Holloway Gaels Retain Intermediate County Title

London Intermediate Championship Final

Saturday, October 11th, 2025 – McGovern Park, Ruislip

Holloway Gaels 2-08

TCG 1-04

The 2025 London Intermediate Championship Final brought us face to face with a familiar rival, as Holloway Gaels and TCG lined out for their fourth final meeting of the season, (including the replay of the 2024 Mary Feehan Cup earlier in the year) the stage was set for another fiercely contested game in this growing rivalry.

From the throw-in, TCG claimed early possession, but a loose pass on the halfway line was smartly intercepted by Cassie Sultan, turning the tide in Holloway’s favour. Linking up neatly with Clíona Twohig, Deirdre Duke, and Meg Woods, the Gaels created the first real chance of the game, though the TCG backs managed to pressure the shot wide.

From the resulting kick-out, Emma Mulhern claimed the ball overhead, setting off a flowing Holloway move. She found Mary, who sent a cross-field ball to Rosie, bursting down the wing. A quick exchange between the forwards promised another opening, but a misplaced pass handed TCG a chance to counter. It was short-lived, though — relentless pressure from Holloway’s right half forward line, midfield, and backs saw the ball turned over for a Gaels side line.

That passage proved the spark for the game’s opening score. The ball was worked cleverly down the wing, dropping over the TCG keeper’s head and into the net — a brilliant finish from Meg Woods, cutting inside and firing home after taking a quick hand-pass off the shoulder. The green flag was raised, and Holloway had the perfect start.

Moments later, Holloway’s forward press again forced a turnover, with Clíona Twohig fouled just as she was shooting. The free, narrowly pulled right and wide. TCG pushed forward with intent, but the Holloway defence was rock solid. Each attacking run met disciplined tackling and effective covering, with the midfield pairing and back-tracking half-forwards breaking up play before the Greenford side could penetrate the 45.

When Holloway next attacked, they made it count. A free on the TCG 21-metre line was coolly converted by Deirdre Duke, and within minutes she doubled her tally — this time with a superbly taken goal. Credit went to Marian, whose smart block-down of a TCG clearance created the opportunity. She calmly set up an attacking play which ended with Deirdre lifting her shot over the keeper and into the net.

At that stage, Holloway looked in control — 2–01 to no score — but TCG found a response. A free on the right wing was floated dangerously into the square, and after a scramble in front of goal, the Greenford forward pounced on the loose ball to bundle it home, registering their first score of the game. The scoreboard read Holloway 2–02 to TCG 1–00 with just over ten minutes played.

Unfazed, Holloway regrouped immediately. A neat move involving Anne Scullion, Mary, Cassie, and Eimear released Deirdre, who split the posts with a fine effort. Meg Woods then added a point of her own, the product of patient build-up play across the pitch that opened space for her to shoot confidently between the uprights.

The next several minutes saw end-to-end exchanges. TCG sought to break quickly, but each time the Gaels’ defence — marshalled superbly by Ellen and Niamh Crowley — broke up the play. When TCG launched a long ball forward, Ellen claimed it calmly before setting up another counter through Mary, who was influential throughout.

On the right wing, Clíona Twohig was constantly driving at the TCG defence. A deflected effort from Meg rebounded off the post, but Holloway kept pressing. A TCG free into the Gaels’ backline was again cut out by Ellen, who passed to Mary, then onto Cassie for another storming run forward. The ball was worked through the hands and eventually back to Twohig, who coolly slotted over the bar for her first of the afternoon. After twenty minutes, Holloway had established a commanding 1–05 to 1–00 lead.

TCG tried to find a foothold, working the ball up field from a kick-out, but their shot drifted wide under pressure from the Holloway defence. From the next restart, Mairead’s kick-out found Niamh, who played a quick give-and-go with Erin Giblin to break the press. The ball was swiftly transitioned through Mary and back into the attack, where Clíona again made no mistake, adding another white flag.

A high tackle on Twohig shortly after saw TCG reduced to 14 players — a blow to their hopes just before the break. Holloway made the most of their advantage, controlling possession and keeping the ball patiently around midfield before Cassie Sultan capped a fine first-half performance with a well-taken point on the stroke of half-time.

Half-time: Holloway Gaels 2–06, TCG 1–00.

Holloway started the second half quickly, a smart flick from Eimear to Mary set the Down native racing towards goal. Linking again with Clíona Twohig, Mary finished the move by raising another white flag — a perfectly executed one-two at pace that TCG could do nothing about.

However, the next phase belonged to TCG, who began to find their range. A well-struck free from close range finally added to their tally, and moments later another free followed as Holloway were reduced to 14 players — Ellen shown a yellow card for a challenge as TCG threatened through the middle.

With momentum swinging slightly, TCG’s free-taker converted again and added a point from play shortly after, narrowing the deficit to seven points with twenty minutes still on the clock.

But Holloway, with fire in belly and ice in the veins (!!), dug deep and responded through leadership and composure. They absorbed pressure, tightened defensively, and reclaimed control. A flowing counter-attack ended with Clíona Twohig clipping over her fourth point of the game — and what would prove to be the final score of the match. TCG continued to press, forcing a looping ball into the Holloway square that looked destined for the net, only for Mairead to pull off a superb reflex save, tipping it away before the onrushing forward slipped and lost her footing. Holloway cleared their lines, regained control, and managed the final minutes expertly, recycling possession and denying TCG any late opportunities.

When the final whistle sounded, the ball fittingly rested in the hands of Player of the Match, Anne Scullion, whose consistency and calm under pressure epitomised Holloway’s performance.

The final score — Holloway Gaels 2–08, TCG 1–04 — confirmed Holloway’s successful defence of their London Intermediate Championship title. The Gaels completed a clean sweep at county level in 2025, adding the Kate Clarke Championship Cup to the League Cup and Mary Feehan Cup already secured this year.

Next step: All Britain Championship

2025 Intermediate Panel: Mairead O' Donnell, Erin Giblin, Ellen Byrne, Niamh Crowley, Anne Scullion, Caroline Hanley, Eimear McCarthy, Cliona Twohig, Deirdre Duke, Mary Adegbamiye, Cassie Sultan, Rosie Dullea, Marian O’Donnell, Emma Mulhern (C), Meg Woods, Emily Phelan, Ciara Flanagan, Trea Hourigan, Michaela McCarthy, Eimear Loughlin, Mary Ellen Cannon, Roisin O’Connor, Lára McIvor, Colleen Anderson, Aoife Kelly, Sarah Morrissey, Robyn Kos, Niamh Kelly, Martha Jordan, Saoirse Hourigan, Aisling Clifford

Management Team: Oran Hilley (Manager) Liam Kelly and John McDyre (Assistant Managers) Emily de Caires (Management Assistant)