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Abbeydorney and Kerry senior player Ciara McCarthy with Millie Shanahan, Ria Harty, Maddie Lyne and Laoise Neary at Sunday’s awards.
AN impressive five county football titles made their way to Abbeydorney Ladies Football Club during 2023, with players from U12 to Juniors racking up a further three North Kerry trophies as well as winners’ and runners up medals in several other regional and county competitions and blitzes.
Add to that, the achievements of the club’s six players who represented Kerry in their respective age groups last year, and it’s no wonder that organisers needed two events to celebrate their achievements over the weekend.
The local Sports Complex hosted round one of the annual awards celebrations on Friday night, where the U16s, Juniors, Minors and Mothers & Others were honoured for their success in 2023 – which included County Minor Div 2 victory, a Junior County League Div 5 title and coming runners up in the Donal Curtin Cup.
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The night was an extremely poignant one too, as the family of the club’s founding member – the late Donal Sheehan – were special guests and presented the club with a beautiful, framed jersey.
Donal’s daughter Ann also shared some beautiful – and hilarious – memories of her late father and his passion for his beloved Abbeydorney LGFC, revealing how some of the club’s first ever players still owe money for football boots!
On Sunday evening, attention turned to the club’s younger players, when over 100 girls from U6s to U14s were honoured.
The club’s own Kerry senior football star, Ciara McCarthy, was the guest of honour and was on hand to presented medals and footballs to the girls.
It was an evening of huge celebration for the U12s, U13s and U14s in particular, who between them, either won or were runners up in no fewer than 10 competitions in 2023 – bringing home an impressive two Div 1 county titles (U12 & U13), one Div 7 county title (U14) and a North Kerry Div 1 Cup (U12) and Div 1 Shield (U14).
Presentations were also made over the weekend to Ciara McCarthy, Niamh Quinn, Lisa Slattery, Eva Costello, Anna Slattery and Hayley Fitzgerald O’Connor, who represented Kerry in their respective age groups in 2023. Scroll down for photos…
Enjoying the Abbeydorney LGFC Awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon were cousins Hannah, Neasa, Ciara, Hazel and Kate Behan
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Some of Abbeydorney LGFC’s younger players Belle Lawlor, Aisling O’Keeffe, Aideen Costelloe, Ava McGlynn, Megan O’Connor and Róisín Flaherty enjoying Sunday’s awards ceremony
Abbeydorney LGFC U14 players Ava Fealy, Ally Russell, Clodagh Flaherty and Kayleigh Leen at Sunday’s Awards ceremony
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Enjoying Sunday’s Abbeydorney LGFC Awards were Edel Costelloe, Holly Costelloe & Gráinne McGlynn
Abbeydorney LGFC and Kerry senior player Ciara McCarthy at Sunday’s Awards Ceremony with Katelyn McCarthy, Lydia Lyne, Drew Harty, Aishling O’Driscoll & Lile Walsh
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Abbeydorney committee members Denise Shanahan and Brid Keane with club players Mairead Harty, Nora Barry and Holly Shanahan at Sunday’s Awards ceremony
Attending the Abbeydorney LGFC Awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon were (l-r) Eden Harty, Hanna O’Connell, Muireann Wiseman, Teah Walsh and U14 coach, John Walsh
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