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1974 All-Ireland Ladies Football Champions

November 7, 2018

Lillian Gorey been presented with her 40th anniversary medal from Pat Quill  president of the Ladies football association.

40th ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST LADIES FOOTBALL ALL IRELAND FINAL

A special night was had in the Horse & Jockey Hotel on Saturday night last as the victorious All Ireland Tipperary Teams of 1974 & 1975 were honoured. These ladies wrote history when they won the first ever All Ireland Ladies Football Championship in 1974. Seven other counties took part in this inaugural championship Roscommon, Laois, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Offaly. Tipp defeated Waterford in the opening round and then had a great win over Kerry in the semi-final. Tipp defeated Offaly in the All- Ireland final and the game was played in Durrow, Co. Laois on October 13th. A report on the game printed in "The Nationalist" stated "the game was a thriller from the first whistle to the last but in the run of play the Tipp girls held the vital edge in speed and all-round fitness. Three of this victorious team were from our parish of Drangan and Cloneen. Lilian Gorey (pictured above) from Shanakyle and sisters Josephine and Cathrine Keane from Cappagh Cloneen. The girl's fathers Sean Gorey (RIP), Shanakyle and Teddy Keane (RIP), Cappagh were both involved in the management of this team. Other local girls on the team were Mary Power (O'Shea) and Ann Croke from Mullinahone.

On Saturday last Pat Quill, President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association had the pleasure of presenting these ladies with a special 40th Anniversary medal from the Tipperary Ladies Football Association and in his speech he thanked the women being part of the birth of the Association. He talked about how the Association was growing fast with 27,000 in attendance at the All-Ireland Final and over 150 clubs throughout Ireland.

The night was followed with refreshments and a great night was had by all with lots of memories and renewed friendships.

1974 & 1975 TIPPERARY TEAM MEMBERS

Noreen Blake (Golden), Ann Bryan (Moycarkey Borris), Mary Burke (Emly), Marian Byran (Moycarkey Borris), Chrisse Byrne (Ardfinnan), Eleanor Carroll (Ardfinnan), Margaret Carroll (Ardfinnan), Breda Cleary (Loughmore), Ann Clohessy (Moycarkey Borris), Sally Clohessy (Moycarkey Borris), Ann Croke (Mullinahone), Eileen Dudley (Cashel), Tina Flynn (Ardfinnan), Lilian Gorey (St. Bridget's), Ena Hackett (Newcastle) (RIP), Josephine Keane (Mullinahone), Katherine Keane (Mullinahone), Mary Lonergan (Emly), Betty Looby (Golden), Mary McGrath (Emly), Nora Moran (Newcastle), Alice Morris (Moycarkey Borris), Josephine Murphy (St. Bridget's), Cait O'Dwyer (Moycarkey Borris), Susan O'Gorman (Ardfinnan), Mary Power (Mullinahone), Bridie Robinson (St. Bridget's), Kitty Ryan (Ardfinnan), Josephine Stapleton (Loughmore), Majella Sweeney (Newcastle), Catherine Treacy (Loughmore)