Under-16 ‘B’ Ladies Football County Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 7-3 Caulry 1-12.
Pride of place this week goes to our under-16 Ladies football team who defeated Caulry in Rochfortbridge to win the Under-16 ‘B’ Ladies Football county title. Shamrocks played superbly throughout and after leading by 3-0 to 0-7 at half-time also outscored Caulry on the resumption to win by 7-3 to 1-12. The girls went into today's final as definite underdogs having been well beaten (7-11 to 1-8) by the same opposition less than 3 weeks ago in the group stages of the same competition. The girls and management however showed the proof of the adage that you learn more in defeat than victory and set about playing today's game with a different game plan.
Caulry looked good in the early stages of the game getting 0-3 without reply. Slowly but surely the Shamrocks girls got to grips with the opposition and a quick pass in from the middle of the field to Holly McCormack resulted in a goal. Direct ball in to the full forward paid further dividends and resulted in 2 more goals from Katie Kelly before half-time. Caulry kept well in touch with 3 more points before half-time, to trail by 0-2 at the interval. The Shamrocks girls came out determined to work hard in the second half. Caulry began well with 0-2 from play but another goal from Holly McCormack quashed the fightback. Caulry were determined opposition and continuously threatened. Fine saves from goal keeper Isabelle Clinton and tigerish defending by the full and half-back lines repelled their attacks and delivered quality ball up through the dominant Shamrocks midfield. The half forward line attacked every ball and expertly executed the game plan of supplying the full forward line. Goals win games and 2 more goals from Katie Kelly and a goal from Nicola Groenewald put the result beyond doubt. A point from Nicola and 0- 2 from Sarah Geoghegan pushed out the lead. Caulry scored 0-3 points in the dying minutes, but when the referee blew the final whistle Shamrocks were deserving winners on a score line of 7-3 to 1-12. Captain Carla Gibney accepted the trophy on behalf of her team and all involved went back to the clubhouse for a victory celebration. This was a superb performance from the Shamrocks girls who really did give everything to win what was for the majority of the panel their first county medal.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Isabelle Clinton; Emily Bolger, Carla Gibney, Catherine Tubridy; Roisin McKnight, Ruth Keane, Eadoin Byrne; Alison Bane, Susanna Buckley; Nicola Groenewald (1-1), Laura Culkin, Sarah Geoghegan (0-2); Zara Gilligan, Katie Kelly (4-0), Holly McCormack (2-0).
Other panellists: Katie Rock, Ellen Corroon, Eadaoin Corroon, Mia Shanley, Máiread Newman, Fatyia Abdulkarim, Mia Gilligan and Chloe Flood McCormack.
A word of congratulations also to the team mentors Geraldine Buckley and Kieran McCormack for their work with and commitment to the team during the season.
The cup was carried back to Springfield where the girls, their mentors and parents celebrated with the traditional pizza party. We would like to thank Domino’s Pizza for their generous sponsorship of pizza for the winning girls.
