New York ladies to get €10,000 helping hand for final replay

NEW YORK’S ladies football team will receive financial backing from the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA).

The exiles had to arrange their third trip back to Ireland in seven weeks following their All-Ireland Junior final draw with Wicklow almost two weeks ago.

With each trip costing in the region of €25,000, there were fears they would not be able to participate in the final match.

However the LGFA agreed to donate an undisclosed sum, believed to be in the region of €10,000, to allow the ex-pats return again on Sunday night.

The New York ladies board will fund the remainder of the costs through a series of fundraising ventures but they will be glad to find out that, if the sides finish level after 60 minutes in the replay, extra-time will be used.

Meanwhile Westmeath joint-manager Alan Mangan will also enjoy a less stressful Sunday this weekend as his side replay their All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate football final against Cavan at Croke Park. Last Sunday week, Mangan oversaw proceedings as the Lake County battled out an exciting draw with Cavan before dashing to Cusack Park in Mullingar to play in a county SHC semi-final for his club.

Because of the time issues involved, Mangan started as sub for Castletown-Geoghegan but came off the bench to set up two points as they beat Raharney at Cusack Park, Mullingar.

“I didn’t think about the hurling until the final whistle went at Croke Park — that’s the God’s honest truth,” he said.

“I told my club that I’d be concentrating on the ladies 100% and when that game was over, that I’d try to get down as quickly as possible. I knew that morning that I wouldn’t be starting for Castletown-Geoghegan. If I was starting, it may have been in the back of my head a bit more but I knew that I could get down, relax and watch the first half of our club match.

“But it was disappointing because I was on the team all year and now I have to battle to get my place back for the final [against Clonkill]. I set up two points when I came on and played reasonably well but I came on for a second cousin of mine and I don’t want to push him out of the team either.”