Gilly Flaherty... inspired by the doubters
Flaherty - Our title doubters ‘fired us up’
- Arsenal release seven players
- Wilshere has successful minor knee procedure
- Szczesny - Henry’s goal turned our season
- Pictures of the Season 2011/12 - Part Two
- Pictures of the Season 2011/12 - Part One
- Top 20 Most Liked
By Declan Taylor
According to Gilly Flaherty, it was those who doubted Arsenal Ladies who inspired them to clinch their fourth domestic treble.
The young defender completed 90 minutes for the Gunners in their title-winning 1-0 victory over Everton on Sunday. It was the perfect climax to a thrilling run-in for the Ladies who knew that nothing less than a win on Merseyside would scoop their fifth successive League crown.
Questions were asked of Vic Akers’ side when they lost some of their star players to the new Women’s Professional Soccer League in America. But the Ladies defied their critics by sweeping the board in domestic competitions once again.
For Flaherty it was those doubters who helped pave the way for this season’s success.
"Everyone's been saying that we're not good enough to win the league but it fired us up,” the 17-year-old declared.
“We've gone out there [at Everton] and proved everyone wrong and showed that we're still the best team in the country.
"Obviously it's been a hard year for us with losing players and it was tough all the way through, but we've finally won it and it feels sweet.
"We've won every domestic competition that we've been in and that makes it even sweeter as well - I'm so proud of all the girls, we've worked so hard for it and we deserve it.”
A knee injury to defensive stalwart Faye White this season has thrust Flaherty into the spotlight in only her second season as a first-team Arsenal Lady.
Her sparkling performances at centre-half this term have ear-marked her as one of Women’s football’s brightest prospects but the teenager was keen to pay tribute to her experienced defensive partner.
"I really enjoy playing alongside Ciara Grant,” said Flaherty. “She has brought me on a lot this season and you can't buy the experience she has got.
“We work well alongside each other and hopefully it'll continue next season as well.”
[Wednesday, May 13, 2009]
More Arsenal News
-
Sun, May 20, 2012
WSL: Lincoln 3-3 Arsenal - Match Report -
Sun, May 13, 2012
Continental Cup: Lincoln 4-3 Arsenal - Report -
Sun, May 6, 2012
WSL: Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal - Match Report -
Fri, May 4, 2012
‘We shouldn’t be losing games like this’ -
Thu, May 3, 2012
FA Women's Cup: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal - Report -
Thu, May 3, 2012
FAWC: Chelsea v Arsenal - Match Preview -
Mon, Apr 30, 2012
Baby joy for Ladies striker Julie Fleeting -
Fri, Apr 27, 2012
Harvey - Little deserved her two goals -
Fri, Apr 27, 2012
Houghton - The supporters were ‘tremendous’ -
Thu, Apr 26, 2012
WSL: Arsenal Ladies 3-1 Chelsea - Report
