Inside Track: Woods synonymous with ladies’ football over many years

If there’s anything you want to know about women’s football in this county, Dermot Woods is the man to go to.

For longer than he cares to admit, the Naomh Malachí stalwart has been involved, filling a variety of roles, from managing underage sides to refereeing to representing the county at Central Council.

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The latter is his current job. Before that he was County Board chairman on three occasions, filling the hot seat for the first time in 1997, and for a dozen years in all.

He speaks highly of the part Joanne Fedigan and Gabrielle Clarke have played in the development of the game for iover two decades.

The former acted as secretary and treasurer at different times up until her retirement last year, while M/s Clarke continues to play an active role.

When Woods took over as chairman, there were five clubs fielding teams in the county – now there are 25, all grades catered for from under-14 to senior. Upwards on 4,000 players are registered.

The game is growing rapidly, and with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) due to come under the auspices of Croke Park – along with the Camogie Association – many believe numbers will eventually match those playing the men’s game.

As you would expect, the former County Board chairman was at Croke Park for last Sunday week’s All-Ireland final, and all the others featuring a Louth team before that.

He fondly remembers the 1998 win over Roscommon, but has derived noas much satisfaction from the latest one.

“I enjoyed it. Antrim, I know, were strongly fancied, and were confidently expecting to win. But our girls didn’t want to be beaten in a final for the second year running. It showed in the way they fought back after a very shaky start,” he said.

He’s confident there’ll be an extended stay in intermediate, promotion which goes with winning the junior title.

Back to 1998. “We followed that win by taking the intermediate All-Ireland title 12 months later, and I remember around that time we beat the Kerry and Cork senior teams. The present side can progress.”

Along with all of his other duties, Woods has played a huge part in publicising the women’s game through the media. He has regularly contributed to this paper and the Argus, and often featured on local radio.

He has gathered some interesting statistics on the new All-Ireland champions. They show that the bloodlines are good.

Ceire Nolan, for instance, is a granddaughter of Mick Nolan, who played on the Roscrea team that won the first running of the All-Ireland hurling club championship in 1971. Prior to that, in 1959, he was at corner-forward when Tipperary won the All-Ireland minor title.

The contribution of the St Mochta’s Byrne family to men’s and ladies’ football is well known. Dad, Brendan, captained the Leinster-winning under-21 side in 1978, while his son, Ciaran – best known as ‘Casey’ – is also a provincial winner, having featured on this year’s senior side.

Another son, Declan, has had a lengthy career with the seniors, and this year was part of Fergal Reel’s under-20 management team.

The distaff side of the family, however, has All-Irelands to boast of. Eimear, a pivotal figure in last Sunday week’s win, has now two All-Ireland medals, and last year celebrated with an All-Star win, joining her club’s men’s winner, Craig Lennon, on a memorable Sunday evening in Páirc Mochta. Her sister, Aoife, was on the 2019 winning Louth team.

Don’t for one minute think that matriarch, Pauline (neé Neary), hasn’t had a part to play. Like her husband, she has never been less than fully supportive or encouraging of her children

Caitlin O’Reilly has winners on both sides. Her dad, David, is a cousin of one of Cavan’s best-loved footballers, John Joe O’Reilly - while her mother, Deirdre, has All-Ireland senior winners, Bobby Beggs and Keith Kavanagh in her pedigree. Beggs had the distinction of winning Celtic Crosses with Dublin and Galway.

Some ‘daughters of’: Rachael Beirth (Nigel, senior championship winner with St Fechin’s and a scratch golfer), Gemma McCrave (Robbie, winner of numerous IFC medals with Dundalk Gaels), ÉilIs Hand (Paula, Geraldines secretary for many years and currently looking after the Louth LGFA books), Katie and Aoife Halligan (Colm, current referee), Zara Sweeney (Shane and Ruth, both championship winners with Stabannon Parnells).

Kate Flood and Áine Breen were recently married; due to tie the knot, is the aforementioned Éilish Hand (to Dundalk Gaels goalie, Aaron Culligan, who could be accused of poor timing. His stag, on a foreign shore, was last weekend, causing him to miss the final).

Kate Flood, arguably one of the best to wear the red jersey, is retiring after an honour-laden 15-year career.