Longford Slashers 4-11 Mullinahone 2-8
Grace Shannon struck a brace of goals to propel Longford Slashers towards an emphatic victory against Mullinahone in the All-Ireland intermediate club championship decider at Croke Park on Saturday.
This was a historic triumph at GAA HQ as Slashers became the first team from the O’Farrell County to claim national success at adult club level in women’s football.
“I said after the All-Ireland semi-final, if you could bottle this feeling, you’d be a millionaire. I think I’ve just topped that feeling again, it’s incredible,” said joint manager Conor Clarke. We knew that we’d more gears in us and in fairness to the girls, every one of them today, they just took the challenge on and just absolutely relished being out there today. Fair play to them.
“Usually we’re slow starters, that sometimes we feel our way into the game. It just opened up for us and I knew that if we had space in a big open pitch in Croke Park, we’d get that opportunity. I just didn’t think it would come as quick. In the second half, our last goal just sums up what football we’re able to play and what football the girls are able to play.”
Slashers had enjoyed a dream start as team captain Aisling Cosgrove poked the ball home for a fourth-minute goal following a precise pass from Kara Shannon.
While this was an early setback for Mullinahone, the Munster champions did get up and running with two frees courtesy of Lorraine O’Shea. The tie remained delicately poised as a result of traded points between Slashers wing back Clare Farrell and opposition attacker Aoibhe O’Shea (sister of Lorraine), before the Longford side created additional daylight through Jessica Barry and marauding defender Orla Nevin.
There was even more reason for Slashers to be cheerful on 23 minutes, when a speculative effort from Grace Shannon crept into the back of the Mullinahone net.
The impressive Nevin subsequently broke forward for a second point and while Lorraine O’Shea knocked over another free at the far end of the Jones’ Road venue, Slashers ultimately led 2-4 to 0-4 at the interval.
This six-point gap remained intact after dead-ball specialists Lorraine O’Shea and Barry cancelled out each other on the resumption, but the Longford and Leinster supremos pulled further in front with a mini scoring blitz.
Preceding a point by wing forward Kyana Lee, Grace Shannon got on the end of an intricate team move to clinically secure her second goal of the contest.
Although Aoibhe O’Shea interrupted this sequence with a fine point, unanswered scores from sisters Kate (two) and Grace Shannon left Mullinahone with too much of a mountain to climb.
Moving into the final quarter, Aoibhe O’Shea and Kate Shannon swapped points in advance of Nevin rattling the net in ruthless fashion.
The tireless Lorraine O’Shea did offer Mullinahone considerable solace with superbly-taken goals in the 52nd and 56th minutes, but even though Chloe Gunn bagged a late point, last season’s All-Ireland junior finalists couldn’t deny the magnificent Slashers.
“I’m devastated for the girls. They’re absolutely broken-hearted, but they are a very good side,” said Mullinahone manager, Mary O’Shea.
“We’ve just lost two All-Irelands in one year. It’s hard to take, but I’m proud of those girls. They’re a great bunch of girls.”
Longford Slashers: E Casey; L Kenny, E Reilly, G Kenny; O Nevin (1-2), E O’Brien, C Farrell (0-1); A O’Brien, A Cosgrove (1-0); L Nolan, G Shannon (2-0), K Lee (0-1); Kate Shannon (0-4), J Barry (0-2, two frees), Kara Shannon (0-1).
Subs: J Glennon for Nolan (49 mins), G O’Donnell for L Kenny (52 mins).
Mullinahone: A Browning; E Horan, G Horan, A O’Brien; E Cody, M Walsh, J Brett; N Shelly, D Gaule; M Kenneally, L Dowling, K Egan; C Gunn (0-1), A O’Shea (0-3), L O’Shea (2-4, four frees).
Subs: L White for Egan (43 mins), A Langton for Dowling (51 mins), A Moloney for G Horan, C Egan for Kenneally, M Gillman for Gunn (all 59 mins).
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).
