THE MULLINAHONE LADIES team is uniquely composed of players from two different counties.<\/p>\n
\n Mullinahone’s Molly Walsh [right] ahead of the All-Ireland final against St Jude’s.<\/p>\n
Source: Seb Daly\/SPORTSFILE<\/p>\n
Situated about halfway between Clonmel and Kilkenny city, the village sits right alongside the border between the two counties. Its official address is in the Premier region. On the other side of that line, a short drive away into Kilkenny territory, is the village of Windgap.<\/p>\n
Both clubs belong to hurling country.<\/p>\n
But football has been progressing in Mullinahone and both localities have formed an unusual alliance over the years, allowing players from both sides of the fence to play both codes.<\/p>\n
The longevity of that relationship has resulted in Mullinahone reaching the currentaccount.ie All-Ireland junior club final against St Jude\u2019s of Dublin this Saturday.<\/p>\n
The squad will that will contest the decider includes seven camogie players from Windgap.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I\u2019m from Windgap,\u201d Mullinahone defender Molly Walsh tells the media ahead of that showdown with St Jude\u2019s in Baltinglass.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been playing football over in Mullinahone since I was 10. I\u2019m here long enough anyway. When I started playing football, Mullinahone was the closest football team to me, so that\u2019s where I went. A few more of the girls have joined in the last few years. It\u2019s brilliant.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe football has been really getting going this year. We\u2019ve been working away for years but this was the first year that we won a junior county final.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to have Mullinahone to play football in because I would have had nowhere to play football in Windgap. It was only in primary school. I came over to Mullinahone then. There\u2019s always been a few going over and back playing football there. We have a few playing camogie with us in Windgap.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the Windgap seven that\u2019s serving for Mullinahone is Kilkenny camogie star Denise Gaule. Gaule is a four-time All-Star in the small ball game, and was also crowned\u00a0Camogie Association\/WGPA Senior Players\u2019 Player of the Year for the 2020 season.<\/p>\n
A reliable free-taker for the Cats, Gaule converted a crucial last-minute penalty in the All-Ireland final that year which delivered a second O\u2019Duffy Cup triumph for the county since 2016.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s a new recruit for the Mullinahone footballers, but Walsh says there\u2019s been no struggle in making the transition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d say she\u2019d adapt fairly quickly to anything she put her hand to,\u201d Walsh says in praise of Gaule.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe just came on board this year. The camogie finished up early. She was looking for a bit more to do. I\u2019d be used to playing with her in Windgap.<\/p>\n