An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 33 BY SGWN BRONAC KELLY, 2 CIS COY O n Friday 26th May 2019, 113th Inf Bn IRISHBATT organised and hosted the UNIFIL Inter Contin- gent Ladies Five-A-Side Soccer Blitz in UNP 2-45. All battalion's in Sector West, along with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) were invited to take part. On the day teams from Malbatt, Ghanbatt, the Force Commanders Reserve (FCR) and Irishbatt participated in the blitz. There were six group stage games, where each contingent played against each other. Irishbatt played each of the other contingents, won all three group games, scored ten goals and conceded none. The first semi-final saw Irishbatt play Malbatt, but the Irish girls were much too strong for their opponent's and won out 4-0. The second semi-final saw The FCR play Ghan- batt, which was a much tighter affair and went right down to the wire, with Ghanbatt emerging as eventual winners. The final was a very hard fought contest, and a much tighter game for the Irish girls than they had against the same opponents in the group stage. Ghanbatt, along with their Army of supporters and their brass band were really up for the contest. Irishbatt took the lead half way through the first half through a brilliant strike from Cpl Jen Kingston (1 Bde Tpt Coy). After this, the Irish girls controlled the game at the back through Pte Ciamh Grays (Mil Col) organisational skill, developed, no doubt, through her experience with Wexford Youths, and roving breaks orchestrated by Cpl Shelley Kehoe (DFHQ) and Pte Aisling Byrne (Ord Sec, DFTC). The Irish goalkeeper on the day was Sgt Lorraine Walsh (No 1 Ops Wing), who not alone frightened the opposi- tion with her vocal chords but also her own team mates into not conceding any goals. Irishbatt won the final 1-0, which was observed by OC 113th Inf Bn, Lt Col Caimin Keogh and a large crowd from all four contingents. Lt Col Keogh made presentations to all participating contingents and was very pleased to present the winning trophy to Irishbatt Capt Pte Ciamh Gray. The top goal scorer for the competition was Cpl Shelley Kehoe with six goals. The Irish squad all contributed to the winning of this event and a brilliant day was had by all. The squad consisted of ten members: Capt Aine Gilmore, Lt Sinead Ni Bhrian, Sgt Lorraine Walsh, Cpl Shelley Kehoe, Cpl Jen Kingston, Cpl Ashleen Keady, Pte Ciamh Gray, Sgwn Bronac Kelly, Pte Aisling Byrne and Pte Julie O'Brien. Sports in association with https://www.teamwear.ie/

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