Simonstown Ladies Newsletter

Simonstown Ladies News!

October 2016

Inaugural Junior C title for Juniors!

Junior C Championship
Final:

Simonstown 3-16
Oldcastle 2-08

Oldcastle were the only side Inside this Issue
to defeat the Navan girls in
the group stages of the com- A first for Simonstown 1
petition. However, Si-
monstown arrived at the
Skryne venue fully deter-
mined to avenge that defeat
and take the competition
silverware.

On the night, Oldcastle were Minors top of the pile! 2
the first team out of the
blocks with two well taken Junior C Captain Laura Barrett accepts the Junior C cup 16s Shield Champions 2
points. After twelve minutes From Fearghal Harney MLGF Chairperson
wing forward Rachael Flynn Super 10s 2
finally broke the deadlock for
her side with a terrific point. soon after with more points to logun, Mollie Byrne, Lauryn Meet your Captains 3
Slowly but steadily the Si- further widen the gap. Mollie Grier, Rachael Flynn, Tara
monstown ladies were start- Byrne grabbed her side’s third Berrigan, Ann-Marie Car- Senior status retained 4
ing to settle. Flynn and full goal with ten minutes remain- ragher
forward Tara Berrigan then ing with an emphatic finish to Subs: Sara O’Sullivan, 14s have tough year 4
slotted over a further six seal the deal. Sinead Mooney, Caoimhe
points between them before At the back for Simonstown Leddy, Lana Wardick, Eunice Kelly & Ellies 12s 4
the break to leave it seven Grainne Harrington and cap- Ayelobola, Evelyn Ayelobola, County Scene 4
points to three. In reality tain Laura Barrett marshalled Megan Gorman, Rachel Abu,
there was very little to sepa- a defence which gave their Orla Conlon, Matilda Ryan, Simonstown Training
rate the sides at this point. opponents little room to ma- Eimear Flanagan. Times:
noeuvre. Goalkeeper Laura
Mollie Byrne opened her McCabe’s kick outs always A perfect finish to an enjoy- U10
team’s account in the second found their targets while at able campaign! Monday 6 - 7pm
half with a well finished point midfield Alanagh Lyons and
on the run. Rachel Flynn, on Meabh Hanrahan kept a U13
the half forward line was steady supply of quality ball Monday 6.15pm
really “in the zone” through- going in to a lively Si-
out this contest and she monstown forward line where U15
bagged two goals early in the Berrigan, Grier, Byrne and Monday 6.15pm
second half to really break player of the match Flynn
the Oldcastle resistance. The were a constant threat Minor
first of these superbly crafted throughout. Tuesday 7.50 - 9pm
efforts came after great ap-
proach play from Lauryn Simonstown: Player of the Match Senior
Grier and Flynn bagged her Laura McCabe, Pauline Rachael Flynn Have finished for the present but will be
second minutes later with Flanagan, Grainne Harrington,
Tara Berrigan the provider. Laura Barrett (Captain), Emily resuming in mid November
McAteer, Aoife Farrell,
By this stage the momentum Leanne Harris, Meabh Hanra-
was fully with the Navan girls. han, Alanagh Lyons, Anu Ba-
Meabh Hanrahan, Grier, Ber-
rigan, Byrne and substitute
Lana Wardick all chipped in

Page 2 Simonstown Ladies News!

That winning feeling!!

Perfect start to year as Minors Claim 2015 Title!

