Dec 11,2024
Fifteen years after Johnny Magee captained Kilmacud Crokes to All-Ireland club glory, daughter Lauren is hoping to emulate her father's achievements as part of the Dublin side’s bid of a maiden women’s All-Ireland success.
The Stillorgan-based side are not only eyeing their own history, but should they land the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup in Croke Park on Saturday, it will mean that Kilkerrin-Clonberne’s bid for four-in-row has been derailed.
For decorated Dublin powerhouse Magee, who has five All-Ireland medals with the Metropolitans, the opportunity to climb the Hogan steps with her club is the stuff of dreams.
Her father also represented his county, yet the five county titles and the memorable All-Ireland success in 2009 is what sticks out, especially as brother Darren was there to share the war stories.
"I know he played for Dublin, but Crokes meant so much to him and Darren," she said.
"He lives and breathes Crokes, and so did my nanny and granddad. It means so much to me, not just that my dad played in an All-Ireland final, but he captained the side.
I know that whole time was so special for him, my uncle and my whole family.
"A lot of the girls are the same with their family connections. It comes the full circle.
"It’s a big driving factor, and it always has been for me."
While familial connections are the bedrock of a side that only claimed a first county title in 2022 but are now three-in-a-row Dublin champions, outside influence has also played a part.
Ailbhe Davoren of Galway have added to the panel strength since joining the club, while Cork’s Niamh Cotter, who joined in 2020 while studying a Masters in European Law at UCD, was the player of the match in the semi-final demolition of Castleisland Desmonds.
"They obviously have inter-county experience, but they also bring a different feel to it," Magee says. "They buy into it. If you are there and want to buy into Crokes we are all for that.
"Niamh Cotter is such a great person. Even when she had her back injury she was with us for years, such a massive part of the set-up. I feel like Niamh will be there for years to come."
Last year’s heart-breaking defeat to Saturday’s opponents at the penultimate stage will be used as a foundation block, particularly for the more callow players in the side.
Magee is used to big championship days, but it’s still a relatively new experience for those in Kilmacud players, despite having pushed the Galway kingpins to the pin of their collar 12 months ago.
"We felt like we could have played so much better so that is a big driving force," she says.
"We were coming in as underdogs. We believed we could do it, but there is always that little bit of doubt. When you haven’t played a team properly, you don’t know what you can do.
"You need experience. If you haven’t been in that cauldron before it is a big shock to the system. The younger players now have experienced that."
