Family, friends and colleagues remember Kelly with charity match in support of LARCC

A memorial match in memory of Kelly Nagle was played between Milltown and Shandonagh ladies minor teams on a sunny Saturday October 25 at the Sean Doolin GAA Park in Milltown. The match, which was won by Milltown, also featured a special half-time game between the U10 girls from both clubs.

Kelly played for both clubs and at county level from U12 to minor grades. She started her career at U10 with Shandonagh and joined the Milltown club in 2021. The following year, Kelly, daughter of Derek and Natasha Nagle of Glascorn, Ballinea, was diagnosed with a tumour and finally succumbed to her illness in October 2023.

A large crowd attended this year’s memorial match and €720 was raised for LARCC Cancer Support Centre. Bernie McHugh, a native of Milltown and general manager of the LARCC centre, attended and delivered a heartfelt speech.

Kelly’s family and friends were among those in attendance as the communities combined to remember “a very special lady and raise vital funds for LARCC”, one of the organisers reported.

In a sporting game Milltown minors defeated Shandonagh by 4-07 to 2-09. The Nagle family presented a Player of the Game award to Katie Flanagan and the Kelly Nagle Memorial Shield to Milltown captain Aine Heduan. The referee, Vinny Cox, donated his fee to LARCC.

During the half time interval the crowd was treated to a great game of football as the U10s from both clubs displayed their skills.

Following the presentations, a large crowd filed into the Milltown Community Centre, where an array of home baked treats and refreshments were served. There, Kelly’s former teammates and mentors, her many friends and family remembered her fondly.

The clubs have thanked all who helped make the match memorable and successful – the Nagle family, those who got the pitch and hall ready, the wonderful bakers, all the teams, those who helped serve the refreshments, the referee, and the kind supporters who dug deep to raise funds.