Bray utterly dominant
BRAY EMMETS started out their Intermediate campaign with a comprehensive victory over a very youthful and gallant St Patrick’s.
Bray, who have been regraded at their own request for this season, really do look a side on a mission and with top-class performers like Mikaela Shelley, Juliet Fortune, Alanna Conroy, Lauren Rowe and Una O’Grady they really will be the team to beat at this level.
With Conroy and O’Grady dominating around the middle they had six points on the board before Pats had crossed the halfway line, with the pacey Rowe looking especially lively in the opening exchanges.
St. Pats were trying manfully, however many of their attacks were breaking down on the Bray half-back where Alice Fitzgerald in particular was mopping all the danger up.
On ten minutes Pats got their score when the energetic Justine Cronin engineered a free that Laura Newsome pointed. That was as good as it got for them as Bray went up through the gears to pull away, showing no mercy for their opponents.
On 13 minutes they got in for their first goal. Rowe cut in from the left before off-loading to Juliet Fortune to side foot to the Pats net. 30 seconds later Fortune had the net dancing again. She claimed the kick out before galloping in on goal and unleashing an unstoppable shot from 20 yards.
The lead was out to 13 and the contest as good as over. The quick off-loading and interplay of the Bray girls was a joy to watch at this stage, with the Pats defence in a daze watching them blur by them. The third goal duly arrived with Fortune getting on the end of a flowing move for her hat-trick.
With Shelley directing traffic, Bray heaped on the misery for the remainder of the half.
On the resumption it was much the same with further goals arriving from Shauna Douglas, Una O’Grady, Eimear Martin and a brace from Emily Cahill showing the strength in reserve for the Emmets.
Mikaela Shelley showed her footballing brain with some tremendous punched efforts when on another day when a game is closer, she might have went looking for goals.
Player of the match had to be Juliet Fortune who ran up a big personal tally. Shelley was also impressive with her movement and ability to bring her team mates into the action.
For Pats it’s a learning experience and they can hold their heads high that they never gave up with Justine Cronin in particular having some good moments.
It will be a serious team to stop Bray at this grade and with an extra couple of players unearthed around the field this season they should be aiming for the upper echelons of senior in the years to come.