Joe King's contribution to women's football in Mayo honoured at awards

Joe King, the driving force behind the Mayo Women's Football League for a long number of years, received a standing ovation as he received the Michael Jennings Services to Football Award at the league's annual awards night in Breaffy House Hotel on Saturday night.

From team management, to club committee work and his role as league secretary, Joe was recognised for his immense contribution to promoting and encouraging girls and women's football in Mayo.

As a manager with Manulla FC, Joe's women's teams blazed a trail at county, Connaught and national WFAI level, with numerous titles. And the respect in which he's held by former players was evident in the warm tributes they paid to him on his nomination for the award.

Joe's drive and ambition as a manager was later brought to the league committee, where he has done absolutely trojan work to promote football for many years.

Siobhan Jennings was on hand to present the award on a night that saw Manulla FC announced as the inaugural Club of the Year award winners.

The gala dinner dance, sponsored by Brian Cunningham Transport, was a glittering celebration of a wonderful year of football across the county at Under 17, Under 19, senior women's and masters grade.

The Player of the Year award winners were also revealed on the night: Under 17 Division 1 - Aoife McHugh, Ballyglass FC; Under 17 Premier Division - Emma Sheridan, Kilmurry FC; Under 19 - Cliodhna Dowling, Castlebar Town; Masters League - Annie Lynskey, Kilmore Ladies; Women's Division 2 - Molly Doherty, Ballina Town; Women's Division 1 - Hana Ueno, Kiltimagh Knock United; and Women's Premier Division - Amy Dowling, Castlebar Town.

The club of the year award acknowledges the wide input of clubs and the volunteers who run them. Manulla were celebrated for a year in which the club received the FAI One Star Clubmark Award, showing consistency across critical areas, from governance to coaching and child welfare. Signifcantly, it was also the only club in the county to field a team at all four age grades this season.

Female players are also feeding into the coaching structures at the club, while on the pitch the Rumley Cup was retained by the women's team, with the Under 17s and 19s also reaching finals.

And Manulla FC's wider community impact as a national leader in diversity and inclusion was also acknowledged.

Two Appreciation Awards were also presented to mark Diana Hopkins 25 years service as league treasurer and PRO Dee Kelly's contribution to promoting the women's and girls game.

Team of the Year and Golden Boot awards for top league scorers were also presented.

A word of thanks was extended by the league chairman, Michael Collins, to the sponsors of the various competitions throughout the year: Eco Powered Cabinets, McHale Agri, Forest & Garden, Hayes Mechanical & Engineering, LPB Buildings, Hurst Heating, and awards night sponsors Brian Cunningham Transport.

* Full photo coverage and report from awards in Tuesday's print edition