Huge success as Offaly Ladies A Pool Team win All-Ireland Shield

THE Offaly ladies A team won the All-Ireland Shield, beating Donegal B, team 5-1 at the Irish Pool Association All-Ireland event in Killarney recently.

Both teams played outstanding pool in the Shield final, it was a fantastic final to watch them both said Offaly Pool Association's Angela Briggs.

She added: "Ladies pool has come a long way over the last few years and this year saw a big increase in ladies county teams with a lot of counties having at least two teams representing their county at the All-Irelands."

Offaly sent two ladies teams to Killarney again this year, the Offaly ladies have won the All-Irelands Shield in 2021, 2022, 2023 & now 2025, they won the main All-Ireland event Cup In 2024, for the last 5 years running the Offaly ladies have been having a great success in the Irish Pool Association All-Irelands Championships staying in top level at the event.

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Added Angela: "I remember my first All-Irelands in 2022 and the nerves running through me, it was absolutely amazing, the rush of adrenaline and the pressure on you as a team player is a wonderful experience in itself. I've said over the years to new players coming along that your first experience of the All-Irelands would either break you or make you hunger for more."

The winning frame that took the ladies to 5-1 for the Offaly Ladies was won by Mags Carr. This lady has improved so much in the last year said Angela who added that her determination and love of pool has shown throughout the year in her rankings.

Mags joined the Offaly ladies team taking part in her first ranking in September season 23-24 making her first appearance in the 2024 All-Irelands Offaly ladies B team.

This year saw Mags make the Offaly ladies A team & help take her team to be this years All-Ireland Shield winners. "Mags is an absolute lady and she is such a joy to have on our team; we are the Offaly sisters and we here at Offaly are one big family from our juniors, mens, ladies, O50's and O-60s," added Angela.

Offaly Pool play out of The Cue Academy Hall in Henry Street Tullamore, just up from Centra in the old badminton club. They are open everyday from 7-11am and on Sunday they run kids coaching lessons, 5-7pm.

Anyone is welcome to join. You can contact The Cue Academy on Facebook or Angela Briggs on 0851913748 for further details.

In April of this year The Juniors All-Irelands took place at JMAC's pool hall in Navan, where hundreds of U18s from all over the country took park in the 3 day event and Offaly Juniors U18's got to the final of this All-Irelands. Proud couldn’t even describe what we here at the Offaly Pool Association are feeling.

"What a bunch of legends we are forming in Offaly," commented Thomas Quigley tournament director of Offaly Pool.

"These five future stars under the management of Michael Falsey played their hearts out and made it all the way to the 2025 Under 18s Junior All Ireland Final only to be denied by a strong Limerick side. Congrats to Limerick on their title win but Congratulations to Ethan Henchy, Billy Dunne, Adam Wynne, John O’Meara and Jack Foy on what is only the start of their journey of eventually dominating Irish pool."

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This year's trip to Killarney for Offaly Pool consisted of the following teams:

Ladies A

Mary Duffy Lowbridge

Gemma Masterson

Jannette Jackson

Mags Carr

Ladies B

Angela Briggs

Sandra Mc Cann

Mary Devine

U23s

Adam Wynne

Georgie Lynam Jnr

Steven Falsey

Men's A

Sean Wynne

Patrick O Leary

Colin Slevin

David Hogan

Michael Scally

Philip McGrath

Alan Kelly

Bradley Walsh

Shane Sheridan

Jude Roche

Men's B

Mark Clarke

Stephen Dunne

Brian Quigley

Dean Berry

Shay Holleran

Adam Wynne

John Flanagan

Ger Dunican

Mick Egan

Chris Bradley

Men's C

Thomas Quigley

John Young

Barry Carroll

Andy Lowbridge Snr

Mary Devine

Adam Delaney

Pajo Johnson

Ger McGrath

Georgie Lynam Jnr

John Keeley

Men's D

Michael Falsey

Alan Brewer

Alan Murphy

James Flanagan

Cathal Loughman

Timmy Dalton

Ger Buckley

Angela Briggs

Tom O Hanlon

Aidan Cambell Jnr

Marc Lynam

O50's

Michael Falsey

Trevor Sheehan

Mick Egan

Pa Lowbridge

John Holt

Georgie Lynam Snr

Terry McGovern

O60's

Alan Murphy

Mark Clarke

Ger Buckley

John Keeley

Meanwhile, this year sees Offaly Pool Association celebrate 30 years and they plan on holding a big celebration night later this year in October. They will be contacting all those involved in Offaly Pool over the last 30 years for a big presentation and celebration night. Anyone that has been involved in the past are more than welcome to get in touch with Angela Briggs or anyone from the Cue Academy or Offaly Pool Facebook page.

Also on Saturday, June 28, from 8pm the Offaly ladies team will be having their celebration win in The Goalpost Tullamore as they are the clubs main sponsor, they would like to invite everyone to this event to help them celebrate their All-Irelands Shield win.