Ladies football in fast lane

THE Ladies Football Association, Cumann Peil Gael na mBan, beat off competition from other sporting organisations in negotiating what Chief Executive Helen O’Rourke described as ‘a substantial’ sponsorship package with Suzuki.

The Japanese car company is the first sponsor of the Association’s National League competition which will feature debutants Kilkenny along with second teams from six counties, including Dublin. In another historic breakthrough, championship sponsors TG4 will show the Division One final of the League ‘live’ at the end of April.

Helen O’Rourke told a gathering of officials and player representatives from each of the 32 counties that ladies football is now the fastest growing sport in Ireland. And Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the special guest at yesterday’s formal launch in Croke Park, said he could to attest to that fact from his many visits to GAA clubs nationwide.

Niall O’Gorman, General Manager, Suzuki Ireland, confirmed later that the professionalism of the Ladies Football Association’s organisation had been a key factor in their decision.

“Many of our customers are women and it seemed natural to us that we should head in the direction of a ladies sponsorship,” he said. “We looked at a variety of sports and in fact we made a commitment for two for 2003 - one being the ladies football and the other a golf sponsorship which we will announce early next year.

“We’re delighted to be on board. We feel that these organisations are extremely professional, very well run. That is why we got involved.”

Helen O’Rourke pointed out that there had been an increase of 8,000 in the numbers playing ladies football last year, bringing the total membership to 80,000. “Yet, we are still looked on as a minority sport - and a female sport at that,” she added.

And, in stressing the significance of TG4’s involvement, she recalled the occasion six years ago when she approached ‘a Head of Sport’ about the possibility of television coverage of their All-Ireland championship finals.

“I was told after about half an hour that the people of this country would be more interested in watching tiddyinks on television than watch women play football. It shows how far we have come!”

Ladies Football President Walter Thompson emphasised the importance of achieving ‘phenomenal growth’ from their foundation in 1957.