History repeats itself and a great tradition is enhanced ...

Next Saturday our LGF team will contest the intermediate county final against Coralstown-Kinnegad. This is almost ten years to the day since Mullingar Shamrocks last contested this particular final and earned senior status by defeating Kilbeggan Shamrocks (3-9 to 2-7). Shamrocks lined out Gemma Leahy, Lorna Morris, Louise Begley, Emily Turkington; Jean Kenny, Niamh Spellman, Linda Gilmartin; Aoife O'Brien, Elaine Faghnan; Emma Morris (0-5), Lisa Burke (captain) [0-1], Áine Melody; Karen Hegarty (0-1), Carole Finch (1-1), Nadine Conway (2-1). Six ultra-dedicated footballers are still serving the Shamrocks cause. Lorna, Emma, Áine, Karen, Lisa and Carole are still contributing and will play key roles in Saturday's final. On that day 10 years ago Carole Finch was the player of the match and since that day Carole has been at the heart of Shamrocks Ladies Gaelic Football. Carole's dedication to Shamrocks has been remarkable and her inter-county career was topped off with an All-Ireland medal in 2011. Emma Morris and Karen Hegarty were also All-Ireland medal winners in 2011. Karen was the baby of the team in 2010 and like Carole has been central to all that is good about Mullingar Shamrocks LGF and the club, and her contribution with her corner-back sister Sophie, a panellist in 2010, is incredible. Emma Morris is simply a superb footballer and Lorna at corner-back is as effective at preventing scores as Emma is at making and taking chances. Áine Melody is a super-fit athlete whose work rate and mobility has served Shamrocks well over the years. And then there is Lisa ... Laura Walsh's words say it best 'She had wonderful athleticism, skills to burn and was so physically strong and with a fiery temper to match [Surely not our Lisa!]. She played with a lot of flair and this was often expressed in how she wore her jersey [Cantona-like with the collar turned up] ... She was a true leader on the field'. Lisa is ready to make her mark on Saturday's final.

These six great servants of the club have set the standards for those that joined the panel over the years and their success has inspired others. Anna Jones is one with all the skills, and is now a regular on the Westmeath senior team following in the footsteps of Karen and Lisa and Carole and Gemma Leahy and Tara and Emma and Carla and the Spellman sisters. Lauren McCormack has made the county goalkeeping position her own thanks to her calmness, her shot stopping ability and long accurate re-starts. Michelle Buckley's work-rate, mobility and high-fielding are the essentials of a great midfield player. Laura Whitelaw's, another fine athlete, return to football has been a huge positive for Shamrocks and she forms a great midfield partnership with Michelle. Liveta has successfully converted from creating and scoring goals to preventing them with fierce determination at full-back while the centre back position has been locked down by the mobile Tara Fagan who impresses with every game. Beside Tara in the half-back line is Melek whose close marking and tackling and manner of emerging with ball from difficult situations has prompted the suggestion that Melek is the reincarnation of her famous father, the great Spike. Chloe Swarbrigg has prospered in the freedom of the half-back line having escaped from the more restrictive role required of a fullback. A

nd then there is the younger generation making the breakthrough to first-team football. Susanna Buckley has been ever-present all season and has represented Westmeath at under-age level. Máiread Newman has also made significant advances this year and is definitely one for the future.

And then there is Clara Thornton, Laura Culkin, Isabelle Clinton, Carla Gibney, Allison Bane, Sarah Geoghegan, Rachel Hannigan, Teresa Connell, Orianna Quinn, Holly McCormack, Clara Thornton, Ciara Keegan, Kirsty Dunne, Ruth Keane, Casey McDermott, Katie Kelly ready to serve if called on. And not to forget the team management of Ciarán McKenna, Spike Fagan, Daragh Ryan and team coordinator Geraldine McCormack who have worked incredibly hard over the past few years with the team.