The Gazette reports on our lady footballers defeat in Louth over the week and speaks to team manager Paul Burke about the season so far and what lies ahead. You can read the article below or by clicking here.
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ROUND Towers’ ladies footballer’s epic season came to an end in Louth last weekend as Stabannon Parnells proved just too strong in the Leinster intermediate championship semi-final. The Louth side ran out 0-10 to 0-5 winners in the final reckoning after a tough battle, working with a strong breeze to good effect to end the Clondalkin club’s fine run in the competiton. It was a bridge too far, as manager Paul Burke explained, as the breaks needed did not fall their way at the right moments on a day when the wind played a huge factor, helping Stabannon build an early lead. "We went into half-time three points down and managed to hold them off but we just couldn’t seem to score in the second half with the conditions," he told GazetteSport. "They were a really good team but we were coming on strong. There was definitely a goal in the game for us but we just couldn’t get it over the line and then, unfortunately, we had a player sin-binned at a critical time when we were on top – even though it wasn’t showing on the scoreboard. "It wasn’t to be. Overall, I think, on the day, they were that bit stronger than us." Nonetheless, Burke can reflect on a scintillating season in which the club won a championship title for the first time in 17 years while also holding their own in the top league. "It has been a fantastic year. To be county champions, hold division one status and go on a run like that in Leinster has been great. We lost a couple of players to emigration and two are pregnant so we had to do it on a shoestring at the end but they did fantastically well. "The county final would be the highlight for me. We’ve been trying and trying for the last few years. We were all very much of the opinion this year that, when we got to the championship, it was that or nothing. In fairness, they looked after themselves very well and I know I’m saying all the cliches but they really went after it. "What they achieved as a group shows they can really go on to better things. A couple of the girls off the junior team and underage teams that can step and, if they do, we’ll be extremely strong. We just need one or two more players and we’ll give any team a run for their money." There is now heady anticipation for what 2012 will bring, with the potential to join the senior ranks, but that is a challenge to think about on another day. "Maintaining division one status means we can look forward to senior. But we need a break. It’s been a long season. We were fresh coming into it but the break will do us the world of good and we’ll maybe regroup just before Christmas to see where we all are and then see where we go for there."
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