Minor Championship Final (2015) This was an outstanding display of football
Simonstown v Boardsmill with all bar 3 of the panel eligible for minor
Monday May 2nd 2016 again in 2016. It was great to see the team-
Simonstown 8 - 06 work and support play displayed by this team.
Boardsmill 2 - 05 There were great performances from some of
the younger girls (Aoife Farrell and Meabh
Hanrahan) to the ever reliable Nicole Byrne in
Simonstown Minors helped themselves to the goals and Rachel Gardiner who was playing a
first trophy of the year when they had a com- true captains role until forced off through
prehensive victory over rivals Boardsmill. It injury in the first half.
took Lauryn Grier just forty seconds to rattle There were strong performances also from
the back of the Boardsmill net. Regina Hand and Shona Lister and it was

great to see Emma Cassidy play her first
This set the precedent for the game as Si- competitive game since the 2014 minor final
monstown forwards found the net on a total of due to a long layoff with a knee injury. Minor Captain Rachel Gardiner accepts
eight occasions throughout the match. the 2015 Minor Championship cup from

MLGF Chairperson Fearghal Harney

U16 Division 1 Shield Champions 2016

Find us on Facebook at U16s capture the Shield!
Simonstownladies Lgfa
The Simonstown U16 girls enjoyed a productive
campaign in the Spring competition. This was a
strong Simonstown team throughout the Division
one competition and they were actually very
unlucky to lose to eventual Cup Winners Dunboyne
at the semi final stage, by four points.

Thankfully, despite that loss the girls were still in the
Shield Final where they ran out eventual winners,
comfortably seeing off the Ratoath challenge in Bec-
tive on the 15th of May on a scoreline of 4-12 to 8
points.
The team was captained by Matilda Ryan with
Megan Gorman as vice captain.

Our U10 team competed this year in the Super 10s those only new to the club we averaged 20
Under 10 Central Division playing a total -30 players at each training session.
of 9 games. This shows the commitment these girls
This division was very strong this year and have given to Sarah and myself (Niall)
with 5 home games and 4 away games since we started training before Christmas
against teams from Dunboyne, Skryne, last year and the way they have all im-
Walterstown, Royal Gaels, Wolfe Tones, proved during this time is a credit to their
Navan O’Mahonys, Seneschalstown, Trim hard work.
and Clann na NGael our girls more than We are immensely proud of each and
held their own and proved they can com- every one of them and it has been a pleas-
pete at a very high standard. ure to coach them.
Over the league campaign we had a panel
of approximately 15 players for the games We look forward to continuing to work
and when you add in the younger girls and with these girls and to help them develop

Simonstown Ladies News! Page 3

Meet your Captains

Simonstown Senior Captain - Kelly Harris

First Game for Club: I can’t remember my Song that makes you get up and dance:
first ever game for Simonstown, I was about 8 When you’re looking like that - Westlife
years old Favourite item of clothing: My Simonstown
Hobbies outside of Ladies Football: Watch- half-zip
ing Arsenal play and watching movies and Favourite Saying or Quote: ‘It’s not the size
reading of the man but the size of his heart that mat-
Toughest Opponent: Orlaith Duff - Dee ters.’
Rangers Celebrity Crush: Tom Hardy
Favourite Female Player: Carla Rowe - Superpower you would like to have: Invisi-
Dub lin bility
Best memory in ladies football so far: Funniest Team-mate: Eve Wardick
Captaining the Loreto Senior team to the All- Funniest Moment in a game, at a game or
Ireland Final in 2014 and winning at training:
Biggest Disappointment in your football When we were asked before a game how we
career: feel when we lose and Eve said seriously ‘I do
Losing the Semi-Final by a point at Feile and be buzzing’ because she thought she was
the losing the Junior All Ireland Final in 2013! asked how it feels when we win.
Words of advice for younger players: Don’t If you had to be an animal what would it be
be too hard on yourself. and why: Giraffe because I’d be taller
Ambitions for 2016: To win the Senior One thing you like about the game: That
Championship your teammates become your family
Sportsperson you would most like to meet: One thing you would like to change about
Thierry Henry the game: That Ladies football got more rec-
Ideal Car: Range Rover ognition

