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Racing to the first ever treble over Souths

19 August 2002 - Shamrocks found fine form on the eve of the Queensland Gaelic football championship competition by recording its first ever treble over Souths over the weekend.

Brisbane's western suburbs club scored three wins from three games on Sunday against its traditional rival Souths, the best being a three-point win by the ladies team against second-placed Souths.

Thanks to the 1-13-16 to 2-7-13 victory, Shamrocks ladies now appear secure in third place in the league, with just one week remaining before the start of the coveted Championship. Shamrocks are reigning ladies championship winners.

Renee Harper (pictured), Bronwyn Bassett and Shelley Matcham were the best players. Greta Sangster was selected in goals at the last minute to make her debut, and made many fantastic saves.

In the senior mens, Shamrocks beat the reigning champions Souths by two points 2-7-13 to 2-5-11, with help from some exceptional reserves.

The first half was tied 0-6 to 1-3 after ex-Shamrock Damien Wolski ran through the Shamrocks defence to set up a Souths goal near half time.

During the break, player-coach David O'Malley made  astute changes which paid dividends - switching full-forward David Shakovskoy and corner forward Scott Ingram, with corner backs and regular reserve grade players Travis Bassett and David Gall.

Bassett and Gall then both scored goals to take Shamrocks clear of Souths early in the second half.

Best players were Travis Bassett, Matt Scandrett and David Shakovskoy.

In the reserves competition, Shamrocks scored a high quality three-point win over defending reserves league winners Souths 1-3-6 to 0-3-3 after both teams kept each other scoreless to half time.

Matt Walsh ricocheted the winning goal with just two minutes remaining. Best players were Brendan Scandrett, Travis Bassett and Chris Bell.

Shamrocks ladies play Sarsfields this week in their last match before the championship, while both the senior and reserve mens teams have a bye to await confirmation of the championship draw.

Shamrocks leap to third

12 August 2002 - Shamrocks beat John Mitchels for the second time this year to leap frog into third place in the ladies Queensland Gaelic Football League over the weekend.

The ladies were led by Australasian all-star Renee Moynihan with 1 goal 4 points - playing just her second game in three months after injury - and move ahead of John Mitchels thanks to the 3-16-25 to 2-5-11 win.

That was their best score against a top-four team since May last year, and their second win in three league encounters against John Mitchels this season. Just two weeks remain in league competition before the Queensland championship season finale.

in the mens division, John Mitchels secured their third-consecutive GAA Trophy with a 0-12-12 to 0-4-4 win over Shamrocks in the final on Sunday.

Shamrocks trailed by just a solitary point 3 to 4 at half time and outperformed all previous opponents by keeping John Mitchels goalless for the first time this year.

John Mitchels have won 15 consecutive games to have an 11-0 win-loss record in league play.

Shamrocks official James Marshall rated the outcome a good one and included Scott Ingram, David O'Malley and Stuart Miekeljohn among the best players.

"Scott played at corner back and fullback, and David and Stuart played in the midfield," Marshall said.

Shamrocks' good recent form in the reserves competition came to and end with a 21-point loss to league leaders John Mitchels.

Best players were goal keeper Darren McDonnell (pictured left), Chris Bell and Brendan Scandrett.

"Darren made about seven or eight good saves," Marshall said. "Chris had an excellent game at fullback and Brendan was very good at half back."

"So that he doesn't feel left out, you can also mention that Sam made a return to the scorers list (after an absence of several years)."

Shaq and Porter and Perfect Match

5 August 2002 - Prominent Shamrocks identities took the Queensland media by storm this week by leading the auditions of a nationally televised program.

Actually, David Shakovskoy and Sam Porter were more desperate than most and got to the Channel Seven studios at the crack of dawn, and were first in line for the try-outs of the new production of Perfect Match.

To the horror of friends and family - but to the admiration of Shamrocks teammates - they became overnight media darlings when photographed by the Sunday Mail (click on front cover to open to page three).

Despite the Wallabies and Brisbane Lions winning the night before, Shaq and Porter commanded prime position on page three of Queensland's biggest selling newspaper.

Now the world awaits to see if Perfect Match can find a place for the latest media sensations.

How can they be resisted?

By a special correspondent

Footy girls, look what you are missing. Some lucky desperate woman is probably going to grab these two heart-throbs, and little did you know that they were right under your nose all the time.

Just imagine for a moment: Lights, camera, action and on with the show. A beautiful blonde girl asking questions to three hopeful men. Shaq, Sam Porter, and one other, that we will just give a name, say, Billy Rockett.

Girls, how would you feel when the wall goes back, you are faced with one of these heart-throbs - heart palpitations, hot flushes, you get the picture.

Well then, what about the date. "I couldn't want anything more than veging out on the couch, watching a bit of footy", dream date! It would be pretty hard to sit there and try and keep your hands off them I know.

Shamrocks winning streak ends

05 August 2002 - Shamrocks lost to Sarsfields for the first time in five years in the Queensland Gaelic Football League at Willawong over the weekend.

Sarsfields had not beaten Shamrocks in senior mens league play since 1997, and snapped a 16-game losing streak by beating the western suburbs club 2-9-15 to 2-4-10.

Amid the loss, Shamrocks celebrated one of the best goals in club history from Irish World Cup media darling Connor Walshe.

Player-coach David O'Malley was best on the ground for Shamrocks, supported by Walshe and half back John Collins. Forward Brad Kennedy suffered a strained calf but should be back in time for the championship next month.

The result means that John Mitchels secure the senior mens Queensland league title for the second consecutive year.

In the mens reserves match, Shamrocks unluckily lost with the last kick of the day as Harps goaled to snatch a 3-point victory.

Chris Bell and Sam Porter were amongst the best in defence, while David Gall played well in forwards.

Meanwhile, Shamrocks ladies were kept scoreless for the first time in team history, as undefeated Harps continued to steamroll all opposition.

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