Historic first for Tattyreagh ladies

By Niall Gartland

THE hard work behind the scenes has paid off as Tattyreagh St Patrick’s are now set to field a Ladies team at adult level for the first time in their history.

It’s been well-documented that Tattyreagh have achieved glittering success in the last number of years with their men’s team, but at a meeting prior to Christmas, the club decided that the time was right to progress further by entering a ladies team at adult level as well.

Ladies Secretary Nigel Mullan – who is also the club’s county delegate and the father of Peadar, the captain of the men’s team – is one of a whole host of people in the club who have put their shoulder to the wheel in bringing about this historic new venture (Terry McCance, Brian McAleer, Sarah Mullan, Luke and Sean Darcy are just some of the others).

He says that they’re set to field at Junior Championship level this year, but numbers are strong and a number of well-known Tattyreagh girls who have had to find football elsewhere have transferred back to the club.

Mullan said: “Through the years we’ve had a number of girls who were always interested in playing football and have had to go to other clubs.

“Laura and Maria Harkin went to Drumragh, but Drumragh were very understanding and allowed them to transfer back to us. You also have Sinead McGinn, who played youth football for us but then transferred to Fintona, and she’s coming back this year as well. Clare Murray is another.

“We’re going to go into Junior level, it’s our first year and we’ll see how it goes. Hopefully it’ll be a boost to the club and it should give the young girls something to aspire to as they know they could be future senior players for Tattyreagh rather than having to move to other clubs.”

See this week’s edition of the Ulster Herald for the full story