Simonstown Junior Captain - Laura Barrett

First Game for Club: u10 v Ratoath Sportsperson you would most like to If you had to be an animal what would
2009 meet: Katie Taylor it be and why: a cheetah so I'd be able to
Hobbies outside of Ladies Football: Ideal Car: White Range Rover run faster as I'm not the fastest!
Drawing, Reading Song that makes you get up and dance: One thing you like about the game: 10
Toughest Opponent: Dunboyne cheap thrills, Sia minute sin bin for the yellow card
Favourite Female Player: Cora Staun- Favourite item of clothing: trusty con-
ton, Mayo verse shoes
Best memory in ladies football so far: Favourite Saying or Quote: In the End
Winning Féile Peil na nÓg 2012 Division we only regret the chances we didn't take
2, first team from Meath to win! Celebrity Crush: Zac Efron
Biggest Disappointment in your foot- Superpower you would like to have:
ball career: Not getting to Féile Peil na Invisibility
nÓg 2013 Funniest Team-mate: They're all hilari-
Words of advice for younger players: ous in their own ways!
practice, Practice, PRACTICE! Funniest Moment in a game, at a game
Ambitions for 2016: To do well in the or at training: Everyone's reactions to
Division One Minor Championship and celebratory VERY hot curry after win-
Junior C! ning finals
Sportsperson you would most like to If you had to be an animal what would
meet: Katie Taylor it be and why: a cheetah so I'd be able to
Ideal Car: White Range Rover run faster as I'm not the fastest!
Song that makes you get up and dance: One thing you like about the game: 10
cheap thrills, Sia minute sin bin for the yellow card
Favourite item of clothing: trusty con-
verse shoes

Senior championship status retained!

County Scene

Simonstown Ladies Seniors retained their Senior Champion- Simonstown Ladies have been very lucky in recent
ship status despite being plagued by injury throughout the years to have had plenty of representation on the
competition. The Ladies were hoping to reach a semi-final Meath County teams at all levels. Indeed 5 of our
this year but unfortunately this wasn’t to be the case. How- girls this year went on to win a Leinster and All
ever the girls ended the championship with some fantastic Ireland title at Minor level. Katie Bellew, Kelsey
football finishing in fifth position. Everyone will be looking Nesbitt, Niamh Cassidy, Emma Cassidy and Re-
forward to next year and a new and improved performance gina Hand picked up the coveted awards earlier in
the year. Niamh Lister, Ailbhe McHugh, Aisling
For All information regarding Simonstown Ladies Cassidy and Aisling Sheridan have been on hand
to help the seniors this year also. Unfortunately
email: [email protected] they didn't do as well as their younger counter-
parts.
Find us on Facebook at This year has also seen the rise to the county panel
Simonstownladies Lgfa of Orla Conlon and Caoimhe Leddy at U14 level.
This team has a Leinster B title to its name and
were runners up in the All Ireland B final. Mollie
Byrne and Lauryn Grier acquitted themselves ad-
mirably with the U16 age group reaching a Lein-
ster A Final where they narrowly lost out to Dublin.
The future sure is bright for these up and coming
stars. Well done to each and every one of the girls.
Simonstown also had its fair share of mentors in-
volved with the county. Peter Byrne as manager of
the U16s ably assisted by Evan Burlingham,
Miriam Dungan and Anne Dungan.

Kelly & Ellies 12s Tough year for 14s

'Since the first training session at the end of January, it Simonstown U14's are a determined and committed
was clear that the Simonstown u12s were a group of group of girls who are eager to improve their football
girls who were eager to learn and improve. skills. This was very evident by the numbers who turned
up to train every Monday.
They showed great fight and determination during
games and although results did not always go their way Many of the girls play for their school team and some
they always came off the pitch with a smile. have also represented Meath. The future looks promis-
ing for this young team!
Every girl who represented Simonstown in the u12s
competition earlier in the year improved their skills and Well done to the girls and management for their commit-
carried them through to the u11s and u13s Autumn com- ment throughout the season!
petitions.' Well done to each and every one of the girls!