Report by Sophie Geary:

The odds were stacked against the Shamrocks U15 girls as they travelled to Grenagh, having already suffered defeat to the same side earlier in the summer league. But this time, the Shamrocks arrived determined, 30 players togged out and ready to fight as underdogs. What followed was a spirited, thrilling performance that will live long in memory.

Shamrocks started strong, but the Grenagh girls matched them stride for stride. Shamrocks growing in confidence as the half wore on. At half time Shamrocks led 17 points to 8 points, thanks to sharp scoring and tireless defensive work. The second half brought even more excitement as both teams pushed hard, but it was Shamrocks who held firm, securing a 29 points to 22 points full-time victory.

Molly Geary and Aoibheann Behan stood out on defense, supported by Georgia Bartlett, Maisie Hanna, Kate Nolan, and Ellie Tagg, who covered ground relentlessly.

In midfield, captain Lexie O’Riordan and Lucy O’Brien were a dominant pairing, linking play superbly. Up front, the combination of Lucy O’Neill and Lucy O’Brien proved lethal, consistently finding scores for Shamrocks. They were joined by a spread of scorers including Isabel Dorney, Anna Sweeney, Ruby O’Neill, Rossana Long, and Saoirse Larkin, all of whom converted lovely points to keep the scoreboard ticking. One of the highlights of the day came when Saoirse Larkin handpassed the ball over the bar in the second half, drawing loud cheers from the travelling support.

Grenagh, to their credit, never gave up and forced Shamrocks to dig deep until the final whistle. The game was rounded out with solid contributions from the bench, as Farrah Barrett came on for Ruby O’Neill and Katie Calnan replaced Saoirse Larkin, both adding fresh energy in the closing stages.

As the final whistle blew, the Shamrocks girls celebrated a hard-fought and well-deserved victory, showing grit, teamwork, and skill in abundance. From underdogs to winners, this was truly a glorious day for the green and white.

A huge thank you must go to the Shamrocks management team -Alan Geary, Deirdre Behan, Jamie Sweeney, and John Foy – whose incredible dedication, encouragement, and hard work have been the backbone of this U15 girls’ success. Their commitment on and off the field has guided the team through challenges and helped shape this memorable victory.

A special thanks to Sarah and the staff of the Ferry Boat Inn, for hosting the celebrations and a special mention to Farah Barrett, a fellow teammate, for the amazing music played!

Team: Emma Fenny, Ellie Tagg, Molly Geary, Kate Nolan, Maisie Hanna, Aoibheann Behan, Georgia Bartlett, Lexie O’Riordan, Lucy O’Brien, Isabel Dorney, Lucy O’Neill, Ruby O’Neill, Anna Sweeney, Rosanna Long, Saoirse Larkin

Subs Used: Farah Barrett, Katie Calnan