The final of the Brogmaker Ladies Football senior championship takes place this Sunday when Railyard and Freshford meet at Nowlan Park. Railyard are chasing a fifth title in a row while Freshford will be determined to halt the champion's dominance and stake their claim for the ladies senior title having claimed the junior crown in 2008.
Railyard are a very experienced side having started their football journey in Laois in 2001. After losing out at the semi final and final stages the north Kilkenny side eventually claimed the Laois junior crown in 2003 and added the intermediate title in 2004 before going on to claim the Leinster club title with a memorable win over Kildare champions Leixlip. With the formation of a number of clubs in Kilkenny Railyard returned to their home county and despite some notable battles with Mullinavat and Thomastown have won the senior championship from 2006 to 2009 under the continued guidance of Martin Buggy and also won the All-Ireland club seven a side title in 2006. The club were the backbone of Kilkenny's All-Ireland winning junior side in 2007 and in 2008 reached the Leinster intermediate club final after three big wins in the provincial series where they were agonisingly beaten by Killoe of Longford. Having claimed this year's league title with relative ease, the club suffered the loss of several big name players and were defeated for the first time in the opening rounds of the championship by Freshford and Thomastown. Wins over Mullinavat and Tullogher secured a semi final spot and on this occasion the champions pulled out all the stops to overcome Thomastown who were many people’s favourites to go all the way having gone head to head with Railyard in the championship finals of the past three years.
Freshford ladies football club first formed in 2005 and gradually got to grips with the big ball game while dominating in senior camogie in Kilkenny. In 2007 Freshford lost out to Carrickshock in the junior decider but made no mistake a year later when they overcame James Stephens and were crowned county junior champions. Their first outing in the Leinster club championship was away to Greystones of Wicklow and the St Lachtain’s girls matched their experienced opponents well before losing out 0-12 to 0-05. The club were gradually making ground and 2009 proved an important year when in their first year at senior level the girls grew in confidence and ability and were ready to take this year's campaign by storm. Freshford are in fact the only undefeated side in this year's championship and made the perfect start with a one point win over Railyard which was the launchpad for a run of fine results. Big wins over Mullinavat and Thomastown followed before they accounted for Tullogher at the semi final stage to set up Sunday’s intriguing encounter with Railyard. Former Waterford footballer Martin Power has moulded the side into a strong and skilful outfit and the Freshford girls will be well prepared for battle. In Majella Colclough they have one of the toughest full backs in the game and the Railyard forwards will have to be at their best to breach their opponents rearguard. Aine Connery, Jamie O’Sullivan and Cora Dowling have all been in fine scoring form but likewise will come up against a formidable Railyard defence commanded by Grainne Daly and April Purcell. A close encounter is but will have to work hard to claim victory. Railyard will be determined to claim title number five while Freshford are more than capable of adding a senior football title to their collection of camogie honours by putting a halt to the Moneenroe side's dominance of ladies football. Throw in on Sunday is at 4pm.
