22/09/2025
U14 Championship B Cup Final
St. Senan’s v Cappagh LGFA – Askeaton, September 20th 2025
On a golden September morning, all roads led to Askeaton for the clash of champions. The stage was set: St. Senan’s, fresh from an unforgettable U16 county triumph, faced the formidable Cappagh, themselves riding high after back-to-back U15 Féile and U16 county victories. It was billed as a showdown of two great footballing tribes, and it lived up to every word.
The girls arrived loose and smiling, DJ Ella turning the dressing room into a replay of the Code Disco that they had sacrificed the night before. The atmosphere was electric but calm — this was a team that had been through battles before and was ready for one more.
The First Half – A Storm Unleashed
The opening 15 minutes were tense, both sides trading blows like seasoned warriors. Then, the spark: Jean O’Kane. From corner forward she morphed into our own David Clifford, slicing through Cappagh’s defence with unstoppable power. A first-half hat-trick set the tone for her day of days, finishing with a jaw-dropping 3-03.
Alongside her, the returning Lillian O’Donovan wrote her own chapter of legend. Months of injury battles, setbacks, and sheer grit brought her back just in time for championship football. Even running on “one leg,” she summoned 2-01, proof of her character and her class.
The full-forward line was alive: Mollie Finnerty, relentless as ever, turned defence into attack, chasing Cappagh’s midfield star Saoirse Barrett from one end to the other before capping her performance with a well-earned goal.
Behind them, at centre forward, stood the irrepressible Makayla Kelly. Her pace, power, and direct running tore holes in the defence, yielding 1-01 and endless chances for teammates.
To her left, Mila Hanafin sacrificed her usual scoring mantle, playing the conductor role with unselfish brilliance — her creativity fuelling 6-04 from the inside line.
To the right, one of the hottest prospects in Limerick football, Katie O’Donoghue dazzled once again, a dual-footed artist and warrior in equal measure, raising cheers with every touch and chipping in with two fine points.
The Engine Room – Where Games Are Won
At midfield, titans roamed. Aisling Fitzgerald — force of nature. I’m not a good enough writer to describe Ais. Words fail, her football never does. She is a colossus but more than that she is a great teammate to both young and older members of the panel. A joy to watch and to be around.
Beside her, captain Shona O’Malley, small in stature but the heartbeat of the side, fielded ball after ball, ran every blade of grass, and crowned her display with a rare and great goal. What’s rare is wonderful and it was a wonderful goal. I should mention the Cappagh goalie, Chloe Dunne at this point. Chloe pulled off save and save and was brilliant throughout.
The Defence – Walls of Steel
At centre back, Anna Mullane confirmed her rise to stardom, the axis around which the defence now turns. Scoring the winning point in the U16 county final and starring again in yesterday's U14 county final.
Either side of her, the U12 dynamos, Sofia Hanafin and Clodagh O’Kane, played like veterans. It is only on the football field that you find these two more than 6 inches apart from each other! Both have big sisters on the team and what a thrill it must be for the families.
What can I say about Sofia that hasn’t already been said. You often hear the phrase hammer the hammer and Sofia is always given the job of marking the oppositions star forward. Sofia once again shackled an opposition star — her running battle with Cappagh’s Jodie Wilmott already the stuff of folklore. Both Jodie and Sofia are stars on and off the field.
Clodagh, fearless and tireless, patrolled the line with growing maturity. Clodagh loves the physical stuff but has added a discipline to her game this year and has blossomed into the archetypical half back, using her great athleticism to get up and down the field. Clodagh again was outstanding yesterday.
In the full back line, defiance was the watchword:
• Noirin Kennedy – the immovable rock. She repelled attack after attack yesterday from a talented Cappagh forward line.
• Rose Gallinagh – old-school toughness and reliability. Once again yesterday was solid as they come.
• Lainey Waters – courageous blocks and tackles in the heat of the opening exchanges.
In the early stages of the game when the pressure was on it was Lainey who led the way with heroic defending. Her skills ex*****on in blocking down and tackling were exceptional as was her bravery.
And behind them all, probably our most important player, the general — Ella Reidy. Shot-stopper, organiser, distributor, and inspiration. Her performances this season, from U14 to U16 to county level, mark her out as the cornerstone of everything this team has achieved.
The Bench – Firepower Unleashed
Championships are never won by 15 alone. From the bench came impact and energy:
• Amy Mullahy, who seized her chance and sparkled. Would likely be a starter on most teams, came off the bench early in the second half and had herself a ball. Amy is underage again next year and with the way she is progressing will be the first name on the teamsheet.
• Sophie Madigan, fearless despite carrying a knock. Sophie Madigan is the Katie O’ Donaghue of the U12’s. So, when Katie had to go off injured, it was a no brainer who to call on. Sophie is carrying an injury at the moment, but you wouldn’t notice by the way she went about her business.
• Caoimhe Ryan, Leah Lynch, Zoe Maher, Emelia Cummins, and the youngest warrior of all, 11-year-old Danielle Hanlon, all played their part in writing history.
The girls saved their best and most complete performance for the final and it is almost impossible to pick a player of the game. It was 10/10 all-round but Lainey Waters put in an 11/10 performance and is truly worthy of this recognition.
The Bigger Picture – A Season Forged in Fire (and mud)
This cup wasn’t just won in Askeaton. It was won in the cold halls of Shanagolden during the winter S&C. It was won in the mud of King’s Field, when white socks were a terrible idea, but commitment was never in doubt. It was won in league battles that went to extra time, recovering from a heavy loss in the A final, and in summer days of swimming and BBQs in Beale. It was won through learning from Gaelic4Teens mentors like Kerry’s Anna Galvin and through the bonds formed with the U16s.
At the final whistle, the cup was raised high. But the truth is, silverware is temporary, an empty vessel with big ears. What lasts is the bond between these girls, the friendships forged with teammates and even opponents. Long after the game, Katie embraced her cousin Chloe from Cappagh, and Saoirse Barrett stood side by side with friends she had just battled fiercely against. It’s the moments before and after the final that we chase rather the silverware. Don’t get me wrong, we do love the silverware, but you have to give it back at the end of the year. The memories, they last a lifetime.
That’s the real prize.
The Unsung Heroes
None of this happens without a very small group of people (always looking for more volunteers!) that sacrifice so much to enable the girls to have days like yesterday. You have the tireless work of people like Limerick PRO Linda Youta from Monagea, who created a program worthy of any county final and a great memento for all to keep.
But especially our own Caroline Reidy. Caroline is the secretary of Limerick LGFA and the driving force behind days like yesterday. A lot of it (probably all of it) goes un-noticed and unrecognised so here is a long overdue THANK YOU to Caroline and her team. She is continuing the legacy of the late Timmy Woulfe and Sophie’s grandad Tom Madigan and without her none of what the girls experienced throughout the year would be possible.
And finally, the parents — taxi drivers, sideline supporters, and raincoat warriors. Every lift to training, every encouragement, every sacrifice made days like this possible.
The Final Word
The St. Senan’s U14s are more than county champions. They are a sisterhood forged in sweat, sacrifice, and joy. They chased silverware but found something greater — memories that will last a lifetime.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh,
Martin, Fergal, Emma, Paul and the St. Senan’s U14 County Champions
