Shannagh shines
Helps IT Carlow to league success
SHANNAGH Goetelen has described winning the division two league title with IT Carlow as the perfect start to 2020, after helping the college to the triumph over Cork Institute of Technology last week. Following a dramatic, backand-forth contest that saw both sides trade the advantage going into the closing stages, it was the Carlow school that ultimately came out on top; edging out CIT on a score of 1-12 to 1-11.
Reflecting on the win, Goetelen said that she couldn’t have picked a better way to start the new year.
‘We were all so happy. The girls out there, most of them are in third year and have never won a league title before, so they were over the moon. Us little first years, there are only seven or eight of us.
‘What a start to 2020!’ she told the Wicklow People.
Despite scoring a goal early in the second-half of the contest to seemingly give themselves breathing room from CIT, IT Carlow would find themselves staring at defeat going into the final few minutes, courtesy of a goal and series of Cork points that gave them a twopoint lead.
While admitting that the players were frustrated by the late dramatics, Goetelen said that they still believed that they had the qualities to salvage matters.
‘I started tearing up. I was like, ‘oh, my God, not now.’ All of the girls were in shock, but we got our heads together. It was very frustrating but there was nothing we could do. It was done, we had to push on.
‘We had to show that we had a lot of mental strength, because something like that can make you give up. We were very determined. We knew we were better.’
Her title win with IT Carlow comes off the back of a 2019 that could not have gone much better for Goetelen, from an on-field perspective.
A dual-star with Knockananna camogie and Tinahely senior football, Shannagh helped the former get to a senior county final – ultimately losing to Donard Glen – while also being part of the latter’s historic winning of a fifth consecutive county title.
Looking back on the year that was, she said that making history with Tinahely was an easy highlight, while insisting that Knockananna would come back stronger next season.
‘I am so lucky to have the teams that I have around me. I couldn’t be here without half the girls. They’re just so amazing.
‘They inspire you, because they have been winning for so long. I would be one of the young ones on the team, and I am just there trying to continue their winning streak.
‘With Knockananna, we will definitely want to get the championship and the league back. We have never been more determined. We have a few girls back who gave up for a year of two. We are looking stronger.’