Fantastic turnaround in final minutes
U13 PLATE COUNTY FINAL Shamrocks 2-07 Stradbally 2-04
A late goal from wing forward Alyson Murphy proved to be decisive as a resurgent Shamrocks pipped Stradbally in an exciting U13 Plate Final at a warm and sunny Dungarvan GAA Grounds last Saturday afternoon. Trailing by a point with just two minutes remaining the Shamrocks forward burst through the Stradbally defence to fire the ball to the net to put her side ahead for the first time since the early stages of the game. A minute later the ball was fed to Alyson Murphy again and the Shamrocks sharp-shooter floated a superb point over the bar to leave a goal between the sides with time almost up and turning the game on its head in a matter of minutes.
In the early exchanges it was Shamrocks who made the better start with the first two points of the game coming from the Shamrocks forwards. Shamrocks full forward Robyn McLaughlin opened the scoring with a fine point after just two minutes to raise the game’s first white flag before corner forward Aifric Sheridan turned her marker to clip over an equally brilliant point from a difficult angle. Stradbally soon settled into the game and got their account up and running with a point of their own before adding a well taken goal. The Shamrocks response was a point from Clodagh O’Keeffe, with the game now being played at a frantic pace, and both sides missing good goalscoring chances the defences were under relentless pressure from the pacy forwards on both sides. Stradbally however soon made their pressure count by adding a further 1-01. Shamrocks were now struggling to keep pace, but inspirational midfielder Katelyn McCarthy came thundering into the game by producing one of her trademark runs that finished with a piledriver that was parried by the Stradbally goalkeeper. The quickest to react to the breaking ball was Shamrocks goal machine Robyn McLaughlin who poked the ball to the net from close range, displaying her now renowned predatory instincts, right player in the right place. Half-time Score: Stradbally 2-02 Shamrocks 1-03.
In a first half where the Shamrocks defence struggled to cope with the Stradbally forwards Mia Condon and Leah O’Donovan were introduced at half-time in an effort to curtail that threat. Stradbally still started the second half the stronger and added two points in the opening minutes to stretch their advantage. At the other end the solid Stradbally rear-guard were snuffing out the opportunities being created by the Shamrocks forwards. It was looking ominous as Stradbally began to turn the screw as they camped themselves in the Shamrocks half of the pitch in search of the scores to put the game beyond an overworked Shamrocks defence. But this was no ordinary defence, any team brilliantly led by joint captain Katie Mangan will be hard to break down. And this proved to be the case, everything Stradbally threw at her the Shamrocks Number 3 repelled with equal enthusiasm. At centre back the consistently brilliant Sophie McCarthy covered every blade of grass on the pitch as she swept up countless Stradbally advances into Shamrocks territory. The defining moment in the game came when a breath-taking save from Ella Daly prevented Stradbally scoring a certain goal. The entire Shamrocks team seemed to take inspiration from the brilliance of their goalkeeper, who was once again producing the heroics between the posts.
And like a wave the Shamrocks energy and resurgence emerged. All over the pitch the work rate increased, gaining possession and making it count. Passes were right on the money and it was now Stradbally who were on the back foot. Three unanswered points, two from Alyson Murphy and one from Katelyn McCarthy in quick succession put the minimum between the teams. One point down, and two minutes remaining there was still time for late drama, enter Alyson Murphy. Substitutes Kayla Cronin and Kayla Dunne combined brilliantly to feed the ball to the Shamrocks wing forward whose slalomed solo run opened the Stradbally defence like Moses’ parting of the Red Sea. The finish was exquisite, a powerful shot despite the efforts of the despairing Stradbally goalkeeper shook the net as Shamrocks nosed ahead. A further late point added in injury time left a goal between the sides and with little time to recover Stradbally were unable to get the goal needed to force extra time. Once again, against the odds these young Shamrocks girls found a way to edge out a thrilling final. Final score: Shamrocks 2-07 Stradbally 2-04.
After the game WLGFA Chairperson John Frewen presented the U13 Plate to Shamrocks joint captains Katie Mangan and Robyn McLoughlin to the cheers of the large Shamrocks support.
