On the 21st of April the Bower 1st year team travelled to Sligo to play the final of the Cahill Shield against Sligo Grammar. It was so cold and wet that both teams were slow to get into the rhythm of the game. Midfielders Michelle Dillon and Jennifer Moore had to work very hard to stop Grammar from forging ahead. Emma Rock and Ellen Rose Lowe did well in the back, sending long, hard balls out to both wings. Goalie, Kate Brennan, made a super save as the whistle went. The first half was to end scoreless.
The minute the 2nd half started the Bower took greater control of the game. Virginia Fanning played superbly, sending many balls into Eleasha Connell who narrowly missed scoring. Injury was to come for Edel Ryan who played a superior role as left half. Ten minutes into the 2nd half the Bower was to lose another star player; Eleasha Connell. Orla Donnelly came in to fill the role. The Bower kept pressing but failed to score which resulted in extra time to decide the game. Again, the Bower started strong and minutes into extra time Isea O’Brien sent a long ball down to Maeve Cuffe who passed to Grace Concannon. Grace passed to Kym O’Meara Fox who found the back of the net. The Bower girls,players and supporters, erupted with joy.
This gave the Bower more confidence in the second half of extra time. Orla Donnelly sent a ball down to Aoife Flynn who found the stick of Kym O’Meara Fox. O’Meara Fox then scored the final and victorious goal of the day. The team showed great determination, spirit and fitness throughout. Well done to the entire panel and supporters on a great season and congratulations to coach, Gudge Moran on winning this shield for the third time.
Subs: Ella Kane, Katie O’Rourke, Róisín Duffy, Maeve Bass, Kaylee Bonner, Bronagh McCormack, Athene Hynes, Meg Wang, Aoife Murray, Sarah Talbot, Elsie Keane, Lorraine Molloy.