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 Clonduff
Ladies was the brainchild of Onagh Gribben, daughter of
inter-county referee, John Anthony, in 2001. The
inaugural meeting was attended by 25 girls and after
receiving the go-ahead, but not without opposition, they
started training in the Winter of 2001under the watchful
eyes of Johnny McAleavey, (former Down and Clonduff
goalkeeper), John Anthony (whose four daughters were
regular players), Stephen Branagan (a Senior player,
whose two sisters and four brothers all play for
Clonduff teams) and Austin Ward (a playing member of
Clonduff Thirds). They competed in the Junior League in
2002 and finished a very creditable third. They gave the
unbeaten favourites, Ballymartin an almighty fright in
the Championship that year - Clonduff missed 2
penalties! Ballymartin won by 4 points and eventually
took the title.
Under the same management in 2003, the girls began
training shortly after Christmas and how that paid off!
They picked up the League and Championship double,
having gone through the league unbeaten! In the
preliminary round of the Ulster series, they took on a
much fancied Termon side from Donegal in Clonduff Park
in front of a massive crowd - they won by 4 points
having trailed by 4 at the break. For the next game in
the Ulster series they also had a home venue for the
game with the Derry Champions, Faughanvale.
Unfortunately, this was the end of the dream - but what
a dream it was!
Having won the Junior title in 2004, they took a step up
to the Intermediate division the following year and more
than held their own. A year later they annexed the
Intermediate Championship and League titles. Again a
Derry team put paid to the Ulster hopes.
2006 saw the Ladies in the top division and some felt
that the step up would perhaps be a step too far!
Twenty-six girls started their training in January -
they lost their first Senior League game to long-time
Down kingpins, Bryansford. Clonduff played Bryansford in
the Championship Semi Final and the game ended in a
draw. In the replay Clonduff stepped up a gear and won
by 8 points to set up a Final pairing with reigning
Champions, Castlewellan. Clonduff, after just five years
in existence were crowned Down Senior Champions
following their three point win. Yet again they were to
meet Derry opposition in the quarter final of the Ulster
campaign. What a game! By a huge margin of 13 points
Clonduff entered the Ulster Semi Final where they meet
the reigning Ulster Champions, Dunamoyne (Monaghan) on
home ground on Sunday 8th October 2006.
The core of the team has been together since since its
inception but it was realised that to ensure the
continuation of a Ladies Football team in Clonduff it
was necessary to nurture new and emerging talent.
The next step, therefore, in the development of the Ladies game in
Clonduff was the institution of a youth team. In 2002, a
panel of very young girls started training under the
guidance of Onagh Gribben and they played a few
challenge games. They have been playing in the U16
League and Championship since the 2003 season and the
U14 League and Championship since 2004 season. A number
of these girls have now secured a place on the Senior
team. Paula Gribben played on the Down U16 team that won
the All Ireland B Championship in 2006 and won 'Player
of the Game' in the Down Senior Final. (Two days before
the Down Senior Final she was one of five Clonduff girls
on the Down Minor Camogie team that collected the All
Ireland B Camogie cup - the team was coached and managed
by Clonduff's Kitty Fegan).
Achievements
2002 - Fielded first ever team in Ladies'
League (Junior)
2003 - Won Junior League and Championship
2004 - Fielded U16 team
2005 - Won Intermediate League and
Championship
Fielded
U14 team
2006 - Won Senior Championship
Michaela
Downey on first International Rules Team; Substitute
All Star
Down U16
Ladies collect All Ireland B Championship with Paula
Gribben at Centre Half Back having,
two weeks
previously won All Ireland Minor Camogie medal - making
her the Club's first All Ireland Dual
Winner! She
played every minute of every game in both sports - in
between the two All Irelands she picked
up 'Player of
the Game' in the Down County Ladies Final (which
Clonduff won)
2007 - Fielded U12 team
Four
Clonduff girls playing on County panel - Michaela
and Aoibheann Downey, Colleen McShane,
Elaine McCourt
Won Senior
Championship for second year in a row - won first league
title - eight players also picked up
first Senior
Camogie Championship and League titles - Double Double
Winners! |
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