The GAA ban is alive and well

THE Monaghan Ladies GAA team are hoping to take home their third All Ireland title this weekend despite facing heavy odds against bookies favourite Cork.
According to Boylesports.com, Monaghan are the clear underdogs going into this Sunday’s game in Croke Park, with odds of 10/3. Cork, meanwhile, are currently tipped to take the title with odds of 2/7.
Monaghan captain Niamh Kindlon from Magheracloone is quietly confident that the ‘Oriel Girls’ can overcome the Rebels in their seventh All Ireland appearance.
“We’re taking a leaf out of Tyrone’s book from last week and hope to take inspiration from their performance,” she told the Monaghan Post yesterday.
Mayor of County Monaghan Matt Carthy is calling on locals to fly the Monaghan colours outside their homes and businesses in advance of the final and to travel to Croke Park on Sunday.
“The Ladies Senior Football Team has done us all proud by reaching the All-Ireland Final often against the odds and, in some instances, in the wake of tragedy. They deserve our full support as they head into their greatest challenge yet,” said Mayor Carthy. “We should aim to ensure that Monaghan have the greatest support ever seen in Croke Park for a Ladies All-Ireland final.”
If ticket sales are anything to go by, the girls will have plenty of support from their home county as a spokeswoman from the Ladies Gaelic Football Association said tickets were “going very well”. She added that there had been “an awful lot of interest” this week and said organisers were expecting a good attendance.
Meanwhile, controversial claims emerged this week suggesting a player was unfairly dropped from the panel six days before the ladies blue ribbon event. Clones mother Yvonne Newell told the Monaghan Post yesterday that her 17-year-old daughter, Michaela, was let go from the panel last Monday (Sept 22).
“The reason given was that she had not attended training sufficiently and was ‘lacking in commitment’. Michaela’s commitment should never have been questioned as against my advice and wishes she also refused to go to weddings, our family holidays had to be cut short and Michaela also abstained from many social nights of celebrations, so that her GAA would not suffer and her commitment would never be questioned,” said Mrs Newell.
She believes Michaela may have been dropped due to her soccer commitments. Michaela is on the Monaghan United Ladies Soccer Team, which won the National Intermediate Cup Final on Sunday last (Sept 21).
“We feel this is not the way to treat a young team player who has worked so hard and given up so much. I fail to understand why she was ‘dropped’ from the team so far into the season and only six days from such an event. If soccer was an issue, why at this point and not before?” said Yvonne.
Mrs Newell said her daughter’s dedication to sport was an inspiration to others. In addition to the county panel, Michaela plays for Clones Ladies GFC at minor and senior level and represents Largy College in basketball and Gaelic football.
“If the GAA wants to encourage young people to be involved in its traditions, this is not the way to treat them. Those given management positions over such young members of our sporting community should be able to demonstrate tact and empathy when dealing with this vulnerable age group,” Mrs Newell concluded.
Mrs Newell has penned a letter to the ladies management team outlining her concerns however, she is wishing the team well for Sunday’s game. Ladies Manager John McAleer was unavailable for comment when the Monaghan Post tried to contact him yesterday.
Croke Park will also play host this Sunday to Derry and London in the Junior Ladies Final at 12pm and Clare and Tipperary in the Intermediate Ladies Final at 2pm. Throw-in for the Senior match between Monaghan and Cork is at 4pm.