FOR JUST THE second time in the club\u2019s history, Foxrock Cabinteely ladies are gearing up for another Leinster final appearance.<\/p>\n
They took the honours last year at the expense of\u00a0Sarsfields Mountmellick (Laois) and this year\u2019s challengers come from the St.\u00a0Laurence\u2019s\u00a0club in Kildare.<\/p>\n
But while they\u2019re full value for their spot in today\u2019s final, Cabinteely\u2019s campaign almost came to a halt before the provincial stages even began. The county final against their rivals St Brigid\u2019s produced a frantic finish with Cabinteely clutching to a two point lead.<\/p>\n
With seconds remaining, a scramble ensued in Cabinteely\u2019s goalmouth. Brigid\u2019s forward Elaine Kelly emerged with the ball and her resultant shot was greeted with relief from the reigning champions, as it sailed over the bar.<\/p>\n
\nCan @OFFICIALFoxCab do the double on Sun & retain their provincial crown. They face St Laurence's, Kildare 1:30pm in Kinnegad #ClubisFamily pic.twitter.com\/pTquvTfdOc<\/p>\n
— DublinLGFA (@dublinladiesg) November 4, 2016<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Their hold of the Dublin senior championship was just millimetres away from being severed, but a one point cushion allowed Cabinteely to prevail. Sin\u00e9ad Goldrick\u00a0knows that her side were fortunate to survive that scare, but in the same breath, she says the preceding rounds were no breezy walk either.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re always really appreciative,\u201d she tells The42,<\/em>\u00a0\u201dwe\u2019re making club history for the second year-in-a-row and it\u2019s always so tough to get out of the Dublin championship. We won by a point and got out of there by the skin of our teeth. We had a very tough game against Crokes in our semis too and we were lucky to get through that game also, so to get out of Dublin for the second year-in-a-row\u00a0is something that we\u2019re very proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n
The management team co-ordinating the Foxrock Cabinteely ladies boasts an impressive line-up of Peter Clarke, Angie McNally, Pat Ring and Colm Kearney. Clarke is a well established inter-county manager in Ladies football while Angie McNally led a decorated career in the Dublin jersey.<\/p>\n
Goldrick says their arrival has been a blessing for the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve all coached Dublin and have been involved with Mayo. When they take a team they take it together so they have brought a huge wealth of experience, they know football inside out and they don\u2019t leave a stone unturned.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nPeter (Clarke) has a notebook and any team that we\u2019re playing, he puts so much work in ahead of it. He\u2019d be going down to games and picking their target players for us, he gives us a game plan and match-ups and stuff like that. As players we have a huge amount of respect for that and there\u2019s a huge amount of unity within our team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Clarke\u2019s research is clearly rubbing off his players. Goldrick is well versed on the strengths of the St. Laurence\u2019s\u00a0team and the range of players who pose a threat to Cabinteely\u2019s title.<\/p>\n