Under-14 LGF Division 1 Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 1-6 Athlone GAA 0-8
A wonderful result from Ballymore as Mullingar Shamrocks collected their first Under-14 Division 1 title. Conditions were rough with a bitterly cold wind making it very difficult for football. Both teams adjusted well to the conditions and delivered a fine game in the circumstances. Ballymore Ladies Gaelic Football Club had the pitch in immaculate condition
Athlone began well and dominated the opening 10 minutes or so and scored two points from the boot of the excellent Sally Fleming. Some great defending by the Mullingar Shamrocks girls ensured that the Athlone forwards earned ever score during this spell. Gradually, Shamrocks began to dominate and superb work by the midfielders Elsa Bird and Orla Nohilly (adding a new layer to the distinguished Shamrocks Nohilly family tradition) and the half-forward line of team captain Alexa Gavigan, Moya Kilmartin (another from a family with significant Shamrocks tradition) and Florence Geelon. Any ball passing this midfield sector was controlled by Saoirse Clinton, Ellie O’Donnell and Ava Sheahan in the half-back line so that the full-back line and goalkeeper Amy Forde had a relatively easy twenty-minutes.
Moya Kilmartin pointed for Mullingar Shamrocks first score and some superb combination play by Elsa, Orla and Alexa created an opportunity for Moya who kicked the equalizing point. In the twentieth minute, Moya kicked her third point – this one a great effort from a free. Orla Nohilly added a fourth point after soloing from midfield and Alexa Gavigan added a fifth point after soloing from inside the Athlone half of the field along the sideline and then cutting-in to score a wonderful point. Alexa’s point was made possible by a superb interception and break from defence by Amy Devaney. During this spell of dominance, good defending and goalkeeping prevented full-forward Suzi Corroon from adding to the Shamrocks total and a neat dipping shot from Moya Kilmartin rebounded from the post just before the interval. After a great twenty-minutes, Shamrocks retired for the half-time break leading by 0-5 to 0-2 – it might have been more but given the conditions it was a satisfactory position.
Athlone reduced the deficit immediately on the restart when Sally Fleming pointed and the same player followed soon after with a second point. A great save by Emily Forde foiled Sally Fleming’s goal attempt but within minutes the sides were level when Sally Fleming equalized from a free (0-5). It was now the turn of the Shamrocks full-back line of Amy Devaney, Alannah Burke and Alice Geelon to engage in some heroic defending ably supported by Saoirse Clinton, Ellie O’Donnell and Ava Sheahan with Kaela Doran doing a very good marking job on the ever-dangerous Sally Fleming. Amy Forde was faultless between the posts. The blocked shots, the tackling, the interceptions and the work rate at this stage were exceptional and ensured that Shamrocks stayed in the game.
At this stage, Clodagh Keane was introduced and made an immediate impact when she combined with Alexa Gavigan to create a goal scoring opportunity but Clodagh’s shot was deflected for a 45. Sally Fleming added three more points to send Athlone into what looked like a match-winning lead but the Shamrocks girls never stopped working. Suzi Corroon pointed after great combination play by Orla Nohilly, Moya Kilmartin and Alexa Gavigan created the opportunity. The Athlone lead was reduced to the most dangerous one in Gaelic sport (0-8 to 0-6). And so it transpired: Shamrocks gained possession from the restart and Clodagh Keane’s shot for goal was saved by Sophie Somers. Clodagh reacted sharply collected from the rebound and with a beautiful little shimmy made the space to shoot to the net for the golden goal. There was still some lost time to play and Sally Fleming raced through the Shamrocks defence but Emily Forde was not to be beaten and made the brilliant save that proved to be a match winner with Clodagh’s goal. The game ended with a spectacular solo run from Clodagh Keane – the youngest player on the field at the final whistle. (“She has a capacity to practice like no other” – one of our most distinguished players commented after the game). The final score read 1-6 to 0-8 in our favour in what was a brilliant team victory with every player contributing to the result. And it should be noted Mullingar Shamrocks had a panel of 32 players.
“The Gods Make their own importance” according to Patrick Kavanagh and this was a very important victory for Shamrocks and indeed for Westmeath LGF. The players are the first to graduate from the ‘Cage’ Astro-turf coaching and the first group to have played together at Under-8 and Under-10 levels. It was welcome and emotional victory for all those who have poured so much of their time and energy into the promotion of LGF in the club. They were there in force in Ballymore on Sunday.
We compliment Lisa Burke, Seán Corroon, Ailish McGovern and Conor Burke for their hard work with the team all year.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Emily Forde; Amy Devaney, Alannah Burke, Alice Geelon; Saoirse Clinton, Ellie O’Donnell, Ava Sheahan; Elsa Bird, Orla Nohilly (0-1); Alexa Gavigan (0-1), Moya Kilmartin (0-3), Florence Geelon (Masa Pesic); Kaela Doran, Suzi Corroon (0-1), Robyn Byrne (Clodagh Keane, 1-0).
Other panelists: Sarah Cosgrave, Layla Dowd, Alesha Turley, Abi Matthews, Aida Glover, Emily Maguire, Aoibh McCann, Eilis Nohilly, Ece Ozdemir, Liepa Reminiate, Kayleigh Fenton, Maria Keating, Katerine Jegorenkova, Katie O’Donoghue, Evita Lauraityte, Victoria Sac, Lauren Heavey.
