*The Fergus Rovers team of 1995. Back row from left; Maura Doohan, Myra Daly, Nollaog Griffin, Mary Keane, Noelle Comyn, Yvonne Cleary, Bríd Keane, Sheila Kelly. Front row from left; Catherine O’Loughlin, Helen Stackpoole, Marie Gallagher, Carmel Bohannon, Patricia Quinlivan (capt), Áine King, Helen Murphy, Edel Cleary. (Mascot Sarah Bohannon)
Sunday’s ladies football finals at Doonbeg will be an especially great occasion for the Fergus Rovers club.
At 12.30p.m, the club will contest the intermediate final while later in the programme, the players and mentors who were involved in 1995 and 1997 when they were crowned senior county champions will be honoured
In 1995 Fergus Rovers won the club’s seventh senior championship title when they defeated Cooraclare in the final in Quilty where the team lined out as follows: Mary Keane; Patricia Quinlivan (captain), Noelle Comyn, Maura Doohan; Aine King, Catherine O’Loughlin, Sheila Kelly; Carmel Bohannon, Marie Gallagher, Edel Cleary, Myra Daly, Helen Stackpoole; Yvonne Cleary, Helen Murphy, Nollaig Griffin; Subs; Brid Keane, Paula Donnelly, Bernadette Stackpoole, Anne Keane, Dympna Cleary, Carolyn Coughlan, Mary Neylon, Ann Leamy, Breeda Nugent.
On September 17 that year in the Munster club quarter final Rovers were 3-4 to 1-9 winners over Abbeydorney from Kerry in a game played at Lissycasey. In the Munster semi-final, played at Kildimo in Limerick, Rovers lost out to Glanworth from Cork (2-7 to 1-14).
A week lager Rovers defeated Cooraclare in thee league final played at Kilmihil to win the title for the tenth year in a row.
Fergus Rovers were annual participants at the All Ireland senior 7s for many years where they often made it to the last 4 from 40 participating clubs. In 1995 they were pipped in the semi final by a point having accounted for the following along the way, Fergus Rovers 4-13 Old Parish, Waterford (4-13 to 1-2), Glenfin Donegal (7-4 to 1-6), Ballyhogue Wexford (5-6 to 2-2), Thomas Davis Dublin (5-8 to 1-3), Quarter Final; Fergus Rovers 4-03 Clana Gael, Roscommon, (4-3 to 3-01 before losing by a point in the semi-final to Timahoe from Laois(3-5 to 4-3).
Fergus Rovers were managed in ‘95 by Johnny Cleary (RIP), Jim Doohan and Christina Hayes.
In 97 Fergus Rovers captured their eighth senior championship title defeating an amalgamation of Clonbony/Liscannor in the final at Doonbeg.
The team on duty on that occasion was: Mary Keane; Irene Griffin, Noelle Comyn, Áine King; Edel Cleary, Catherine O’Loughlin (capt), Marie Gallaher; Carmel Bohannon, Myra Daly; Helen Stackpoole, Caroline Quinlivan, Ann Keane; Niamh Coghlan, Brid Keane, Helen Murphy; Subs; Carolyn Coughlan, Nollaig Griffin, Theresa Meaney, Valerie Coughlan, Paula Donnelly, Claire Meere, Catherine Hassett, Orla Neylon.
Having being defeated n the All Ireland senior 7s final in 1996 Fergus Rovers went all the way in 97 to claim the coveted title. The panel of 10 comprised of Catherine O’Loughlin (capt), Mary Keane, Áine King, Caroline Quinlivan, Marie Gallagher, Carmel Bohannon, Myra Daly, Helen Stackpoole, Helen Murphy, Ann Keane.
Along the way they defeated Coralstown Westmeatch (3-12 to 3-0); Omagh St, Enda’s Tyrone, (7-5 to 0-0); Dunsany Meath (4-3 to 3-4); Annaclone Down (6-7 to 1-2); Timahoe (Laois (4-8 to 3-9) in the quarter final; Hollymount Mayo (2-3 to 1-5) in the semi-final before defeating the famed Parnells of London in the final.
Fergus Rovers team manager in 97 was Jim Doohan assisted by Johnny Cleary and Christina Hayes.
Interestingly Myra Daly, a member of the winning Clare sides in both 1995 and 1997 is still a key member of the squad chasing the intermediate crown on Sunday, a title that so far has eluded the club.
Theresa Meaney a member of the 97 squad misses out on being part of the intermediate team this year due to injury.
Helen Murphy, a member of the two victorious senior sides is now a member of the management team.
