Craigbane U-14 girls secure the league and championship double

Craigbane girls lifted both the under-14 championship and league title this season. 

An incredible feat for the small rural side as they defied the early season odds. 

Yet, under the stewardship of Mark Gormley, Catherine Loughery, and Conor Kealey, they achieved this miraculous triumph. 

(Craigbane's Tierna Cartin and Katie May Loughery, who won the All Ireland Gold Final with Derry U14 Ladies footballers back in June.)

Mr. Gormley said: “At the start of the year, we didn’t think we would get anywhere near it, particularly after we lost our opening league fixture.

“The two age groups were only coming together for the first time, and they hadn’t all played together before, so we didn’t know what to expect, but we knew we had some really good players.”

The squad trained twice a week consistently from the start of January to lay the foundations for the success. 

Despite the opening day defeat and the wrenching feeling it gave to the team, they used it rather than become consumed by it to push on for glory. 

Mr. Gormley said: “But it all came together. 

“Following that opening defeat, we then went unbeaten for the rest of the season as everyone bought into it.

“The girls worked hard, listened, and achieved something unbelievable, first winning the championship and then the league.

(Eila Doughty is presented with the U14 League Winners' shield by Nigel Craig, representing Derry GAA.)

“Our under-14 girls trained with the under-16 girls, and that really pushed them on a bit as they could see they could compete with the older girls, and it raised the bar.

“The spirit and the joy in that team are something to see; not one of them wanted to miss training or matches. With my girls, if I had said they would miss a game, there would be a row. 

“Determination and that never say die attitude were vital to them securing the double as there is so little difference between winning and losing.”

The celebrations have not finished since the final whistle went to secure the league. 

Yet, as the school year comes around again and things return to normal, nothing will take away the memories of this season. 

Mr. Gormley said: “We are just delighted as a club. We are only a small, wee club, and just to get something like that, there is a great sense of achievement for everybody, from the management to the players and then their parents.

“My own two girls played on the team, and just the euphoria was incredible.

“That moment I ran on the pitch at the final whistle and celebrated, especially with my two daughters jumping into my arms; there is a picture that we have got framed now of that moment that is up in the house; it just means so much.”

The team and management will look forward to next season, along with the years to come as Mr. Gormley believes that if the team and the under 16 squad can play at senior level they could become a tour de force, a great indicator for the future as Craigbane failed to field a senior ladies team this season due to lack of numbers.

(Ameragh Kealey and Eila Doughty who were team captains during the championship and league wins this year.)