The panel of players together with their mentors and club officers departed Castlebridge at 6-30am on Friday 29th June arriving in Letrim in plenty of time for their first round game against their host club Annaduff/Bornacoola. The game was played in Annaduff at 2pm. This game was a very one sided affair with the half time score 8-04 to 0-01.
At the start of the second half Shelmalier made a number of changes brining on 7 subs none the less Annaduff/Bornacoola failed to register a score in the second half. The score at the final whistle was Shelmalier 12-04 Annaduff/Bornacoola 0-1. Scores for Shelmalier came from Siobhan Cloake (2-1) Rachel O’Brien (2-1) Jean Devoy (2-01) Clara Donnelly (2-0) Niamh Doyle (2-0) Kelly Kearney (1-0) Katie Lillis (1-0) Hannah Duggan (0-01). Following the game the girls were taken to meet their host families prior to the Club participating in the Feile Parade in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Their 2nd group game versus Cloone Co.Leitrim was at 10-15am on Saturday. The half time score in this game was Shelmalier 6-04 Cloone 0-0. As in the first game Shelmalier made a number of changes bringing on a number of subs. Final score was Shelmalier 7-09 Cloone 0-0. Scorers for Shelmalier were; Rachel O’ Brien (3-0) Aine Lacey (1-2) Jean Devoy (1-0) Clara Donnelly (1-01) Siobhan Cloake (1-01) Ellie Carley (0-01) Gemma Mc Cabe (0-02) Adele Campbell (0-02). Following this game Geraldine Giles President of Ladies Football Association and Bernadette Clancy of Leitrim Feile committee visited Annaduff pitch to present the best banner award to Shelmalier Club. Helen O’Rourke C.E.O. and Ita Hannon National Fixtures Secretary visited the Club in the morning and spoke to the players.
Shelmalier final group game was versus St. Paul’s of Antrim and was played at 12.30pm on Saturday 30th. This was the game Shelmalier had to win to book their place in the Division 3 Semi Final. This was a much more competitive game with the half time score Shelmalier 2-2 St. Paul’s 1-0. With the Shelmalier defense working very hard St. Paul’s only managed 1point in the second half. Final score Shelmalier 3-07 St. Paul’s 1-1. Scorers for Shelmalier were; Siobhan Cloake (1-04) Rachel O’Brien (2-01) Katie Lillis (0-01) Adele Campbell (0-01). Shelmalier Mentors and panel were very happy to have secured their semi-final place.
Prior to the Semi-Final Siobhan Cloake who had earlier in the day won the group skills competition competed in the skills semi-final and was declared winner of the Division 3 skills and booked her place in the skills All-Ireland Final.
Annaduff was also the venue for the Division 3 semi-final. In the first semi final Cahir (Tipperary) defeated Roche Emmets (Louth) and the 2nd semi final saw Shelmalier play Arklow Geraldine’s of Wicklow. The Shelmalier mentors and team knew that this was going to be a tough match as they had played each other in friendly over the last two years. Final Score in the Semi-Final Shelmalier (1-03) Arklow Geraldine’s (0-04).
Scorers: Aine Lacey (1-0) Siobhan Cloake (0-02) Jean Devoy (0-01) this result saw Shelmalier book a place in the All-Ireland Feile Final for the 3rd time. Wining the inaugural Ladies final in 1994 and defeated by St. Brendan’s of Galway in Tipperary in 2001.
Sunday 30th in Pairce Sean Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon the feile final Shelmalier v Cahir (Tipperary). As in the Semi-Final this was a very good game of two evenly matched teams. With the half time score Shelmalier (2-05) Cahir (1-03). The final score was Shelmalier (2-05) Cahir (1-05). None the less the second half was equally as exciting with some brilliant football played by the girls. It was with great pride Shelmalier team lead by captain and goalie supreme walked up the steps to the stand in Pairce Sean Mac Diarmada to collect the All-Ireland Trophy and to introduce the Shelmalier panel of players to the attendance and the President of Ladies Gaelic Football Association Geraldine Giles and the G.A.A. President Nicky Brennan. The Shelmalier Club are very proud of our panel of players who all played superb. Lill Roche, Adele Campbell Dannielle Lacey, Shauna Murphy, Andrea Furlong, Eleanor Neville, Kelly Kearney, Clara Donnelly, Siobhan Cloak, Ellie Carley, Rachel O’Brien, Jean Devoy , Aine Lacey, Niamh Doyle, Hannah Duggan, Ciara Neville, Katie Lillis, Gemma Mc Cabe, Niamh Boland, Dervla Potter, Katie Kehoe, Lora Davison, Ciara Roche, Roisin Tobin, Ciara Corrrigan, Shauna Murphy.
The skills final took place at 1-30 on Sunday 1st July. Siobhan Cloake the Division 3 skills winner came in second in the final this was a great achievement for a 13 year old who had played in an All-Ireland final one hour previous.
Shelmalier Club acknowledges the work done by the Mentors: Brid Curran, Marguerite Murphy, Billy Donnelly, Andrew Furlong and Benny Mc Cabe (trainer). The Club extend sincere thank you to the under 14 team sponsors Mahon & Fox and to all the people who contributed towards the Feile expenses.
To parents and supporters who traveled the long journey, Peadar and Mai O’Connor Wexford Ladies Football County Board, to the clubs and individuals who sent messages of support, to all our players and Club management and to the people of the parish who turned up in large numbers in Castlebridge, Screen and Curracloe to welcome home our hero’s a sincere thank you.