Holloway Gaels and North London Shamrocks joined forces to host the Ann Dunning and Chloe Cup Memorial tournament at Tottenhall Recreation Ground on Saturday 23rd March. The event not only honoured the namesakes of the tournament but with over 150 players taking part also served as a platform to showcase the strength of ladies gaelic football in the local community.
There was a strong spirit of camaraderie and competition amongst the teams gathered for the event in memory of Ann Dunning who sadly passed away in 2006, aged 34, from a pregnancy related cancer. The tournament has grown in recent years to host both an Intermediate Cup and Junior Plate competition.
Four teams contested the Cup competition – Holloway Gaels, Round Towers, Dulwich Harps and Fr. Murphy’s. The games were hotly contested with Holloway and Round Towers coming out on top to face each other in the final. A strong Holloway performance saw them run out winners on the day. The cup was presented by club chairperson Ciara Holland to the Gaels, whilst the Tosh Kilcommons Player of the Cup was presented by Brian Conaghan to Holloway Gaels player Mary Adegbamiye. Brian spoke eloquently about loyal Holloway supporter Tosh, who sadly passed away in August 2023.
There were five teams in the Plate competition – Holloway Gaels 1, Holloway Gaels 2, Wandsworth Gaels, St. Kiernans and St. Anthony’s. The competition once again was fierce, with some super passages of play throughout the day. Wandsworth and Kiernans took the top positions of the group stage to set up a hotly contested final. There was a late goal from Kiernans but it was Wandsworth Gaels who were crowned winners at the final whistle. Club president Anne-Marie Dargan presented the Ann Dunning Plate to Wandsworth captain Lea Harold, who was also the recipient of the Kerrie Browne Player of the Plate award, in memory of past player Kerrie, who sadly passed away in 2019.
The tournament was a huge success and a credit to the hard-work put in by the organising committee at Holloway and North London Shamrocks, who wished to thank everyone at NLS for the use of their facilities and to all the teams who travelled to support the tournament.
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