkeeper Linda Martin directed her kick out straight into the hands of the Cork woman, who then promptly lobbed her opponent. The second was a penalty – duly dispatched by Rhona Ní Bhuachalla.
“People have been saying that Nollaig’s goal was a giveaway but she still had a lot to do to put it away. She could have put it over the bar, wide or straight at the keeper but she didn’t. She kept her cool and what she did was a very difficult thing to execute – to lob a tall keeper like (Linda) – but she did it brilliantly.”
Ryan continued: “All this year we have been trying to use 19 or 20 players per game on the basis that if you can inject some new blood, you can increase the energy levels in a team.
“We got the chance to do that under pressure against Dublin (in the quarter-finals) and it worked. It gave us confidence to do it again last Sunday – knowing that the people coming in would be able for the job and would do it admirably. The standard in Ladies football has improved in recent years and this team has contributed to that; there are a lot of good teams coming up now and they are all trying to beat Cork.”
The attention has inevitably turned to next year already and though Ryan admitted he would like to stay on, he has made no final decision just yet.
“I haven’t thought about it,” he insisted. “We (as a group) haven’t talked about it because we were just so relieved to have won. I think it’s something we will all think about over the next week or so. There have been a few rumours around about certain players but that always happens at this time of year.
“I would like to continue on, but I’ll have to think about it and have a chat about it at home first.
“We’re eight years together now and Cork (Ladies) had never won anything before that. Some of the players had been around awhile and being the competitive people they are, they were anxious to win something. There was a fierce openness about them and, bit by bit, we built up loyalty and trust. They are committed, honest girls and above all, even though they are very accomplished in their everyday lives, they are very humble – though that is balanced with ambition.”
Either way, there is enough talent coming through to suggest that Cork’s top at the time in Ladies football is far from over.