GALWAY captain Annette Clarke leads her team in the pre-match parade before their 2004 All-Ireland final win over Dublin at Croke Park. PHOTO: RAY RYAN

Trailblazers of 2004

Galway’s first senior ladies All-Ireland title

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SUNDAY, October 3rd 2004 will be forever etched in the annals of Galway ladies football. The day when PJ Fahy, his management team of Richard Bowles and Mick O'Connell, and the 32-player panel created history and scaled the sport's highest mountain.

Neighbours Mayo had captured the Brendan Martin Cup in four of the previous five seasons, but Galway, having earned promotion from junior ranks two seasons earlier, embarked a ground-breaking voyage to succeed them and win it all at Croke Park.

To mark the 20th anniversary of that success, Herald Sport spoke with Fahy, captain Annette Clarke and her teammates Ruth Stephens, Emer Flaherty and Áine Gilmore who shared their memories of an unforgettable campaign.

Read the feature that is part of our special preview of the All-Ireland clash in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald, in shops or www.tuamherald.ie.

Billy Coss
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