Shamrocks News

20 Jun 2005 - Irishman Danny Madden (pictured) played his last match for the Shamrocks Gaelic football club over the weekend and was instrumental in a boil-over win by his Brisbane western suburbs team.

Madden scored his first point for Shamrocks in his last match, and was one of the best afield, as Shamrocks A handed Souths its first loss in 2005, winning by seven points 1-10 (13) to 0-6 (6).

The defender from County Roscommon now goes home leaving his Shamrocks undefeated after two weeks of the Queensland Gaelic Football League.

Earlier this month Madden was one of the better players for Shamrocks in the Brisbane Shield final, and last year was Queensland ladies assistant coach to Shamrocks� Jacqueline Peacock when Queensland won the Australasian Championships in Melbourne.

�He will be missed greatly from our team,� lamented teammate and committeeman Sam Porter.

Against Souths over the weekend, Madden joined Steve Melody and David McNeilly as Shamrocks� best, while the scoring was led by Melody with 1-2 and Paul Daly 0-3.

On Sunday at Gaelic Park, Willawong, Shamrocks A face a rematch against its Brisbane Shield victors John Mitchels, and Shamrocks B play Harps. In the ladies division, Shamrocks play Sarsfields.

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Full scorers

Irish Media version

Danny leaves Australia with a win and a point

County Roscommon�s Danny Madden played his last match for the Shamrocks Gaelic football club in Australia over the weekend after a year of success Downunder.

The defender who played with Western Gaels GAA when home in Ireland, was instrumental in a boil-over win by his Brisbane senior team in his final game.

Madden scored his first point for Shamrocks in his last match, and was one of the best afield, as Shamrocks remained undefeated after two weeks of the Queensland League.

Earlier this month Madden was one of the best players for Shamrocks in the Brisbane Shield final, and last year was Queensland ladies assistant coach as Queensland won the Australasian Championships for the second time in three years.

�He will be missed greatly from our team,� lamented teammate and committeeman Sam Porter.

Madden returns home to French Park after an extended holiday in Australia, and will be welcomed home by his parents Susan and Eugene Madden.

The Shamrocks club have enjoyed many fine players from Roscommon. These include Ray Concar who won the 1995 Queensland Championship in his debut year with Shamrocks, and Brisbane Shield titles in 1998, 1999, and 2001.

More recently, Brian Flynn who won the 1997 Intermediate county football championship and the 1998 Senior county hurling championship with the Oran club in Roscommon, was a Brisbane Shield finalist with Shamrocks in 2002. Roscommon�s Padraig Butler was a popular club supporter in 2001.

Cold night for Shamrocks

11 Jun 2005 - The 2005 Gaelic Football Brisbane Shield finals at Willawong last night were remarkable for several reasons, including thrilling results and some pieces of history.

In 1999 Shamrocks became the only club to win all three Brisbane Shields in the one year. Six years later, the Brisbane western suburbs club is still the only team to even qualify for the three finals, but over the weekend also became the first to lose all three matches on Shield final night.

John Mitchels 2-6 (12) edged past Shamrocks A 1-7 (10) in a great senior mens final, after leading by as much as seven points late in the game, to flex their 2005 Championship muscle.

On each of the three previous occasions that John Mitchels have won the Brisbane Shield, they also went on to win the Queensland Championship, 2002 being the most recent.

The match was Shamrocks senior mens seventh Brisbane Shield final in eight years, and its second loss to John Mitchels in that time.

Steve Melody 1-1 led the Shamrocks scoring, while best player was Justin Mosch and Danny Madden. David O'Malley deserves a mention. Sasha Lennon was outstanding for John Mitchels.

Harps 2-7 (13) beat Shamrocks 0-6 (6) in a highly competitive ladies final, after scores were tied 5-5 at half time.

That gave Harps its fourth ladies Brisbane Shield in five years. It was Shamrocks ladies first Shield final since winning a record fourth consecutive title in 2000.

