Louth LGFA boss Larkin faces familiar foe

Louth LGFA manager, Kevin Larkin, will find himself in a unique position this weekend when he takes charge of Kildare champions Balyna against St Fechin’s in the AIB Leinster LGFA Club Intermediate Championship final in a fixture that sees him come up against some of his county players.

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Speaking ahead of the final, Balyna captain Rachel Cribbin told Leinster LGFA, “He is a Kildare man and he has had a great year so far this year with the All-Ireland win with Louth, and the intermediate win with us. I think there are a couple of girls on the Fechins team that he will know anyway.”

St Fechin’s captain Orla McEvoy believes the Louth side won’t be put off by the prospect of meeting the county boss.

She said, “He knows all about Ceire (Nolan), and he has already stated he is already a bit scared to meet Ceire, so I wouldn’t disagree with him. 

“But he has an advantage; there are two other girls as well, so he has an advantage of knowing them. I think there is also a disadvantage of knowing too much and thinking too hard about the three certain players. 

“We have a lot more players and a lot of county experience on the team; there are five All-Ireland medals there. We have a great panel of not even 15 but 25 or 30 girls that are well capable.”

That experience has been key to the Fechin’s success this season, and McEvoy singled out one particular teammate for her leadership qualities.

“I’d say Ellen Brodigan, maybe. I think this year she has even got more mature, she had her baby this year, and he was actually born there a week before our final,” she said.

“So Ellen has always been the mammy of the team, even before she had a baby; we have all considered her almost like an older sister to us all.

“Her due date was actually supposed to be the date after the final, but she had her baby the Sunday beforehand, and she actually kitted out for the final.

“She did the warm-up with us, and she is a trooper. She warmed up, and she was the first one on with a bottle every time someone went down. I think she was eager to get back onto the pitch. She was ready for it and waiting for her opportunity.”

St Fechins will take on Balyna in the AIB Leinster Club Championship Final on Saturday, 8th November at Coralstown, Kinnegad GAA, Westmeath. Throw in at 3.00pm.