Mill Celtic looking to complete remarkable treble in Leinster Final 

Just Terenure stand in the way of Mill Celtic and Ladies LFA Junior Cup glory this Sunday. Mill’s ladies are unbeaten this season in their first season back in Carlow and already have two trophies to show for their efforts, the Ladies League and the Ladies Carlow Cup, having beaten Vale on Saturday night to claim the double. A treble with a Leinster trophy would mean a lot to the small club from Ballitore in County Kildare. They overcame a tough Killester-Donnycarney side in the semi-finals on penalties and will be hoping to add the only trophy missing from their trophy cabinet on Sunday.

Speaking after the Ladies Carlow Cup Final on Sunday, Mill manager, Barry Mackey knows the size of the challenge that awaits them. 

“We’re after doing the double there but next week, we’re playing one of the best teams in the country, it’s going to be a huge step up. But the girls, they’ll always step up and have a go and that’s what we’re aiming to do next Sunday. The form is good at the right time and when you’re winning, it makes things that bit easier so hopefully we’ll regroup and go again for next Sunday. We just have to go and play the game, It’s only another game, we know ourselves Terenure are probably the best junior team in the country, they’ve been there and done it and we just have to go out and play it, it’s just another game, there’ll be no pressure on us, it’s a brilliant achievement for us, we just have to go out and enjoy it. The girls have worked hard to get here, it’s just another game, albeit a final but it’s just another game and that’s the way we’re going to treat it.” 

Mackey says it’s going to be special if they can win it but that they need to be wary to not let the occasion get to them. 

“It would be huge, and we’re going to give it everything. We can’t play the occasion though, we just have to play the game, and that’s the way we’re going to treat it. We have the experienced players who have been there and done that and played in finals and it’ll be up to us all to just instill that into the younger girls, no pressure, just relax and go and give it everything. I’m sure no matter what way the game goes, the girls will give it everything, that’s what they’ve done all year and I know that’s what they’ll do next Sunday. In a final the first ten minutes are always important so we’ll be hoping to attack the game for the first ten minutes and get some confidence. It’s a final so if you didn’t believe in yourself, there’d be no point going and turning up. We know the task we face but we’re hoping we’ll be able to bring our strengths to it.” 

Captain Deirbhile Byrne says it’s an exciting occasion. 

“Everyone’s really excited and looking forward to the match. We set out goals at the start of the season as to where we want to be and where we want to go, and obviously it was amazing winning the league and cup but it’s absolutely amazing as a team to be part of the LFA final on the weekend, we’re really looking forward to it, we’re really excited. In fairness we’ve had a few bumps along the way but every time we’ve had a bump, we pick ourselves back up and we train that bit harder and we get ourselves right and we tell ourselves we have to get back on top. In fairness we’ve had a great season so far so fingers crossed it’ll go well on Sunday. We’re a country club with a mixture of girls from various different sports and various different villages and towns around the place, and I suppose if we are the underdog, that’s fair, but we’ll give it our all on the day that’s for sure, we won’t give up easy.” 

Byrne knows how much it would mean to the club, with it being the only trophy they’ve not won. They’ve won leagues, they’ve won Carlow Cups, they’ve won Divisional Cups, they’ve won a Leinster Junior Shield, but the one that evades them is the LFA Junior Cup. 

“It would be absolutely unimaginable to be honest. A few years ago when we won the Leinster Shield, we were absolutely delighted, we couldn’t believe we’d won a Leinster Shield. It was fantastic so to think that we could win the Leinster Cup is absolutely fantastic, we’re in the final now and anything is possible. It would be the cherry on the cake if we could win the Leinster Cup on Sunday, because for the past few years, we have been in the competition and we’ve done ok in it, but we haven’t been able to get to the point we’re in it this year. It’s definitely a step further than we have been achieving in the previous few years, that’s for sure. Absolutely, it will be for sure [a great occasion for the club], for a Ballitore club to be on the big stage like that is fantastic, it’s a great occasion.” 

Byrne knows how much this can be a boost to women’s soccer in Carlow. 

“We’ll take it with pride representing the Carlow and District League, they’ve been fantastic to us, we’ve loved coming back so we’d love to represent them. And if we do well on Sunday, it might give an incentive to other clubs in Carlow to play the 11-a-side, because I know they did go down to nine last year so if they could keep all the teams involved, it would be brilliant to see more teams getting involved in it which would be a definite positive for the Carlow League for sure.” 

Mill Celtic vs Terenure, 

LFA Junior Cup Final, 

Station Road, Newbridge Town, 

Sunday 11 May, 2pm