Michael Cusack girls win NSW GAA Championship Title in style

The ladies final kicked off Championship Finals day at Auburn on Sunday 18 August and it was only fitting that the best football was served up on the last day of Gaelic games for 2002. The Cusack girls came up against old rivals Clann na Gael in a match, which always promised to be a cracker. Both defences were on top in the first half and with Clann na Gael playing with the aid of a slight breeze, it was all square at half time with a score line of Cusacks 2-1 to Clann 0-7.

Clann made some positional changes after the half time break but with the breeze behind them there no stopping this Cusacks team. Fine defensive displays by Ruth Cahalane at corner back and Anne Marie Daly and Rosin Cooper in the half-back line thwarted every attack that Clann could muster. Sinead Griffin and Captain Niamh Bonar were in control in mid-field and provided ample supply of ball to the forwards. All the forwards played their part and none more so than the Clare trio of Eithne Morrisey, Claire Daley and hat trick hero, Annie Ryan who tore the Clann backs apart every time they gained possession. Highlight of the game was a goal scored by Clare Daley from a free kick late in the second half. At this stage the game was well and truly over as a contest and Cusacks ran out easy winners by 6-10 to 0-8.

To their immense credit Clann never gave up and their best performers on the day were Ailish Kelly and Edel O’Gorman. Everyone on the Cusack panel played their part and scenes of great jubilation greeted the final whistle. They last won the Ladies Championship in 1998 and still keeping the flag flying for Cusacks from that victory four years ago are Dee Stephenson, Betty Servis, Bernie O’Donnell and Daveena Doyle. Great credit is due to mentors Quanha McBride, Padraig Hurley and Eddie Maloney for all their help in training, managing and coaching the team.

SCORERS Michael Cusacks: Annie Ryan 3-0, Claire Daley 1-5, Niamh Bonar 1-0, Daveena Doyle 1-0, Wenona McBride 0-2, Eithne Morrisey 0-2, Mary Sexton 0-1. Clann na Gael: Ailish Kelly 0-7, Edel O’Gorman 0-1.

Team list:

Anne-Marie Daly (Wexford), Annie Ryan (Clare), Bernie O'Donnell (Mayo), Betty Servis (Roscommon), Claire Daley (Clare), Daveena Doyle (Sydney), Deeanne Stephenson (Sydney), Eimear McGlinchey (Donegal), Eithne Morrisey (Clare), Karen Kelly (Kerry), Kate Gardiner (Sydney), Katie McDermott (New Jersey USA), Mary Connolly (Tipperary), Mary Sexton (Cork), Neryl Mather (Sydney), Niamh Bonar (Tipperary), Roisin Cooper (Wexford), Ruth Cahalan (Galway), Sadie McCarthy (Cork), Sheila Roche (Kerry), Sinead Griffin (Limerick), Tammy Wawrzyniak (Sydney) and Wenona McBride (Cavan)