Intermediate All-Britain Champions 2025

Holloway Gaels 3-08 Dunedin Connolly's 0-09

Saturday November 8th 2025

Páirc na hÉireann, Birmingham

A place in the London County Final also meant a route into the Intermediate All-Britain semi-final, where the winners would meet either John Mitchel’s of Liverpool or Dunedin Connolly’s of Edinburgh. Mitchel’s had edged Holloway out by a single point at the same stage last year, while Dunedin Connolly’s went on to defeat Mitchel’s in the final and claim the All-Britain title. This was a clear aim at the beginning of the season for the players and management team led by Oran Hilley.

A composed seven-point victory over TCG in this year’s County Final earned Holloway a repeat of last season’s semi-final against Mitchels on November 1st. However, with Mitchels unable to field, Holloway were awarded the win and progressed directly to the All-Britain Final. There they would meet Dunedin Connolly’s—who themselves received a walkover from TCG—on Saturday, November 8th at Páirc na hÉireann in Birmingham. These sides had not met competitively since the same stage back in 2014, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the tie.

Holloway started sharply, controlling possession early and moving the ball confidently into the forward line. A speculative effort from midfielder Deirdre dropped dangerously in front of goal, where Cassie Sultan tried to capitalise, but the referee ruled she had kicked the ball while the defenders’ hands were grounded, awarding Dunedin a free out. The resulting kick was pressured brilliantly by Emma Mulhern and Cliona Twohig, forcing a rushed clearance that Eimear McCarthy intercepted before releasing wing-back Rosie Dullea, who was fouled as she broke forward. Rosie’s free found Anne Scullion on the far wing. She sidestepped her marker and popped a handpass to Deirdre bursting off the shoulder, but the referee judged too many steps as she rounded her opposite number. Once again, Holloway’s press on the Dunedin free-taker paid dividends. Scullion regained possession and fed Deirdre with a clever ball over the top, only for the DC defence to get a crucial touch to clear the danger.

This sparked Dunedin’s first meaningful attack through the centre, culminating in a shot from their number 14. Corner-back Niamh Crowley shepherded her to the wing, and the effort drifted across the goal and wide. From the kickout, goalkeeper Mairead found Scullion, who drove forward and launched a high ball into the forwards. Emma Mulhern battled to claim it and immediately popped the ball down the right to Cliona, who opened the scoring with a superb point from the edge of the D. Dunedin responded immediately from the next kickout, working the ball through midfield before their midfielder split the posts from an exceptionally tight angle. The next few minutes were end-to-end, with strong contributions from Cliona, Cassie and Niamh Crowley. Eventually Eimear McCarthy released Mary on a trademark weaving run; Mary offloaded to Cliona, who calmly slotted her second point. Holloway’s third arrived soon after—Eimear again surged through the middle, Cliona gathered the pass, and she returned the favour by setting up captain Emma Mulhern to fire over.

The press continued to cause havoc, with Mary breaking another kickout to Eimear, who was fouled. Holloway worked the ball patiently around the D before Twohig’s effort tailed just wide. But the pressure did not relent; another kickout was turned over, this time by Cliona Twohig, who delivered inside to the full-forward line, where Meg Woods’ effort flashed across goal and wide. Holloway maintained the bulk of possession, and in the 15th minute Deirdre added another point after a well-orchestrated move through the Dunedin defensive lines, stretching the lead to 0-04 to 0-01.

Dunedin came close to levelling moments later when a Holloway clearance was intercepted by their wing-back, whose quick pass set their midfielder driving through. A powerful shot struck the crossbar and bounced across the small square; the rebound was struck goalward, but Rosie Dullea blocked on the line before the follow-up went wide. The next six minutes were tightly contested. Although Holloway dictated possession, Dunedin’s defence held firm and limited clear scoring opportunities.

On 25 minutes, patient build-up—encouraged by assistant manager Liam Kelly urging patience—ended with Meg Woods timing her run perfectly off Cliona’s shoulder to slot over. From the next kickout Cliona claimed possession again and swung over her third point. She read the keeper’s kickout, winning it cleanly, brushing off her marker and sending it straight over the bar. Holloway won yet another restart soon after, Emma Mulhern this time anticipating the kick and feeding Cassie in the corner, but play was called back for a Dunedin free out.

Meg struck again in the 28th minute, finishing after excellent build-up from Rosie, Cassie and Eimear McCarthy, shrugging off her defender to point. Dunedin closed the half with a converted free on 31 minutes before the referee blew for half-time.

Half-time score: Holloway Gaels 0-07, Dunedin Connolly’s 0-02.

Holloway Gaels made the perfect start to the second half. Deirdre won the throw-in, tipping the ball to midfield partner Mary, who released centre-back Caroline Hanley. Hanley spotted Deirdre’s continued run and, with a handpass, sent her driving at the Connolly’s defence. She found Cassie, who in turn slipped the ball to corner-forward Trea Hourigan. Hourigan’s shot dipped under the crossbar and into the Dunedin net, giving Holloway early momentum.

