Holloway Gaels Crowned Inaugural Marion McGee Reserve Championship Winners
Holloway Gaels 4-08
TCG 2-10
On Saturday, 12th September, Holloway Gaels Junior Team took to the field at Barnet Lane to face TCG Juniors, with both sides chasing the honour of becoming the first ever winners of the Marion McGee Reserve Championship Cup.
Making its debut on the London LGFA calendar, the competition was introduced to provide additional competitive football for clubs fielding two teams. The inaugural championship featured Holloway Gaels, Wandsworth Gaels, TCG, Tara and St Kiernan's, adding an exciting new layer to junior football across London.
TCG won the throw-in and immediately tested the Holloway defence, but Erin Giblin's pressure forced the opening effort wide. Both teams settled quickly, with strong defensive displays dominating the opening exchanges. Holloway goalkeeper Meryem Nugent produced one of the saves of the game early on, racing off her line to brilliantly block a goal-bound effort before the resulting 45 came to nothing for TCG.
Holloway's first attack offered a glimpse of what was to come. Excellent link-up play between Lia, Blánaid, Emily D and Aisling found Clare Hopkins inside, but despite her battling work and a quick one-two with Eimear, the final effort drifted narrowly wide.
The breakthrough score soon followed. Grace H claimed the TCG kick-out and fed Blánaid, who found Eimear C to open the scoring with a well-taken point. TCG responded with a point of their own, but Holloway began to take control.
Marian added Holloway's second point before a superb interception from Grace C sparked a move that ended with Eimear finishing clinically for the first goal in Reserve Championship Final history. Holloway led by 4 points.
TCG stayed firmly in the contest, with both teams showing off their defensive skills with a series of good pressure and defending. Both sides made important interceptions and forced errors win the subsequent 5 minutes before Holloway eventually broke through again when Marian's intelligent play set up Aisling for her first score of the afternoon.
Just as Holloway looked to be building momentum, TCG struck for goal with a powerful run through the defence ending in a finish to the net. The Holloway lead was cut to a single point with 21 minutes on the clock.
Aisling responded immediately with another point following excellent work from Erin, Grace H and Trea. Holloway then introduced Emily Phelan on 25 minutes, and her impact was immediate. First, she pounced on a loose pass and drove forward to split the posts. Less than a minute later she rattled the net after Aisling won the kick-out and Marian provided the assist.
Again, TCG hit back with a goal of their own, refusing to let Holloway pull away. Aisling added a pointed free before Marian got in on the goalscoring act, lofting a high effort beyond the goalkeeper after Trea won possession and the ball was worked through Clare and Grace H.
At half-time, Holloway held a deserved lead on a score line of 3-06 to 2-02.
The message from manager Shane at the break was simple:
"Absolutely refuse to lose."
TCG came flying out of the blocks in the second half, registering two quick points to reduce the gap. Ciara Flanagan was introduced early in the half to reinforce the Holloway defence as TCG pushed hard for a way back into the game. A tense period followed, with scoring opportunities at a premium thanks to outstanding defending from both sides. TCG gradually chipped away at the lead with three unanswered points, narrowing the gap to four.
Once again, Aisling answered the call from a free after Marian's relentless work-rate caused problems for the TCG defence throughout the afternoon. Aoife Kelly was then introduced in attack as Holloway looked for fresh energy up front. TCG continued to battle and, after another impressive score, reeled off three more unanswered points to leave just a single point between the sides with 12 minutes remaining.
The game was hanging in the balance.
Holloway were indebted to Alana at a crucial moment, producing a brilliant block to deny what looked like a certain goal opportunity for TCG. The importance of that intervention soon became clear as Holloway worked the ball back up the field and Grace H produced a magnificent point to extend the lead once more.
TCG replied with a free, but Holloway full-forward Marian delivered the decisive blow. Having caused problems all game, she powered through for her second goal of the afternoon, bringing her tally to an impressive 2-01.
With three minutes remaining, Holloway showed tremendous composure, retaining possession through midfield and the half-forward line to run down the clock and force TCG to chase. There were a few late nervous moments as TCG searched desperately for a goal, but pressure from Rachel and Grace C forced a turnover before Blánaid regained possession and launched one final Holloway attack.
The forwards smartly retained the ball, drew fouls, and when the final whistle sounded, celebrations erupted.
Holloway Gaels had become the first-ever Marion McGee Reserve Championship winners.
The victory completed a remarkable double for Holloway Juniors, who added the Reserve Championship title to their Division 3 League crown. This year also marked the first silverware for the team since its formation in 2021, making the achievement all the more special.
Following the final whistle, Colleen Anderson proudly accepted the Marion McGee Cup on behalf of Holloway Gaels as players, management and supporters celebrated a historic occasion.
Huge congratulations to Shane, the players and all the backroom team on a tremendous season and a well-deserved place in the history books.
Champions.
History makers.
Double winners.
Reserve Team on the day: Meryem Nugent, Alana Cunnane, Grace Collins, Rachel Castola, Erin Giblin, Colleen Anderson (Capt), Emily Dick, Grace Hanrahan (0-01), Blánaid Callan, Trea Hourigan, Aisling Ní Ainiféin (0-04), Lia O'Rourke, Clare Hopkins, Marian O'Donnell (2-01), Eimear Carroll (1-01). Emily Phelan (1-01) for Lia, Ciara Flanagan for Clare, Aoife Kelly for Eimear, Suzannah O'Neill, Rose Walton, Mia Kelly, Marissa Maxwell, Catherine Moloney, Clodagh Hanrahan
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