Sally Cooper 0-3 led the scoring, while Casey Sharpe was best for the defeated western suburbs team. Mel Cowie was best for Harps.

In the mens B match, which appears destined to become known as the Rockett-Hurst Shield, Easts Celts B 0-14 (14) beat Shamrocks B 3-4 (13) in a thriller.

Laurie Bree scored his first career goal for Shamrocks, while Justin Rees was best. Conan Dyar was very good Easts Celts.

Shield finals on Friday night

09 Jun 2005 - Shamrocks have three matches on Brisbane Shield final night under lights to kick off the Queen�s Birthday weekend.

Shamrocks play defending champion Harps in the ladies final, and Shamrocks A play the favoured John Mitchels in the mens final, while in the mens B game, Shamrocks B play Easts Celts B.

The matches this Friday night 10th June start at 6:30pm, 7:45pm and 9:00pm respectively. All supporters of great football are welcome. No league matches are scheduled for Sunday due to the long weekend.

Shamrocks have won more Brisbane Shield finals (11) than any other club in QGFA history. The opponents on Friday - Harps (5), John Mitchels (4), and Easts Celts (5) � are next in the order of merit for the season-opening trophy.

Not a perfect League start

05 Jun 2005 - Records tumbled but not enough wins resulted for Shamrocks on the opening weekend of Queensland Gaelic Football League matches at Willawong.

The near-record winning streak ended at nine games for the Shamrocks ladies, when they were beaten 2-5 (11) by Harps 4-9 (21).

That was just one win short of equaling the club record on 10-consecutive wins set back in 1999, and the loss came against Harps � the team whose own 21-game winning streak was ended by Shamrocks last month.

Harps led 4-3 to 0-3 at half-time but a strong second half produced some positives.

Tricia Brown and Renee Moynihan scored the goals for Shamrocks, while the best were Kelsey Canuto, Alycia Clayton and Jacinta Kelly.

Shamrocks now play Harps in the Brisbane Shield ladies final under lights this Friday night.

In the mens competition, Shamrocks A broke a seven-year-old team record with 22 points in their 32-point win over Harps, 6-22 (40) to 2-2 (8).

That smashed the previous best of 17 points kicked against Sarsfields back when records were first kept in 1998. The 40-point match total was the second-highest in team history.

Paul Daly and Matt Mayo both scored 2-4, but no one will forget Cameron Carney and his contender for goal-of-the-year from a ball off the ground from a 50m free.

Meanwhile, Shamrocks B were thumped by John Mitchels.

History beckons again

29 May 2005 - Shamrocks was advised today that the club will have two teams in Brisbane Shield finals next month, after Gaelic football matches went their way at Willawong over the weekend.

Shamrocks have won more Brisbane Shields that any other club in QGFA history, and now have been told they have the opportunity to win two more.

The club�s record 11 Brisbane Shield titles include the unique achievement of winning the inaugural Brisbane Shield in each of the three grades, starting with the senior mens in 1988.

After Shamrocks with 11 titles comes Easts Celts 5, Harps 5, John Mitchels 4, Souths 3, Sarsfields 2, and O�Reillys 1.

In the 2005 finals under lights on Friday 10th June, Shamrocks ladies play defending champions Harps, and in the reserve mens Shamrocks B play defending champions Easts Celts.

Meanwhile over the weekend, Shamrocks A 4-13 (25) beat Easts Celts B 1-6 (9), and best were Andy Meiklejohn, Paul Daly, and Steve Melody, while Matt Mayo led the scoring with 3-4. Sam Porter also deserves a mention.

Shamrocks ladies 3-14 (23) beat a spirited Souths 3-4 (13), and had to hold on as they were outscored in the second half for the first time this season.

Best players for the western suburbs were Jacinta Kelly, Sally Cooper kicking 1-6, and Kim Clist.

In the first round of Queensland League matches this week, Shamrocks play Harps and John Mitchels.

Related links:
Previous Brisbane Shield winners

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