Westport ladies manager praises ‘unbelievable group of women’ after Connacht final defeat

MANY saw this defeat coming. But Westport only really saw it coming ten minutes before the end of a Connacht final where Kilkerrin-Clonberne were shaken but not stirred from their throne.

“I don’t think it was a nine-point game,” Westport manager Pop Geraghty told The Mayo News in the aftermath.

“I suppose we were pushing a bit at the end and left ourselves a bit open. I’m just immensely proud of the girls, they’re an unbelievable group of women and they’ve given huge joy throughout the journey so far this year.”

Kilkerrin-Clonberne have been at this for years. But it’s been a long, long time since they’ve met a resistance like this on a Connacht final.

And don’t take our word for it.

“It was definitely one of the toughest by far,” Nicola Ward, one of Galway’s greatest-ever footballers, told The Mayo News.

“Thinking back to our days with Carnacon, it nearly compared to one of those days. They really, really put it up to us but thankfully we pulled away in the end. I think our fitness and our stubbornness got us over the line. We’re just delighted to get the win, and I think it will definitely stand to us going forward.”

High praise indeed from one of the game’s all-time greats.

Still, missed goal chances will be a major source of regret for Westport - and their inability to capitalise on the sin-binning of Ward’s sister, Louise.

“It’s hard to try and get the message on and everything but we worked so hard,” said Pop Geraghty, when analysing their performance against the champions who were reduced to 14 players for a time.

“They probably have better game-conditioning from being here so long. That bit of extra experience probably helped them manage the game. They kept possession for long periods and that bit of game management is something we have to get better at to compete with them in the future,” the Westport manager added.

And the positives?

“We have no fear, the group have no fear, whoever they play. It doesn’t matter what colour the jersey, what the name is on the teamsheet, just go out and play football,” said Geraghty.

“I was so proud of them, we worked incredibly hard, we died, fought for each other and we really backed ourselves against the best team in the country. I’m absolutely delighted with that, just privileged to be part of the group with the girls.”

Nicola Ward also mentioned the word ‘fear’ in a different context.

“I think it’s more the fear of losing,” she said when asked what’s kept them trucking these past seven seasons.

“When you are constantly winning everyone wants to take you down. We just want to keep making sure that there is a gap there. I think teams are narrowing it but as long as there is a gap there, we are happy.

“Dad [Kilkerrin-Clonberne manager Willie Ward] said a good quote during the week, he said ‘For good teams, managers keep players accountable, but for great teams, players keep each other accountable.’ I think we definitely do that within our squad, I think that’s what sets us apart from anyone else.”

Looking back on the year they took their place among the great clubs of Connacht, Pop Geraghty had this parting message for the people of Westport.

“Everyone involved in the ladies club in all sections, camogie, hurling, Bord na nÓg, the support we’ve had is phenomenal and it’s fantastic, all the young people that have been out supporting us, the underage players, both boys and girls, has been amazing,” he said.

“I just want to say a huge thanks to every single person that has come out and supported us, it’s been a great year, it’s been one to remember and hopefully, we can create more memories in the future.”