This year, an absurd decision was made to not go ahead with the County Ladies Under 16 & Minor All-Ireland Series. We mean to change this decision made by the LGFA, as we collectively, as a group of young female players, feel this decision is unjustified and we are not ready to finish our county football year yet. See below a letter, written by one of the U16 girls, that has been sent to the LGFA. Join us in taking action, and let’s make the U16 & Minor Ladies All-Ireland Series happen. 

05/08/2021

To the LGFA,

As a young fifteen year old girl in the world of Gaelic football, I, alongside so many others, have overcome challenges male players will never have to face. Competing for a place on the Under 12’s boys team, under a male coach, as a ladies team was not in place. Joking with friends about lifting the famous ‘Sam Maguire Cup’ knowing I would never get the chance. Now this, in the year 2021, our Monaghan U16 and Minor Ladies competition, cut short as no All-Ireland series was put in place for us. The most infuriatingly devastating fact about it being that our male counterpart teams are playing one. I cannot stand back and let this happen, it goes against everything I, and the LGFA, should stand for. 

Although the pandemic has had a massive impact on the beautiful game of Gaelic football and the wider world of sport in general, we have finally reached a point where competitions such as the Tokyo Olympics were able to go ahead. As of 4th of August, nearly 3.5 million first dose vaccinations have been administered in Ireland. As girls within the u16 and Minor age group are now receiving their first dose, Covid-19 is no longer a valid excuse for refusing to allow us to play this competition. As we have shown in previous matches, U16 Monaghan v Fermanagh ladies, to name but one, we are capable of social distancing on the side-line, sanitising and wearing masks on entrance to the grounds. We agree that these are necessary measures and would continue to abide by these guidelines if we were to play an All-Ireland semi-final. There is arguably no difference in playing a team from Donegal (110km away) and a team from Kildare (120km away). If the Munster Minor boys can play the Ulster Minor boys in an All-Ireland semi final 2 weeks from now, sharing one football between 30 and marking one another tightly, there is no reason the girls cannot do the same. 

Covid-19 sees no gender, there is no reason why the LGFA should.

Ultimately, our U16 & Minor Ladies teams are not ready to end our football year yet. I am quite sure that the other Ladies U16 Platinum A provincial winners (such as Kildare) along with the Minor winners would agree. There is still time to play this competition, considering the U16 Platinum A Munster final is not being played until August 22nd. This enables our teams 2/3 extra weeks to prepare for a semi-final. The effort and work that goes into trials, training & matches with a county team, especially at the Under 16 & Minor age groups which have the highest underage dropout rate, is exceptional. After a long period spent in quarantine and isolation, putting these Semi-Finals & Finals ahead, would only contribute positively to the mental and physical well-being of so many girls who want to represent their county at this age.

So I ask, as a young female, as a proud member of the LGFA, as a determined player of Gaelic football, please reconsider your decision about this incredible competition. Please, do not leave an All-Ireland cup sitting idle, when it is just waiting to be lifted by a team of hardworking, committed young footballers. Please, play these 6 games of legendary U16 & Minor football, and give 180 young girls the chance to win an All-Ireland medal.

I look forward to your response. 

Yours Sincerely,

Kerrie-Anne Walsh, a proper fan.