Holloway Gaels 3-10
Parnells 3-08
Saturday 20th November 2021, McGovern Park Ruislip
It was the fourth encounter between the two teams in 2021, with Parnells claiming victory in all of the previous outings, so when John Doyle threw in the ball, it was no surprise to many of the onlookers at Ruislip or online to see that it was Parnells who broke forward with a quick, direct pass into the forward line. However, Niamh Kelly intercepted brilliantly and went on a solo run up the pitch before threading a pass to Car Mac. Parnells were fast to snuff out her pass to Mulsy and broke up the pitch to score the first point of the game. The Parnells number 10 pounced on the subsequent kick out to coolly slot home the opening goal. One minute and 7 seconds on the clock and Holloway were trailing, but panic was the furthest thing from the minds of those in red.
A free won by Rosie was sent over the bar by Mac. The next score of the game came from a combination play with Rosie and Hanley down the wing, before Marian raised the white flag for the Gaels. Parnells replied with a point of their own before Holloway put the ball in the net. Clifford – Ruanne – Denise – Martha – Cliona – Hanley – Sam – Tall Ciara – Niamh – Muls – Marian. 11 players, 13 passes, 50 seconds from goalkeeper to goal net. Brilliant! When Muls gathered a pass from Tall Ciara outside the 45, she went on a solo run, passing 3 Parnells players on her way before a quick one-two with Marian and firing the ball past another 3 on its way to the net. Green flag Holloway! Draw Game.
While the forwards were getting some scores on the board, the backs were breaking Parnells hearts. Turning over ball, forcing wides and over-carries. They were tremendous. Back up the pitch and it was another defender in action, Denise putting Holloway in front for the first time in the game after some wonderful work from Marian. Midfield engine Cliona quickly added another point, before Marian got her second of the day. The Parnells full forward converted a super freekick just before the water-break to see Holloway leading on a score line of 1-05 to 1-03.
Some initial attempts by Parnells were snuffed out in the opening minutes of the second quarter, one such by Aisling Clifford, who expertly deflected a sure goal with her outstretched foot. There were more mistakes and stray passes in the first 6 minutes of this phase of the game than there had been in the opening 15. But the work-rate and determination to win the ball back on each occasion, held Parnells scoreless too. The girls in blue had a break-through in the 26th minute which raised the green flag and put Parnells back in the lead by a point. Mac equalled it up again when she converted a free kick on the 13 after a foul on Mulsy on the 21, and some jip from the Parnells 3 and 9 (although to be fair, they had a point!).
Parnells 13 and Holloway 14 traded points from frees to keep the game all square at the short whistle. Holloway Gaels 1-07 - Parnells 2-04
The Second Half
Staying on the pitch for half-time, the management and captains said their piece, everyone was raring to go. When Parnells emerged from their dressing room, they were greeted by the Holloway Massive – “Holloway, Holloway, Holloway” rang out around McGovern Park and for those red jerseys on the pitch it not only made them smile, but it gave them that extra drive needed. Parnells started the second half much like the first, with a point and a goal within the opening 95 seconds.
Some great ball carrying and fight from the mid-field and forwards saw Marian set up Mulsy beautifully for her first point of the day. A clash and stop in play saw Ruanne practise some solos and then take the free-kick which saw the ball travel down to the Holloway forward line, where the Parnells keeper was pressured into kicking it out for a 45. Denise collected the ball on the run and drove forward, only to get her teeth rattled by the shoulder of a blue. The ref called the ball back for a free and then the Boot of Rosie occurred. I have watched, paused and re-watched this several times and I don’t know what went down! Nor do I care. Quick Feet Rosie and a goal for the Gaels. Draw game.
A point a piece from 11 blue and Mac, kept the game at level pegging heading in for the final water break. Holloway Gaels 2-09, Parnells 3-06. From the Parnells kick out re-starting the final phase, the blues make a drive up the field, only to be forced into a wide by some very tenacious defending. A powerful run by Denise brings the ball down to the Holloway forward line, where Eimear works well to deliver the ball to Car Mac. Mac had one thing on her mind as she rounded 2 players to calmly steer the ball past the Parnells keeper. Holloway lead by a goal! Mulsy hits the crossbar, Parnells kick a wide, Clifford tactically stretches a muscle!
Denise goes for a diving block, Parnells kick another wide, Clifford stretches another muscle or two! More up and down the pitch follows for 5 minutes before Áine “Cool as A Cucumber Maniac” Maguire scores an absolute peach of a point to increase Holloway’s lead to 4 points.
Parnells respond with a well taken point under severe pressure from the Holloway backs. A miss followed from a Parnells mid-fielder which left the gap at 3 points before the surging run of the blue centre forward threatened the Holloway goal. Mulsy was quick to stop her before she reached the box and the subsequent free was drilled high and over the bar.
The final whistle sounded during the subsequent kick-out and Holloway Gaels became All-Britain Intermediate Champions for the first time in the club’s history. Captain Emma Mulhern collected the cup for Holloway and Denise Hallissey was named Player of the match.
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