Team: Ella Daly, Ciara Martin, Katie Mangan, Louise Moloney, Sophie McCarthy, Saoirse Massey, Millie Keane, Katelynn McCarthy, Aifric Sheridan, Clodagh O’Keeffe, Alyson Murphy, Robyn McLaughlin, Caoimhe Sheridan, Amy Power, Bonnie McLaughlin, Caoimhe O’Connell, Josie Cash, Kayla Cronin, Kayla Dunne, Leah O’Donovan, Mia Condon, Sadie Keane, Elizabeth Smith, Cara Morrisson.
U15 DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
Our U15s made it three wins from three last Wednesday evening in the U15 Development League when we hosted Abbeyside in Knockanore. There was nothing between the teams early on with Shamrocks adding on some early points. The highlight of the first half without doubt were two 45s kicked directly over the bar from the ground by Shamrocks midfielder Amelie Quann, a rarity at any level of ladies Gaelic football. The first goal of the game was scored by Shamrocks full forward Emma Power with wing forward Bronagh Motherway adding two well executed points just before half-time. To their credit Abbeyside fought back and hit a purple patch in the second half scoring 2-04 without reply. However Amelie Quann finished the game in impressive style scoring a hat-trick of goals in the closing minutes to leave the Final score: Shamrocks 5-18 Abbeyside 3-06. That result sees us through to the U15 Cup Final next Sunday where we take on Portlaw/ Ballyduff who are also unbeaten in their three games. Before that both sides meet this Wednesday evening in Ballyduff Lower in the final round of group games before meeting again next Sunday.
JUNIOR SEMI-FINAL Shamrocks 9-10 Portlaw/Ballyduff 0-08
Just eleven months after losing out in a thirty metre kick shootout our juniors find themselves back in the Junior County Final after producing a fantastic performance in their semi-final against Portlaw/Ballyduff in Knockanore last Sunday morning. Throughout the championship the ability of the team to score goals seems to be the decisive factor, and this was the case last Sunday morning. With Rachel Roche bursting forward in the opening minute and finishing to the net it set the trend for the remainder of the game. Further first half goals scored by Catherine Hynes, Kate Sheehan, Neesha Whelan (2) and Aobhla Motherway opened up a half time score of Shamrocks 6-07 Portlaw/Ballyduff 0-06.
Having got off to the worst possible start credit must go to a Portlaw/ Ballyduff team who matched their opponents for long periods. For a team who are competing in their first season in the adult grade they have been outstanding and deserve huge praise for finishing fourth from the eight teams in the competition and earn their place in the semi-final stages. But for the prolific finishing of the Shamrocks forwards the margin would have been a lot less than the score line produced and it wasn’t a fair reflection on the balance of the game.
Two Niamh Spillane points and goals from Neesha Whelan and Catherine Hynes extended the Shamrocks lead in the second half. As prolific as the Shamrocks forwards were the defence was equally frugal with Jessica McSweeney outstanding at fullback all season. The Shamrocks half-back line of Emma Roche, Áine O’Donovan and Doireann Ormonde stood up to everything thrown at them by Portlaw/Ballyduff and in the end we comfortably advanced to the County Final. In the other semi-final Kilrossanty/Brickies got the better of Ballysaggart by a one point margin in a close game played in Bushy Park.
JUNIOR COUNTY FINAL
Junior County Final Fixture: Shamrocks v Kilrossanty/Brickies which will be played in Dungarvan GAA Grounds at 2pm on Saturday, October 1st.
U8S - U10S
In what was a busy weekend for Shamrocks LGFA our U8s and U10s welcomed St Catherines and Castlelyons to Knockanore last Sunday evening. Our U8s played St Catherines and our U10s played Castlelyons in what turned out to be two very entertaining games with some great football played by all four teams. A big thanks to Thomas Baldwin (Baldwins Farmhouse Ice-Cream) for generously providing ice-cream to all the teams afterwards which was really appreciated by everyone!