Ladies LGFA

Our Ladies section of the club is made up of 11 different teams starting at the U7 age group.

From the U7 age group up, all girls train together with their own dedicated coaches, segregated and separate from the boys.

The juvenile girls start competitive action at the age of 13.

League and Championship action begins at this age and continues at U14, U16 and U18 levels.

We have two adult teams established one competing at Junior Level, while the second competing at Senior Level.

Over the years the ladies/girls section of the club has seen much success at all levels and year on year continues to reap the rewards of the hard work executed on the training ground.

Teams From Age U7 Upwards

Cooley Kickhams Ladies Football Club History

Ladies football first started in Cooley in 1970 when a group of ladies got together to form a team for Cooley Kickhams Sports week. That group consisted of: Sheila Rafferty, Kitty Sheelan, Teresa Carroll, Eilish Carroll, Ann Ryan, Bridie Ryan, Carmel Thornton, Angela Carroll, Patricia Mc Donald, Patricia Morgan, Margaret Carroll, Helen Brannigan, Francis Stapleton, Bridie Magee, Mary Murtagh, Jennifer Marks and Lily Mc Parland. At that time the rule within the Cumann Camogaiocht was that no player could play football. In 1971 some of these girls were reported for playing Gaelic Football and they were disqualified from the county league Camogie final. That was the reason for Cooley Camogie Club disbanding that year. The Sports Week extended to all the local clubs and it was not long until every sports week consisted of some fine football played by the ladies. From these Sports Weeks it wasn’t long until the Clubs decided that each one should have their own Ladies Team and that a Louth League should be formed and from that a County Louth Team also be formed.

By 1974/77 football got serious and training began on a regular basis under Aidan Mc Cormack and the Cooley team played opposition like Shelagh, Ardee, St Pats and Mullaghbuoy. The players involved were as follows: Jacinta Marks, Pauline Marks, Briege Hanlon, Sadie Loughran, Ann Hanlon, Catherine Dullaghan, Rosemary Shields, Briege Ferguson, Angela Ferguson, Catherine Shields, Margaret Campbell, Patricia Campbell, Caroline Murphy, Madeline Murphy, Ann Ryan, Elizabeth Ryan, Marie Ryan, Bridie Ryan, Theresa Mc Guigan, Kitty Carroll, Ann Malone, Aileen Rafferty, Geraldine Mc Shane and Jackie Togneri. In 1977 there were five Cooley girls playing on the Louth County Team. They were Jacinta Marks, Rosemary Shields, Ann Malone, Briege Ferguson and Ann Callan. Included in the Louth team selectors were our own John Traynor (RIP) and Francis Donnelly and Louth played teams like Cavan, Meath and Armagh.

In 1986 a Cooley team was established and played in the annual Cooley week, they also competed in the Carlingford Oyster Festival Festivities. Their opponents on each occasion was our neighbours St. Patricks. Some of those involved in that team in 1986 were, Rosemary Donnelly, Martina Thornton, Patricia Campbell, Joan Mc Carragher, Genevieve Mc Carragher. The manager appointed was Michael Boyle. Cooley Ladies Football then went dormant again and was not re-started until 1991 when John and Ann Callan got the ball rolling again in conjunction with the Camogie.

There were still no official games so Cooley played against St Josephs for the “craic”. The buzz achieved from these encounters quickly turned into keen rivalry and high expectation. In 1992, a trophy, sponsored by Brendan Watters was offered for the Winners Of ‘The Match’. Such was the standard of football witnessed and the fantastic enthusiasm of both sides of players and supporters that the natural progression was to form a County Board and try to organise Ladies Football in the County.

In 1993 the first official games under the auspices of the County Board were held. Five teams in total had affiliated for the first year, Cooley Kickhams, St Josephs, St Patricks, Clan na Gael and St Fechins. The team had got to the stage where it needed its own identity and managers like Miceal Hanlon took control of the training and the games. The players then were: Mary Hanlon, Caroline Murphy, Amanda Page, Roisin Hanlon, Elaine Rogan, Ann Larkin, Elizabeth Savage, Michelle Mc Cann, Catherine Murphy, Geraldine Mc Guinness, Joanna Thornton, Valerie Murphy, Teresa Hanlon, Sinead Hanlon, Nuala Murphy, Orla Traynor, Nuala Markey, Gabrielle Ward, Catriona Murphy and Ann Callan.

The first Championship final was between Cooley Kickhams and St Josephs; with St Josephs coming out on top after a replay, but Cooley got their revenge and went on to win the first League title. In 1994 several more teams registered including Dundalk Gaels, O’Raghallaighs and St Kevins. Cooley won their first Championship this year, with the Kevins winning the League.

Cooley went from strength to strength winning leagues and championships at all levels. The highlight being the All Ireland Junior Club Championship win in 1998. A feat that brought much fame and notoriety to the peninsula. The club continues to enjoy success at all levels.