Holloway Juniors Target Historic Double

2 days ago

3 min read

This Saturday sees the Holloway Gaels Junior Team take to the field against TCG Juniors in a battle to become the first side to win the Marion McGee Reserve Championship Cup. Throw-in is at 12:45pm at Barnet Lane.

The competition is making its debut on the London LGFA calendar this year and is open to clubs with two teams. The inaugural championship has featured Holloway Gaels, Wandsworth Gaels, TCG, Tara and St. Kiernan's, providing an extra level of competitive football for Junior players across London.

Stronger Than Ever

After an unbeaten run in both this year's league and championship campaigns, the Gaels will step onto the field as favourites. However, this is sport, and Shane and his players know there is no such thing as a certainty. They have been working hard over the last few months to ensure they are ready for whatever TCG bring to the final game of the season.

The Junior journey is a great story. While 2026 has already brought success through reaching both the league and championship finals, there is so much more to the Juniors' story.

The upcoming final is the latest chapter in a journey that began in 2021, when the team endured semi-final defeats, league final losses and the heartbreak of a Championship Final defeat to St. Kiernan's in 2025, before ultimately securing the team's first piece of silverware with a hard-fought Division 3 League Final victory over Fr. Murphy's at McGovern Park in April. They followed that up by winning the Plate Competition at the St. Kiernan's Tournament Day in August, continuing what has been an excellent season for the group.

When Holloway Gaels decided to enter a second adult ladies team in 2021, the goal was simple: give more women the chance to play football and be part of the club.

What followed has been a journey that few could have imagined.

From that very first challenge match in Downhills Park, this group has continued to grow season after season.

In their debut year, the Juniors reached a Championship semi-final, a remarkable achievement for a brand-new team and an early indication of the potential within the squad.

The years that followed brought plenty of memorable moments, along with a few tough lessons. In 2023, the team reached their first ever final, the Division 3 League Final. The result didn't go Holloway's way, but reaching that stage only strengthened the belief that this team was capable of competing with the best.

That belief continued to build. In 2025, the Juniors enjoyed their strongest season yet, reaching both the Division 3 League Final and, for the first time in the club's history, the Junior Championship Final. Although a strong St. Kiernan's side denied them on the day, the season showed just how far the team had come and how close they were to achieving something special.

Enter the 2026 season - after years of commitment, determination and near misses, the Juniors finally got their hands on their first piece of silverware, lifting the Division 3 League title after an outstanding unbeaten campaign. It was a well-deserved reward for the team, management and club committee who had played their part in the journey since 2021.

Now, just a few months later, another opportunity awaits. The team stands on the brink of another historic occasion as they prepare for the inaugural Reserve Championship Final. For a group that started out simply looking to create opportunities for more players, reaching yet another final is a testament to how far they have come and to the incredible commitment of everyone who has managed, assisted and worn the Holloway jersey along the way.

Whatever happens next, this team has already written a special chapter in the story of Holloway Gaels. But knowing this group, there is still another chapter left to write.