White’s Cross GAA Club congratulates the Cork Ladies Senior Football team on their recent All-Ireland Final victory over Galway. This joust with the reigning champions was the Cork teams first time reaching this stage of the competition. In particular we are proud of the Rockbán contingent involved in this Cork squad. There were four members of this our local ladies football team on the Cork panel; Elaine Harte, Niamh Keohane, Caitriona Foley and Valerie Mulcahy. Valerie received national recognition for her endeavours with this team last year when she was awarded an ‘Allstar’ for her performances in the 2004 campaign. She also came to the side’s rescue when introduced as a substitute in this year’s semi-final clash with Mayo. In the Final she received the Most Valuable Player Award for her hugely influential role and tally of 1-5.
Many of the boys and girls in Upper Glanmire National School will know Caitriona, Foley as she acted as coach at the White’s Cross fun-camp in 2003. Caitriona was also a member of the camogie squad recently crowned All-Ireland champs and was one of five players to win an historic double All Ireland crown in 2005.
Vital to the success of this team has been goalkeeper and local lass Elaine Harte. Elaine, who has also played soccer at international level, started out her footballing days in White’s Cross, with her father Tom very involved in the Club. She often lined out on White’s Cross under-age teams and was able to hold her own against the lads, and help fashion out White’s Cross victories! She also assisted her male counterparts on the Sciath na Scoil sides while a pupil at Scoil Naomh Micheal, Upper Glanmire. Well done to Elaine in her heroics as ‘keepper to this side, epitomised by the clean sheet she kept in Croke Park on Sunday, October 2nd. Elaine pulled off one mighty save at a vital stage in the game and her clinical kick-outs set in motion many Cork attacks. Surely a certainty for an Allstar award in 2005… Rebels Abú Arís ‘gus Arís…!