Clonakilty's Sam Doherty makes history as the first woman to serve on the Cork Youth League committee

West Cork native Sam Doherty made a little bit of history this season, becoming the first lady to serve on the Cork Youth League committee. 

Sam has been involved with Clonakilty AFC for years has held many different roles at the club before she joined the youth league committee at the start of this season.

Sam has been the heartbeat of the West Cork club over the years and her bubbly personality and expertise will definitely add something new to the youth league. 

This season Doherty is trying to take in as much as she can from her follow committee members, but she has some great ideas of her own for the future betterment of the league.

“Other than watching it since childhood I have no real background in football to speak of as such, however, I have been involved at committee level at Clonakilty AFC over the last five seasons,” Sam said.

“I started helping with my son’s teams with Clon back in 2018/19 season by helping out at training picking up cones and then supervising at blitz’s etc. 

"The then committee were looking for new members, so I volunteered. 

"Initially, I was the Children’s Officer for the club and I also started their social media pages. 

"Then two years ago, I took over as secretary and I still hold this position, along with organising all aspects on game days.

“As there is no football offered in West Cork for players over 16 years of age two years ago we decided to enter a team into the Cork Youth Leagues and from the start it was a great experience. 

"The level of organisation within the league is outstanding. 

"When the youth league were looking for committee members, I thought it was a great opportunity to learn and maybe bring the experience back to my own club at Clonakilty AFC.

“To be the first woman to serve on the Cork Youth League committee is a great honour and privilege, however, I do feel that I have something to offer to the other members. 

"However, all the other members have so much experience all I’m doing at the moment is trying listen and learn from the people who have given decades of service to Cork football. 

"I have to say it was strange feeling at first but every one of the committee members are gentlemen and they made me feel very welcome from the start.

“I am presently the secretary of Clonakilty AFC and also run their social media platforms. 

"I have no specific role with CYL yet, but I think my knowledge of the FAI Comet system, (this will be our third season using it in West Cork) will be of benefit when we eventually implement it across all leagues some time in the future.

“I'm really enjoying my time to date with the youth league, and as previously stated, the other committee members are great and have a wealth of knowledge in all areas of the game. I am learning so much.

"I was delighted to be part of the 20th year celebration of the league in City Hall in January. 

"It’s an honour to be part of the committee, many fine people that have done so much good work over the years. 

“My club Clonakilty AFC has grown substantially over the last number of years, from a handful of teams entered in the West Cork Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Leagues just four or five years ago to 18 teams entered for this season. 

"We went from zero girls playing three years ago to over 130 registered girls now. I hope to continue that growth into the future. 

"We were awarded an FAI Club Mark entry level award last year and are hoping to achieve the One Star award in the coming months. 

"We also won club of the year for 2024 earlier this month at the WCSSL annual awards.

“With the Cork youth league committee, I would like us to be one of the first Leagues to implement the upcoming FAI League Mark award and also continue the good work that the lads on the committee has done year on year,” Doherty added.

The Cork Youth League chairman Sean O’Sullivan is delighted that Sam has joined the present committee and he and his fellow colleagues have welcomed her with open arms.

“It is great for the League that we have the first woman to have joined us on the committee,” Sean said.

“Sam has done some wonderful work with her club in West Cork and I think she will add something new at committee level.

“I want to personally welcome Sam onboard this season and I’m sure that all my follow committee members are equally excited to work with her,” O’Sullivan added.