By Sean Moriarty

A dream by Killarney Athletic Football Club to grow girls' soccer in Killarney has taken step towards reality thanks to a Government grant.

The Woodlawn-based club was one of 83 Kerry sports clubs and organisations that received funding under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme for 2022.

Killarney Athletic applied for funding to develop a dedicated girls’ training pitch on its grounds. Under the programme the club will get €45,172 to put towards the new pitch but the balance has to be raised by the committee before the funds can be drawn down.

Club chair Ger Nagle said Killarney Athletic were inspired to create a dedicated girls training pitch following the unprecedented growth in this side of the club in recent years.

Club teams play in each age group of the Kerry School Boys and Girls District League and they also have a senior team contesting the County League.

“We are thrilled to get the funding, it was just a pipe dream but now that dream is getting closer to reality,” she told the Killarney Advertiser.

“We need to have a meeting to decide what our next steps are, but for now we are just enjoying that we got it [the funding].”