A wonderful result from Ballymore as Mullingar Shamrocks collected their first Under-14 Division 1 title. Conditions were rough with a bitterly cold wind making it very difficult for football. Both teams adjusted well to the conditions and delivered a fine game in the circumstances. Ballymore Ladies Gaelic Football Club had the pitch in immaculate condition
Athlone began well and dominated the opening 10 minutes or so and scored two points from the boot of the excellent Sally Fleming. Some great defending by the Mullingar Shamrocks girls ensured that the Athlone forwards earned ever score during this spell. Gradually, Shamrocks began to dominate and superb work by the midfielders Elsa Bird and Orla Nohilly (adding a new layer to the distinguished Shamrocks Nohilly family tradition) and the half-forward line of team captain Alexa Gavigan, Moya Kilmartin (another from a family with significant Shamrocks tradition) and Florence Geelon. Any ball passing this midfield sector was controlled by Saoirse Clinton, Ellie O’Donnell and Ava Sheahan in the half-back line so that the full-back line and goalkeeper Amy Forde had a relatively easy twenty-minutes.
Moya Kilmartin pointed for Mullingar Shamrocks first score and some superb combination play by Elsa, Orla and Alexa created an opportunity for Moya who kicked the equalizing point. In the twentieth minute, Moya kicked her third point – this one a great effort from a free. Orla Nohilly added a fourth point after soloing from midfield and Alexa Gavigan added a fifth point after soloing from inside the Athlone half of the field along the sideline and then cutting-in to score a wonderful point. Alexa’s point was made possible by a superb interception and break from defence by Amy Devaney. During this spell of dominance, good defending and goalkeeping prevented full-forward Suzi Corroon from adding to the Shamrocks total and a neat dipping shot from Moya Kilmartin rebounded from the post just before the interval. After a great twenty-minutes, Shamrocks retired for the half-time break leading by 0-5 to 0-2 – it might have been more but given the conditions it was a satisfactory position.
Athlone reduced the deficit immediately on the restart when Sally Fleming pointed and the same player followed soon after with a second point. A great save by Emily Forde foiled Sally Fleming’s goal attempt but within minutes the sides were level when Sally Fleming equalized from a free (0-5). It was now the turn of the Shamrocks full-back line of Amy Devaney, Alannah Burke and Alice Geelon to engage in some heroic defending ably supported by Saoirse Clinton, Ellie O’Donnell and Ava Sheahan with Kaela Doran doing a very good marking job on the ever-dangerous Sally Fleming. Amy Forde was faultless between the posts. The blocked shots, the tackling, the interceptions and the work rate at this stage were exceptional and ensured that Shamrocks stayed in the game.
At this stage, Clodagh Keane was introduced and made an immediate impact when she combined with Alexa Gavigan to create a goal scoring opportunity but Clodagh’s shot was deflected for a 45. Sally Fleming added three more points to send Athlone into what looked like a match-winning lead but the Shamrocks girls never stopped working. Suzi Corroon pointed after great combination play by Orla Nohilly, Moya Kilmartin and Alexa Gavigan created the opportunity. The Athlone lead was reduced to the most dangerous one in Gaelic sport (0-8 to 0-6). And so it transpired: Shamrocks gained possession from the restart and Clodagh Keane’s shot for goal was saved by Sophie Somers. Clodagh reacted sharply collected from the rebound and with a beautiful little shimmy made the space to shoot to the net for the golden goal. There was still some lost time to play and Sally Fleming raced through the Shamrocks defence but Emily Forde was not to be beaten and made the brilliant save that proved to be a match winner with Clodagh’s goal. The game ended with a spectacular solo run from Clodagh Keane – the youngest player on the field at the final whistle. (“She has a capacity to practice like no other” – one of our most distinguished players commented after the game). The final score read 1-6 to 0-8 in our favour in what was a brilliant team victory with every player contributing to the result. And it should be noted Mullingar Shamrocks had a panel of 32 players.
“The Gods Make their own importance” according to Patrick Kavanagh and this was a very important victory for Shamrocks and indeed for Westmeath LGF. The players are the first to graduate from the ‘Cage’ Astro-turf coaching and the first group to have played together at Under-8 and Under-10 levels. It was welcome and emotional victory for all those who have poured so much of their time and energy into the promotion of LGF in the club. They were there in force in Ballymore on Sunday.
We compliment Lisa Burke, Seán Corroon, Ailish McGovern and Conor Burke for their hard work with the team all year.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Emily Forde; Amy Devaney, Alannah Burke, Alice Geelon; Saoirse Clinton, Ellie O’Donnell, Ava Sheahan; Elsa Bird, Orla Nohilly (0-1); Alexa Gavigan (0-1), Moya Kilmartin (0-3), Florence Geelon (Masa Pesic); Kaela Doran, Suzi Corroon (0-1), Robyn Byrne (Clodagh Keane, 1-0).
Other panelists: Sarah Cosgrave, Layla Dowd, Alesha Turley, Abi Matthews, Aida Glover, Emily Maguire, Aoibh McCann, Eilis Nohilly, Ece Ozdemir, Liepa Reminiate, Kayleigh Fenton, Maria Keating, Katerine Jegorenkova, Katie O’Donoghue, Evita Lauraityte, Victoria Sac, Lauren Heavey.
