Selfless Shanahan earns deserved reward

By Kevin Egan

You don’t have to have played for your club at a high level to understand the special occasion that is the ‘Monday Club’ after your county final Sunday. Whether it’s an elite senior championship, or a Junior C competition where you only met up a handful of times, the day after the big day is either a joyous celebration that will live long in the memory, or a vital part of the healing process after a painful defeat.

Sharon Shanahan lined out at centre-forward and was captain, as Shinrone claimed their first Offaly Senior Camogie Championship title in 10 years at Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park on Sunday, overcoming neighbours St Cillian’s by 2-13 to 1-12 in a memorable final.

For Sharon, the Monday Club was something different to what it might mean to a lot of others. After pulling together to put a tough decade that featured six county final defeats behind them, Monday and the subsequent days was about sharing the excitement with the whole community, particularly the younger generations.

To have her focus set on the bigger picture and what she can do for others is entirely in character for Shanahan, but more on that later.

County final wins have to be first order of business in any conversation at this time of year, naturally!

“It was just so special,” says the skipper. “It was a tough game, and we knew we would have to work hard right until the final whistle. We believed in what we had set out to do, and we were willing to fight for each other to get over the line. There was a huge amount of character and determination within the group, and to finally get there together made it all the more special.”

While the focus throughout the year had been on bringing the cup back to Shinrone, the celebrations quickly became about sharing the occasion with the wider community, with a special focus on the academy players who had been such a big part of the day.

“All year, we focused on ourselves and on doing everything we could as a team. But running out onto the pitch on Sunday to see all the young players there to give us a guard of honour was something really special. They were there supporting us, and once we got over the line, we wanted to give some of that time and support back to them. Visiting Clonlisk and Shinrone National Schools was a lovely way to do that.”

“They had all their artwork and colours on display, and the welcome we got when we walked into the rooms was brilliant. It was lovely to see how excited they were, and to be able to share the day with them made it even more special for us.”

“It’s great to get the chance to sit down with them and have a chat. They ask you all sorts of questions, like why you started playing camogie, what your favourite part of it is and what it means to you. Sometimes, when you’re caught up in playing, you don’t stop to think about those things, so it was lovely to hear their questions and see how much interest they have in the game.

“We all started somewhere, and it’s great to think that we might have a small part to play in encouraging the next generation. Hopefully, some day, we’ll see those same young girls out on the field playing together, making their own memories and experiencing days like this for themselves, and if I’m not retired, I might get to play with them myself!”

The win also means that another big day is in store for the club, as they will now get to host their Leinster semi-final on the first weekend of November, with St Martin’s of Wexford down to travel to the South Offaly village.

“The club is still buzzing and there’s still loads happening around the place at this late time of year, which is great. The juniors are playing away, they play Kinnitty in a county final on Saturday week, and we get to go back training and playing for a game that will give all the families, the kids and everyone a chance to come out and support us.”

They are buoyant even though the provincial competition will be very competitive. Champions Dicksboro have a third Kilkenny final clash in succession with Piltown at UPMC Nowlan Park tomorrow, and St Vincent’s were good enough to the title in 2024. Whoever comes through their battle with Naomh Jude will be formidable.

And St Martin’s will be highly rated after their dominant performance in their county final win over Glynn-Barntown.

“Playing at home is a huge boost, to begin with,” says Shanahan, but there’s plenty more cause for her optimism.

“It’s the perfect timing in that we have time to enjoy the county final and still get back and get fully ready for this game. There’s a great mix in the team this year, we’ve players who came back from playing county, there’s experienced players providing great leadership, we’ve some younger players who have really added to it, and then Gráinne Egan came back from Australia in July after being away for four years. She’s been a huge addition.”

The seven-point tally from Egan in the final certainly corroborates that.

Shanahan herself can take a disproportionately large share of the credit for the unity and camaraderie in this Shinrone group, as she took on a significant undertaking for charity this year, and it had a galvanizing effect.

The panel and wider community weighed in heavily behind her as she ran 100km through the month of July to fundraise for the Irish Cancer Society.

Sharon chose to take on the challenge, setting an initial goal of raising €1,000, in honour of her father Philip, who is currently battling the disease, and her grandfather Tom, who passed away last month.

“My dad had been told he was all-clear after an initial diagnosis. Then when it came back, it sat with me for a while and I felt I wanted to do something.”

An All-Ireland winner with Offaly at intermediate level last year, the dual Ashbourne Cup winner with UL stepped away from the county set-up this term, in part to redirect her energy towards this cause, and was immediately overwhelmed by the support and good wishes of the wider community.

“The girls in the club got behind me, there were so many businesses that came in with their support, and then you have people contacting you, telling their own story, it just resonates so much with everyone. The money raised is great but it’s as much about people pulling together to support each other, trying to give back some hope and positivity.

“I’m delighted I did it, but I am available for selection again for next year!” she makes sure to add with a smile, sending out notice to new Faithful County manager Conor Dolan and his selectors.

Always all-in, wholeheartedly behind a collective effort, but always thinking of the bigger picture and trying to look after the next generation in the process. Whether it’s work, sport or the heavy bumps in the road that life can present, Sharon Shanahan’s approach is invariably the same.