LGF Under-16 Div.1, Final: Mullingar Shamrocks 5-19 Goldsmiths 6-12 

Van Morrison might sing about ‘Days Like This’ but in our 73 years history we  have experienced very few days to match what happened in Castledaly on Tuesday evening. This was simply wonderful, a victory for the ages. An underage LGF classic played by two superbly coached teams. 

Goldsmiths enjoyed the benefit of the strong breeze and hill in the first half and carved out a twelve point lead at the interval. Shamrocks opened the scoring with their first attack when Moya Kilmartin volleyed over the crossbar, Goldsmiths responded with a point from Emma Whittaker. A neat point by Emily Maguire   restored the Shamrocks lead before Grace Reilly pointed a difficult free to level matters.  Some great work by Alexa Gavigan created a great goal scoring opportunity but Moya Kilmartin was unable to finish on this occasion. Great combined play by Emily Maguire and Alexa Gavigan ended with Moya Kilmartin finishing for a point and after ten minutes Shamrocks held an 0-3 to 0-2 lead. A superb two-pointer free from Grace Reilly was followed by an equalising free by Moya Kilmartin in the fifteenth minute (0-4 each). This proved to be Shamrocks final score of the half as Goldsmiths turned their early dominance into scores.  Points from Isobel Staunton and Alannah Murray secured an 0-6 to 0-4 lead for Goldsmiths after twenty minutes.  This was a very satisfactory position for Shamrocks in view of the conditions and required some heroic defending by all six defenders led by captain Ellie O’ Donnell, Alice Geelon and Keela Doran and good goalkeeping by Emily Ford and ferocious work by our midfielders. Good defending starts in the forward line and our forwards never failed in their commitment to the tackle. Pressurised defending forced errors from the Goldsmith forwards whose accumulation of early wides proved costly in the end.  Alexa Gavigan’s contribution at this stage was also vital as her solo running ability kept the Goldsmiths defenders fully occupied.  However, Goldsmiths eventually managed to open the Shamrocks defence and goals from Erin Rattray, Grace Reilly and a great solo run by Alannah Murray that ended with a point added seven points to the Goldsmiths lead. Minutes later Murray reprised the solo running skill and finished by shooting past Emily Ford to give Goldsmiths a twelve-point interval lead (3-7 to 0-4).  

Normally there is no recovery from a twelve-point deficit but there is nothing normal about this band of sisters. The bond between the girls is powerful and they have developed a certain expertise at winning closely fought games over the past few years. The winning habit is a great one.  Shamrocks attacked from the break and within two minutes had the ball in the Goldsmiths net twice courtesy of Moya Kilmartin with Keela Doran and Alex Gavigan contributing to the creation of both scores. However, Alannah Murray repeated her solo-running act and broke through for her second goal and the third of the opening two minutes. Alexa Gavigan and Grace Reilly exchanged points, Moya Kilmartin pointed a free and then had what seemed to be legitimate claims for a penalty ignored. Suzi Corroon kept the scoreboard ticking with a point but the comeback was halted when Isobel Staunton shot to the net. Despite all the fine play, Shamrocks trailed by 5-8 to 2-7 after 45 minutes. 

There was no surrender and points by Orla Nohilly (0-2) and Suzi Corroon clipped three points from the lead. Thanks to the dominance of the midfield diamond of Keela Doran, Alannah Burke, Sara Hannify and Orla Nohilly supported by a superb Florence Geelon, Shamrocks poured forward and twice in quick succession had the ball in the Godsmiths net but both scores were ruled out for square infringements. There was also a glaring miss at this stage as well as some solid goalkeeping by Rachel Goulding.  These potential killer-blows were ignored by the girls and their determination was rewarded in the 55th minute when Moya Kilmartin converted a penalty and reduced the deficit to four points (5-8 to 3-10).  We dared to dream. Moya pointed a free and Orla Nohilly showing fierce determination broke through and blasted to the net for the equalising goal (4-11 to 5-8). An apparently impossible recovery was completed. There was no let-up. Shamrocks pushed forward in search of a winner and gained possession from the restart. An infraction provided Moya Kilmartin with a match winning opportunity and the ice-cool forward split the posts with a superb strike. Goldsmiths responded as might be expected from a fine team and recycled possession before an infraction presented Grace Reilly with a chance to level. Grace’s’s difficult free was good but hit the post, the rebound was collected by Alannah Murray  whose shot was scrambled clear. Eventually, Grace Reilly regained possession and kicked a fine equalising point in the 64th minute. Emily Ford’s restart was accompanied by the final whistle with the scoreboard reading 4-12 to 5-9. 

Extra-time provided one more test of the Shamrock girls resolve as Goldsmiths playing against the wind raced into a four-point lead with a goal from Isobel Staunton and a point from Grace Reilly. Shamrocks defended brilliantly and an Orla Nohilly point lifted the siege created by a great pass from Zara Hannify. Moya pointed a free and Orla Nohilly gained possession from the restart and sent Clodagh Keane through for a vital goal. The second-half substitute made a huge contribution to this win with her superb tackling and work-rate. Moya gained possession from the restart and pointed. In this crucial minute of play, Shamrocks wiped out the deficit and at the interval led by 5-15 to 6-10. 

From the throw-in, Isobel Staunton and Grace Reilly combined and the latter pointed and cut the deficit to the minimum. ‘Danger here’, as George Hamilton might say but the Shamrocks girls dismissed the threat.  A great turnover by Florence Geelon began a combined move involving Alexa and Clodagh that was finished by Moya Kilmartin for a point. Alexa Gavigan pointed and Moya Kilmartin pointed from play and from a free to bring her total to 3-11, not a bad evening’s work. Playing against the wind, Shamrocks outscored Goldsmiths 0-4 to 0-1 and the title was virtually secured. The final score belonged to Alannah Murray who pointed for Goldsmiths. 

After 84 minutes of a match that was a superb LGF game, the Mullingar Shamrocks girls had secured a victory that seemed unlikely after the opening 30 minutes.  A victory for the club that has successfully operated as ONE club for several years, appropriate perhaps on the day that the question of integration was catapulted on to the national consciousness by the resignation of Dr. Mary McAleese. 

Full credit to our Management team of Carole Finch, Lisa Burke, Emma Morris and Aeilish McGovern.  Their dedication and commitment is exemplary and as coaches they insist on high standards and set the targets at the highest level. Their results validate their great work. 

Mullingar Shamrocks: Emily Ford; Layla Dowd [Mary Lyons], Ellie O’Donnell, Alice Geelon; Ava Sheehan, Keela Doran, Sarah Cosgrave; Alannah Burke, Sara Hannify (Eilis Nohilly); Florence Geelon, Orla Nohilly (1-3); Abi  Matthews [Clodagh Keane, 1-0]; Emily Maguire (0-1) {Suzi Corroon, 0-2], Alexa Gavigan (0-2), Moya Kilmartin (3-11). Other panelists, all who contributed to the championship during the year: Ece Ozdemir, Aida Glover, Aoibh McCann, Kate O’Donoghue, Saoirse Clinton, Elsa Bird, Lily Rose Rock. 

Management: Carole Finch, Lisa Burke, Emma Morris, Aeilish McGovern.