Most Impressive Female Sports person in January 2015.

For some reason, Ladies Sports find it very difficult to get coverage in the media.

Nationally, for example, Yesterday on RTE’s Sunday Sports Programme on Radio 1, when a round up of the day’s activity was given, the result of the only Senior All-Ireland Camogie Club semi final played on the day was given. Two Intermediate semi finals were played at the same time, but no results were given despite the results and updates been given across social media outlets.  

The first round of this year’s Ladies National Football League was also played yesterday. On the same programme the results of the Division One games were given. Again results in the other three divisions were available on Social Media and on the Internet, but no results were given. What would it have taken to read out the results not given? 30 seconds max?

In recent years the amount of coverage given to ladies sports has increased, but at a national level it’s often only results from the very top grades that are given. The exception to the rule may be TG4 at a national level who through their sponsorship in ladies football show a number of games each year.

Once upon a time here in Ireland we had one TV station in our homes in Ireland. Then we had two. Most of us then began to pick up the terrestrial channels from the UK and then along came Sky and all that they bring us, followed by the likes of the already mentioned TG4, TV3, E4 and of more resent times UTV Ireland.

With so much competition for companies to win over viewers, you would be expecting more of them to compete for different sports available for us to watch, outside of the GAA Championships, National Leagues, The Premier League and Rugby.

Wouldn’t it be great for us sports fans if some of the so called ‘lesser’ or minority sports were to be shown, even if it was a half hour or hours highlights show once or twice a week. Wouldn’t it be great to see more Camogie, Ladies Football, Basketball, Hockey, Athletics etc. on TV and more importantly ladies games?

On the local front, things are a lot better. Local newspaper editors do all in the power to get as much into their paper as is possible.

The same applies to radio stations. Radio stations in the past and to a certain degree even today need the co-operation of people involved in different sports to help them get them the information that needs to be aired. Maybe in the last three or four years, with twitter taking off it’s a little easier. All you need is for a DJ or someone in a newsroom to have a computer or similar devise turned onto them and to get to know the genuine people who attend games on a regular basis and to call out what they upload if they are followed.

Anybody that follows me on Twitter or Facebook (thomaskeane1973 is my user name for sporting updates on both) will know that I try and give as much coverage to women’s sports that I follow as I do with men’s.

Some have asked why I do this. The answer is rather simple. Women put in the same efforts when it comes to sport as men. Sometimes the efforts are even greater. And it’s more important that we support them in any way we can because of this.

With some time now, I have been thinking about something. I have noticed that when it comes to the various sporting awards presented for each month and the end of the year, it’s very difficult for women to be included. Don’t get me wrong. They do get nominated but at times it takes an absolute exceptional effort to win.

I have put my idea to a few people in different sports and the response from all I have asked is the same. Go for it.

Most of what I write about online has to do with the GAA and its sister Associations, the Ladies Football and Camogie Associations.

From now on, each month I will be looking at a number of people involved in different sports that have impressed me over a calendar month or who received recognition from within their chosen sport. I intend to name the players or teams that impressed me most and to pick out an overall winner.

The prize for the winner each month is a big one, a mention from me online. What more would you want. LOL

January is usually a quiet month when it comes to sport, but despite this there were a number of impressive performers.

In Athletics West Waterford’s Terri Gough stood out winning three goal medals at the Munster Senior and Masters Indoor Championships at Nenagh.

In the over 70 section (no mistake) she won the shot competition with a throw of 5.84 metres. Another goal was won in the 60 metre dash in a time of 14.40 seconds and again in the 200 metre sprint in a time of 49.84 seconds.

In Camogie Ciara Jackman was one of the stand out players for Mercy College Waterford in their Junior Munster Final 2-3 to 1-2 win over Loreto from Fermoy at Passage. The Gailltir club player scored 1-0 for his side.

Staying with Camogie, Iona Heffernan was one of the stand out players for Abbey Community School in their Leinster Final win over Rochfordbridge at Fenagh in Carlow. The Ferrybank Club player hit 1-1 for her side in the game.

In Ladies Football, it was a big month on the college’s scene. The Munster Senior ‘A’ Final was an all South Tipperary affair at Clonmel where Colaiste Dun Iascaigh from Cahir beat Saint Mary’s from Carrick-on-Suir who had a number of players from Waterford in their line up. Amongst those to stand out were Geraldine Power as well as Emma and Aoife Murray.

The Munster ‘B’ Final again in Clonmel was a battle between Loreto from Clonmel and St. Augustine’s from Abbeyside.

For much of the game it looked as though the Clonmel side who had Ballymacarbry’s Lauren Guiry standing out for them were going to win, but in the end, Saint Augustine’s but in a late surge lead by Liz Devine fought back to win the game. Others to stand out for the winners in the game were Molly Curran and Bronagh Condon.

In the Munster ‘D’ Final played the same day in Glanworth, Hazelwood College from Limerick had a win over Mean Scoil Nicolas from Ring who had Dawn de Paor in fine form on the day.

But who is the first sports person to be my Female Sports Start of the month. Is it any of the above, or is there someone else.

Fifth year student at Saint Augustine’s College in Abbeyside has for some time impressed in her chosen sport.

2014 was another excellent year for Emily. She travelled with the Irish team to Rimini in Italy to take part in the World Kickboxing Championship’s.

Emily took Part in the 16 to 18 year old Weapons and overhand categories finishing in second place.

Such is Emily’s progress in her sport that she was awarded Athlete of the Year in early January. A just reward for a fine athlete, in what is a very minority sport which receives little or no recognition.