" Aaaand still..."

Shrone girls are East Kerry girls five-a-side champions. 

Having been absent for the last two years, there was glorious return to girls football in Barraduff community field this morning. The Shrone girls showed no signs of fatigue after the long weekend to convincingly defeat Hollymount and Glenflesk and retain the cup that they had held since pre-pandemic times. The panel, in no particular order, Jessica Doherty, Eabhla Murphy, Beatrice Leonard, Roisín McAuliffe,  Danielle Buckley,  Aoibhinn Creedon, 

Laura Cronin, Grace O Sullivan and Isabella O  Brien. The first opponents were a young Hollymount side while Shrone lined out with Jessica in goal, Aoibheann in backs, Grace and Roisín midfield and Beatrice in the forwards. From throw in Grace and Roisín had a dominant display and made it count on the scoreboard racking up 2 goals and 3 points while solid defending from Aoibhinn ensured Hollymount were held scoreless until half time. Beatrice enjoyed her first start for Shrone and made sure no ball came out easily from the Hollymount defence." 

The second half saw a flurry of changes and substitutions with Jessica Doherty moving out the field and getting her name on the score sheet, with time running out and Shrone holding a comfortable lead the management emptied the bench and all players saw action. As we have come to expect Hollymount never gave up and played bravely to.the final whistle,  from small acorns grow mighty oaks and in  few years there will be a veritable forest of footballers and the slopes of Caherbarnagh.

Glenflesk promised to be a much bigger challenge   a far older and more experienced team saw off Hollymount leaving a straight shootout between Shrone and Glenflesk to claim the East Kerry crown. 

Jessica Doherty started in goal, Isabella O Brien started in the backs, Danielle Buckley in midfield and Éabhla Murphy in the forwards. Glenflesk being reduced to 4 players due to absence requiring a 4 a side formation. 

This was a much tenser and tighter affair, Eabhla Murphy opened the scoring with two well taken points but Glenflesk responded with one of their own,  and only some excellent defending from Isabella and Jessica in goal kept Shrone in front, Danielle Buckley was outstanding in midfield winning the majority of possession and contributing with some scores of her own however Shrone failed to take goal scoring opportunities when they arose and at halftime it was five points to Shrone, two to Glenflesk- anyone's game! 

The strength of the Shrone squad became a major factor in the second half, the day was hot and there is no place to hide and rest in a 4-a-side game. Shrone began rotating players in and every sub that came on made a difference, Grace of Sullivan in the forwards scored the first goal of the game which seemed to stuck the life out of Glenflesk,  Roisin McAuliffe entered the fray to allow Danielle catch her breath and did a fine job of delivering the ball to the forward line Grace O Sullivan getting her second goal. Laura came in a cover for the exhausted Isabella and she was first to every ball. The quality of this Shrone squad cannot be understated. Glenflesk attempted to rally and managed to get a goal but Shrone kept the pressure on and at the final whistle the score was 3 -9  to 1-2. Shrone will now advance to the next round of the competition and they await to see who their opposition will be.