A Brief History

In 1995, the Glen Ladies Football Club was established by Leona McEldowney and Mavorneen Convery with the aim of giving local girls the opportunity to play Gaelic football. The first ever game was played against Dungiven, but it was surely not to be the last! The Glen Ladies went down to a heavy defeat, but it was only the start of what would be a very successful future for the club.

In contrast to the previous year, 1996 saw the team become more seriously involved in playing football and under the chairmanship of Matt Convery, were successful in winning the club's first County Championship . It was definitely no fluke, in 1997, Glen now playing in the famous yellow and blue strips, retained the Championship title for a second year running.

In 1998, the club lost the County final to Desertmartin, but came back in 1999 with avengeance and won both the County League and Championship. They went another step further and made history in becoming the first Ladies club team in Derry to record a win in the Ulster Club Championship. In the quarter final of the Ulster Championship, Glen beat Lissummon, then it was Mullahoran (Co.Cavan) in the semi-final. Again it was another win for the Glen Ladies and a place in the Ulster final against Newtownbutler in Clones. Glen played with great heart that day, got a draw and the game went into extra-time, but unfortunately, it was not meant to be.

The year 2000, and a new season. Glen won the double again, a league that meant nothing to the club and the Championship against Dungiven in the semi-final and then Desertmartin in the final, both games played within two days of each other. Another two days and it was the Ulster semi-final, and like the previous year, yet more heartache for the girls. On September 1st, the ladies flew to Toronto , Canada to take part in the Powerscreen Sevens Gaelic Football Tournament and were successful in winning the title. No doubt there are a few memories from that trip!

In 2001 it was out with the old and in with the new. The manager from 1995 had quit after the Ulster semi-final defeat and in came a young manager with a new attitude, new ideas, enthusiasm and aspirations and that is the current 'boss', Pearse McCallan. Also in 2001 came a man from the other side of the Glenshane, a 'Sur' from Dungiven - Rory McGilligan. Rory has been working with the Glen goal keepers improving them in all areas. Despite a good league campaign, Glen lost to Dungiven in the final, but the two sides met again in the Championship final and it was Glen who dominated. Again, Glen went into the Ulster Championship and won their quarter final game against Annaclone (Co.Down), but it was a case of deja vu, and Glen made their exit in the semi-final against Donaghmoyne (Co.Monaghan).

2002 has been a very successful year for the club having picked up both county titles, as well as winning the Antrim 7-a-side tournament and being runners up in the Intermediate All-Ireland seven a side tournament in Dublin.  However, the dizzy heights of 1999 have yet to be reached again.  Glen reached the intermediate 1/4 final when they were beaten by the other finalists of 1999 - Newtownbutler.

Over the years, the Glen team has seen many players come and go, not many faces remain from the early days, but those who have, have remained committed to the club through thick and thin. Glen have had more than their fair share of ups and downs over the years, but there have been many good times and long may they continue! Girls, no matter what, remember the words:

'When they insist we're just not good enough.........We'll we know better - We're gonna do it anyway!'.

GLEN LADIES ROLL OF HONOUR

County Derry Championship Winners - 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

County Derry League Winners - 1999, 2000, 2001

Powerscreen Sevens Winners - 2000

Ulster Club Championship Runner Up - 1999

All-Ireland Sevens Runner Up - 2001, 2002

Antrim 7-a-side Shield Winners - 2002

Derry Minor Championships

Derry U-16 Championships

Breigeen Cassidy and Kathy Conway representing Ulster

To be continued..............

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