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Losses avenged at last

31 March 2003 - Shamrocks beat John Mitchels for the first time in almost two years for the perfect start in Gaelic football�s Brisbane Shield competition at Willawong over the weekend.

(Pictured right: Shamrocks contemplating their loss to John Mitchels in the 2002 Brisbane Shield final, now partially forgotten after the weekend � photo from www.johnmitchelsgfc.com)

Brisbane�s western suburbs club snapped a six-game losing streak against the defending senior mens champions by winning 5-7-22 to John Mitchels 0-4-4.

The match was Shamrocks first of the new season, while John Mitchels crashed to their second loss from as many starts after a narrow loss to Easts a week earlier.

David O�Malley was dominant in the mid-field for Shamrocks, while Andrew Meiklejohn and Matt Walsh were outstanding at half-back, and Martin Henry at full-forward.

Henry kicked with accuracy for five points, while Trevor Basset and Brad Kennedy each recorded two goals, and Walsh drifted forward for one goal and one point.

The previous win by Shamrocks over John Mitchels in the senior mens came way back in March 2001, and the 22 point-total by Shamrocks on the weekend was more than they had scored against Mitchels in their last three games combined.

John Mitchels powered through the 2002 season with a perfect 20-0 win-loss record, securing all four trophies including the coveted senior Championship, and the season-opening Brisbane Shield after beating Shamrocks in the final.

Between the two sides, Shamrocks and John Mitchels have won five of the last six Brisbane Shield finals. Mitchels already appear out of the running for 2003, after their 0-2 start to the competition.

In the ladies competition, a very young Shamrocks team showed signs of promise but lost to John Mitchels.

�A very young side made their first appearance for the year and showed that they will go onto bigger and brighter things,� Shamrocks president David Duguid enthused after the game.

Best for Shamrocks were Lisa Bain, Amy Buchanan and Renee Moynihan.

The Shamrocks reserve mens team was credited with a win over new club O�Reillys, founded this year by former Shamrocks players.

Related links:

Latest scores and ladders

Previous Brisbane Shield winners

New talent found

24 March 2003 - While senior teams had a bye, new Shamrocks players had a run in the opening reserves game over the weekend, revealing some major new talent

Paul Rice and Harvey Evans were outstanding in their debut match, the latter executing a perfect pirouette to kick a point. Troy Ward was the other scorer.

Best for Shamrocks were Trevor Bassett, Rice and Evans, as they went down to an experienced Souths team 0-2-2 to 3-4-13.

The Shamrocks senior teams open the Brisbane Shield competition at Willawong this Sunday against John Mitchels � whose senior mens team went undefeated throughout 2002.

Fitness testing � with bowls?

20 March 2003 - Glen Carpenter, who coached Queensland to its first-ever Australasian ladies championship last year, is planning a unique fitness testing programme for the Shamrocks club tomorrow � on the bowling green.

Australia�s most unique pre-season fitness testing regime will start with an afternoon out at the Toowong Bowls Club, where Shamrocks members, friends and supporters will mostly be decked out in whites to test their skill on the green.

The programme then moves by bus charter to major club sponsor Irish O�Hanlon�s at Kenmore, before culminating in Brisbane city that night.

The Shamrocks mens reserves team then kicks off the season against Souths at Willawong on Sunday from 1:00pm, while the senior teams have a bye.

Everyone is welcome to join the club in this unique pre-season experience.

The event starts at Toowong Bowls Club, Gailey Road, Taringa, at 5:00pm on Saturday 22nd March. The cost for the bowls in $8 and transport by bus is $7. For bowls you need flat-soled shoes.

Bring along any partners and friends who you feel will enjoy this magnificent event.

Call Glenn Carpenter on 0438 753 795 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

Related links:

2003 Calendar

Queensland crowns new champion

18 March 2003 - The Queensland Gaelic Football Association has crowned a new champion in the elite 1500m event at the Annual Sports Day that heralds each new season, and it went to the Shamrocks club.

Stuart Meiklejohn � a regular in the Shamrocks senior team entering his fourth Gaelic football season and with a swag of Sports Day trophies to his credit � added the day�s major trophy with an outstanding run at Willawong on Sunday.

The QGFA Annual Sports Day is held every year the Sunday after Brisbane�s St Patrick�s Day Parade to herald the start of a new season.

Every year in recent times the 1500m race is contested by outstanding runners from South-east Queensland athletics clubs outside Gaelic football.

This year Meiklejohn won the prize that has eluded many great runners in the past.

Since debuting for Shamrocks in 1999 when he was part of the Shamrocks reserves Championship-winning team, Meiklejohn has won many sprint events at the Sports Day.

This year he stretched out to middle-distance to win the blue-ribbon event.

His athleticism will again be a huge benefit for Shamrocks this season.

Shamrocks senior mens have a bye to open the Brisbane Shield competition this weekend, with only the mens reserves team in action against Souths at Willawong at 1:00pm on Sunday.

Related links:

2003 Fixtures

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