That pressure continued, with the forwards pressing aggressively and preventing the Scotland side from advancing beyond halfway. Dunedin eventually responded, capitalising on a loose Holloway pass out of defence. A high ball was sent into the square, but goalkeeper Mairéad reacted superbly, bravely claiming the ball and winning a free. Her clearance found Mary, who surged up the wing before linking with Eimear McCarthy. Dunedin intercepted the next pass, however, and launched a dangerous attack. As their midfielder raced onto the breaking ball, she collided heavily with Mairéad, earning Connolly’s a penalty but forcing the player off with concussion—a significant loss given her influence in the first 35 minutes. After a five-minute delay, the Dunedin centre-forward stepped up to take the penalty. She aimed for the top corner, but the effort clipped the crossbar and went over for a point.

Dunedin were buoyed by this and won the subsequent kick-out, earning a free on the 21 which drifted wide. They claimed the next Holloway kick-out as well, their attack this time ending with another effort coming off the crossbar. Full-back Ellen Byrne reacted brilliantly to produce a vital block, clearing the danger. Moments later, Dunedin’s pressure yielded a 50/50 interception and a point, narrowing the gap to 1-07 to 0-04. Holloway were increasingly pinned in as Dunedin intercepted several attempted clearances. A series of wides spared the Gaels during this spell, and eventually a composed build-up starting from Mairéad allowed the ball to be worked upfield to the forwards. Though the final pass was shepherded out by the Dunedin keeper, it provided much-needed respite for the Holloway defence.

The next score came from captain Emma Mulhern. Mary claimed a superb overhead ball from the Dunedin kick-out, and after sharp interplay between Deirdre, Clíona, Cassie and Trea, Mulhern finished decisively to net Holloway’s second goal—an ideal response to sustained Dunedin pressure. Holloway now led 2-07 to 0-04.

Dunedin looked to counter immediately, but their attack was cut out by Cassie on the Holloway 45. Ellen and Anne moved the ball upfield before Dunedin regained possession and launched a long high ball forward. Eimear Loughlin courageously contested it, colliding awkwardly with Dunedin’s number 13. After treatment, both players were able to continue. The resulting free was converted, followed shortly by another Dunedin free that drifted wide.

Persistent Dunedin pressure earned them another free from the next kick-out, but excellent defensive work forced them backwards repeatedly. When Connolly’s attempted to work the ball inside, Deirdre—now deep in the full-back line—intercepted the pass, allowing Eimear Loughlin and Anne Scullion to clear. McCarthy then picked out Mulhern on the wing, whose run set up Cassie Sultan to finish clinically into the net. Holloway now led 3-07 to 0-05.

The Gaels continued to defend resiliently. Dunedin pressed from the next kick-out, but pressure from McCarthy and Duke halted their momentum. Mary collected the loose ball and embarked on a trademark mazy run before feeding Meg Woods, who squared the ball across goal to Trea and Cassie. Clíona Twohig arrived at pace to clip it over the bar, extending her personal tally. Holloway made a trio of changes before the restart: Ciara Flanagan for Rosie, Marian O’Donnell for Mulhern, and Emily Phelan for Hourigan.

Twohig was unlucky moments later when a flowing move involving Deirdre, Hanley and Meg opened a shooting opportunity, her effort drifting just wide. Connolly’s number 19 then pounced on a loose ball and broke forward at pace, but her shot curled wide. Dunedin continued to threaten and were awarded a free after an infringement in the build-up to a saved shot; the free was converted to bring the score to 3-08 to 0-06 with ten minutes remaining.

Dunedin added another point from a free out on the wing before Holloway defended strongly again, Niamh Crowley flicking a dangerous ball out for a 45. Though Hanley dealt with the dropping ball, Dunedin regained possession from a turnover and their full-forward pointed from the wing, reducing the margin to seven.

Further Holloway substitutions followed, with Erin Giblin and Michaela McCarthy replacing Niamh and Anne. Dunedin added another free to narrow the gap to eight points as their press continued to cause difficulties from the Holloway kick-outs. Duke eventually broke the press, sending a kick pass to Twohig on the wing and allowing Holloway to retain possession through patient phases involving Twohig, Sultan, Phelan, McCarthy, Adegbamiye and Duke.

Dunedin were not finished, and a looping pass allowed their midfielder to launch yet another attack, only for the shot to drift left and wide. Holloway struggled to break free from their defensive third as Dunedin continued to intercept loose passes, but the Scottish side were left to rue their accumulation of wides in the second half.

In the closing moments, Cassie was fouled on the Holloway half-back line from the kick-out. Hanley played the resulting free back to goalkeeper Mairéad O’Donnell, and the referee signalled full-time. The All-Britain Intermediate Cup returns to Holloway Gaels—our first title since defeating Parnells in the 2021 final.

Final Score: Holloway Gaels 3-08, Dunedin Connolly’s 0-09

Team: Mairéad O'Donnell, Niamh Crowley, Ellen Byrne, Eimear Loughlin, Anne Scullion, Caroline Hanley, Rosie Dullea, Eimear McCarthy, Mary Adegbamiye, Cassie Sultan, Cliona Twohig, Meg Woods, Deirdre Duke, Emma Mulhern (Capt), Trea Hourigan, Ciara Flanagan, Emily Phelan, Marian O'Donnell, Erin Giblin, Michaela McCarthy, Mary Ellen Cannon, Roisin O'Connor, Colleen Anderson, Aoife Kelly, Sarah Morrissey, Lara McIvor, Robyn Kos