Kilmacud Crokes' Lauren Magee pictured ahead of the AIB All-Ireland Club Ladies Senior Football Final against Kilkerrin-Clonberne.
By Cian O’Connell
In a decade Kilmacud Crokes ladies footballers have travelled a significant distance.
Lauren Magee knows about the setbacks and defeats, wondering would Kilmacud ever glean senior silverware in the capital. Crokes persevered. “One hundred per cent, we were only looking at it, 10 years ago, we won intermediate, we actually played Castleisland Desmonds in the semi-final,” Magee says ahead of Saturday’s eagerly anticipated AIB All-Ireland Club decider against Kilkerrin-Clonberne at Croke Park.
Overcoming Castleisland at the penultimate stage in Glenalbyn mattered deeply. “They beat us in the intermediate championship 10 years ago,” Magee reflects.
“Just seeing where we've come from there, we've lost semi-finals and finals in the county, but we were always up competing.
“Then, to win the last three years in a row, to get to a semi-final of the All-Ireland in the last two years, that has been a credit to everyone involved. So, we're striving to keep building and to be just playing the best football that we can.”
High playing numbers doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. “Definitely not, that is a thing, like anything in Dublin, you've so many people there, but people are getting pulled different ways with different sports and different commitments,” Magee responds.
“That type of stuff. It doesn't guarantee success. We're very lucky at the moment, that we've a great bunch of girls that I've played all the way through with have been there or thereabouts.
“Even when we've gone away, we've come straight back into the fold. So, we're very lucky to have those players, very committed players.
“There might be loads of numbers, but at the same time, if you don't have the right people around you and the commitment, you're not going to have success.
Kilmacud Crokes' players Lauren Magee and Kate Murray celebrate following the AIB All-Ireland Club Senior Football Semi-Final win over Castleisland Desmonds. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
“Thankfully, we've great players and a great management around us. Over the last 10 years playing, it has been always, even though we've had some lows, it's great to have the girls around us.”
Passing the gift of sport through the generations counts for so much. Magee has heard about the cherished victories her father, Johnny, and uncle, Darren, achieved for Crokes and Dublin. It is important that the next generation are inspired, too. “A lot of us would have grown up watching the men’s team,” Magee says.
“Some of us had relations, obviously, my Dad and uncle were involved. Michelle Davoren's brother, so you've that connection, the Lambs, we've all of those.
“Although, I went to the ladies matches where my auntie was involved, Anne Marie McBarron played, she was a really good family friend. You've those connections. Only for I had that you wouldn't be really watching the ladies section.”
Recently, though, something has changed. “Now, it is totally different with all the schools around the area,” Magee adds. “I'm subbing at the moment, all the kids recognise you, not just the girls, the boys do, too. They're buzzing, they're at everything. It just means so much. The ladies section, at the moment, is massive, and it is great to see so many girls playing and continuing to play.
“Our biggest thing was when you got to minor, you're pulled different directions, that is when the drop offs happen. Now, you see the minor teams with the ladies section is a lot bigger, and there is a lot more competition, there. When we were at that age, there probably wasn't.
“You were getting players from underage to come up, different things like that. It is great and it is great to not only have girls looking at the men’s team, but the women’s team, too, and the boys.”
Being a teacher helps forge connections in school. “I've always coached,” Magee says. “I've always just been in summer camps, dealing with kids, so I went down that route. I enjoyed it and it definitely does.”
Away from school, Magee is busy preparing for Crokes’ trip to Croke Park. “Not every year you'd want to be going until this late, but when it is for this reason, you don't mind.” Crokes to the core.
