"I remember when the likes of Carrick were beating us 13-0"

Dungarvan United are Waterford women’s league double winners after cruising past Carrick United on a scoreline of 5 goals to 1 at Ozier Park last night.

An amazing 7-minute hat-trick from 17 year old substitute Lily MacGill proved pivotal, with Eimear Fennell also pitching in with two well taken goals and two assists.

The Blues went behind in the first half thanks to a goal from Carrick’s Bríonna Fennell, but showed great character to pull away from their opponents in the second half.

Speaking to WLR after the game, winning captain Aisling Farrell was thrilled. She says she can remember joining the club 10 years ago, when the likes of Carrick United & Benfica were beating the Blues by double figures.

The winning Dungarvan United squad. Photo: Eddie Dee

“I’m absolutely thrilled standing here now. I’m so proud of all the girls. To think how far we’ve come in ten years - I don’t know if many people know, but we’ve been playing for ten years. When we started in 2012, we were going out and getting hammered 13-0 against the likes of Carrick. To be standing here ten years on, having won the double, making history like that in the club - I’m just so so proud. So proud of all the girls, from the originals to the newbies.”

Farrell revealed that Dungarvan’s hat-trick hero, Lily MacGill, remarkably only started playing soccer just six weeks ago.

Lily MacGill rounds the goalkeeper to score.

“It was a stunning performance from Lily. She was actually scouted by our centre back Katie Hannon. Katie teaches Lily at Coláiste na Rinne in An Rinn. She saw her talent in school and she asked her to come and play. She’s only 17, and she’s just absolutely outstanding. She’s only playing soccer with six weeks but came on and really turned this game around.”

The win over Carrick at Ozier Park put the cherry on top of a superb season for the Blues.

Aisling says nothing would be possible without the dedication of volunteers like coaches Lucinda Shrubb & Tommy Butler.

“This is absolutely huge for Dungarvan. There’s a huge movement for women in sport - and to have people like Lucinda & Tommy, volunteering their time with young children at home and they have full time jobs themselves. To be putting in that time for ourselves, we’re forever grateful, and for everyone else in the county who is volunteering and putting time into ladies’ sports. It’s really fantastic to see and I’m just so proud tonight.”

Coach Tommy Butler says that Dungarvan United were the best team in the league all season, and he was delighted that they could achieve the double.

Butler shakes hands with Carrick boss Michael Clarkson.

“It was a great team performance again tonight. We knew coming here that it was going to be a tough game against Carrick - you never get anything easy off Carrick. Fair play to the girls, they went 1-0 down but they stuck to their guns. For me, they’ve been the best team in the league all season. They don’t panic. They’re a good footballing side, they get the ball down and play and try and play the right way. A great result tonight, I’m delighted for them.”

Like Farrell, Tommy reserved special praise for hat-trick hero Lily MacGill. Tommy spoke of his reasons to leave her out from the start, and says she has been an ‘incredible find’ for the club.

“Lily’s been terrific since she came in. A young girl, only 17, and I had to leave her out tonight. I said to her ‘Look Lil, we’ll probably need you later on, when the game needs to be stretched’. Again, she came in and done the business for us. She’s an unbelievable find for the club this year. I think that could be her third hat-trick this year, maybe her second - but she’s got about ten goals in her first season. She’s a great kid, with a great attitude. I hope some League of Ireland clubs are actually looking at her - she’ll be one for the future definitely.”

Overall, it was an incredible evening for the Kilrush Park club, and Butler says their success largely comes down to the work of Lucinda Shrubb for her efforts to keep the women’s team going in trying circumstances.

“It’s huge for the club. Fair play to the likes of Lucinda. She’s kept it going with the last few years, I only stepped in this year and gave her a hand. I’m glad I did. It’s great for the club, absolutely huge for the club to create a double tonight. We have some great young talent coming through, so long may this success continue.”