Féile 2022 report: Kilcullen U15s are the Champions

Back row: Amber Glendon, Alex Barker, Billie Barrett, Saoirse Purdue, Aoife Moran, Holly Lawler, Amy Tyrrell, Anna Taylor, Leah Tyrrell, Hanna Corrigan, Solene Bird-Costrowa, Grace Doyle. Front row: Della Cowper-Gray, Grace Crowley, Niamh Liston, Katie Barker, Emma Redmond, Grace Hurley, Annie Hunt, Siun Egan, Sinead Gordon, Robyn Foster. Missing from  photo: Alannah Stone, Elouise Reddy.

What an amazing couple of days for the Kilcullen U15 girls and supporters on March 17th and 18th! writes Shane Crowley.

The Féile A competition involved all teams in the U15 Kildare Divisions 1 and 2. Kilcullen were drawn in a group with Kill and Naas, hosted in Kilcullen GFC on the 17th March. It was a mini-league format with only one team progressing to the next stage. After the disappointment of Féile being cancelled last year the girls were excited that their Féile day had finally come. They had put a huge amount of work into the preparation, however with games being only 30 minutes long they knew that there was no time for complacency and they would need to be completely focused over the course of the two days.

Day 1 - Thursday 17th March:

First up was Naas with throw-in at 11am. The whistle sounded. The girls jumped high. Naas won the ball and ran directly at the Kilcullen defence. Green flag was raised. One goal down. Mentors hearts were in their mouths but not so for these U15 Kilcullen girls who shrugged off the disappointment of the early goal, and with heads held high remained composed and determined and started to slowly take control of the game. Naas fought hard but Kilcullen, well supported by a number of second half subs, pulled away to take the victory.

The second game was Naas vs Kill which Naas won in a very closely contested match.

Kilcullen knew a win in the final game vs Kill would seal their place in the semi-finals the next day in Hawkfield. The Kilcullen girls came out strong and never slowed in a fantastic display of football. They pushed on in the second half with all subs contributing hugely to a fantastic win. We were on our way to Hawkfield!

Day 2 - Friday 18th March:

Meeting in Hawkfield at 10:30am you could feel the anticipation amongst the girls, mentors, parents and supporters alike. 4 teams, one winner of Féile A 2022. First up was Celbridge at 11:30am. The girls had fresh memories of the U14 Div 1 semi-final the previous year, when in an epic match Kilcullen had emerged winners by 1 point. No doubt Celbridge players and management were having similar thoughts. The girls lined up ready to go. There was little between the teams in a very nervy first half. Kilcullen were two points up at half time. However, in the second half Kilcullen put on another impressive performance to pull away for a superb victory. Kilcullen U15 girls now marched into the Féile final.

Through a haze of Deep Heat spray, surrounded by foam rollers, on a carpet of empty water bottles and orange skins, the wait for the final began. Against the backdrop of the nervous chatter of supporters, we wondered could this be our year?

The final was against Leixlip, who had travelled an eventful journey of their own to get there. Emerging from the group stages in a sudden death free-kick shoot-out they came through after a very close semi-final encounter with St Laurences. Warm up completed, the captains shook hands. The whistle sounded and there was 30 minutes to decide the Féile 2022 Champions. The girls seemed ready to go. Spectators, on the other hand, still looked a bit sick. 

The Kilcullen girls took hold. All the hours of practice and hard work seemed to come together. They took a 2:4 to 0:1 lead and all seemed to be going to plan. However, Leixlip dug in deep and started to push back. One point. Two points. A goal chance. Three points. Kilcullen started to question. However, the girls drew on their considerable football skills and with two goals in quick succession they started to relax and realise victory was in their grasp! The final whistle sounded and the reality sank in: Kilcullen were Kildare Féile champions! The girls leapt up into each other’s arms, the joy on their faces left us in no doubt about how much winning this trophy meant to them.

That winning feeling!

Team with cup.

Hannah Crowley, Grace Crowley, Grace Hurley, Zara Hurley. All Feile Winners!

Captain Hanna Corrigan and Vice Captain Emma Redmond.

Mentors and players: Shane Crowley, Mark Moran, Fiona Redmond, John Glendon with daughters Grace, Aoife, Emma and Amber.

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