Milltown and Shandonagh honour and remember Kelly
A memorial match in memory of Kelly Nagle was played between Milltown and Shandonagh ladies minor teams in glorious autumn sunshine at Milltown pitch on Saturday week last. The fixture, which was won by Shandonagh, also featured a special half-time game between the U10 girls from both clubs.
Kelly played with both clubs and for her county during her illustrious footballing career, and it is said she was rarely seen without a football in her hand.
She started her career with Shandonagh at the age of 10 and from then on was continually selected to play for the club at her age level and at older age levels. She was also ever present at county level from U12 to minor grades.
With her passion for and dedication to football growing, Kelly, along with her twin sister Dánagh, joined the Milltown club in 2021, and enjoyed the intensity of the regime at senior level.
In early summer of 2022, Kelly, daughter of Derek and Natasha Nagle of Glascorn, Ballinea, was diagnosed with a tumour and finally succumbed to her illness in October of last year.
During her illness, Kelly displayed bravery and strength and smiled from beginning to end, except for one upsetting evening when, for the first time in memory, she knew she would not be able to tog out for the first round of the championship.
However, she attended as many training sessions and games as she could during her illness, in support of her club.
There was a donation box at the match on Saturday in aid of LARCC, in recognition of the work they do for those affected by cancer, and €1,380 was raised.
There were refreshments for all in the community centre after the game where Kelly’s former teammates and mentors, her many friends and family remembered her fondly.