Barntown best in real thriller
Goals galore in super final
BARNTOWN AND Gaelscoil Loch Garman played out a twelve-goal thriller in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Rackard League girls’ football Roinn ‘C’ decider in St. Patrick’s Park.
This really was a game that you couldn’t take your eyes off for a second as both teams repeatedly went at each other in waves and waves of unstoppable attacks. The end result was a game that had many memorable moments.
Barntown began at an electric pace and initially it looked like they were going to blow the Gaelscoil away.
Within two minutes, Robyn O’Connor had fired a bullet into the back of the net.
An Olivia Garnett free opened up an early four-point lead. In response, Cáit de Lá sprung into life and went on to score 2-4 in the first-half. Her player-of-the-match performance included points from well out the field as well as two spectacular goals.
Her free-taking off the ground and ball-carrying skills were a massive asset to the Gaelscoil challenge. Robyn O’Connor, Emma O’Leary and Olivia Garnett worked together to negate de Lá’s influence on the match, and their combined scores kept Barntown in the lead by 4-2 to 2-4 at half-time.
The second-half almost became a goal-getting competition, with the scoreboard operator working overtime to keep up with the girls on the field.
Robyn O’Connor really began to click into gear and added a further 2-4 to her already significant haul of scores.
Cáit de Lá scored two more goals to keep her team’s chances alive, and Jasmine de Gaor also got in on the goalscoring act.
When Josie Mullin’s long-range free dropped just under the Gaelscoil crossbar it really was the end of the match as it left them with too much to do.
The Gaelscoil, however, will be content with another successful year and a solid foundation to build on for next season, while the Barntown girls will now join the top grade in 2018.
Barntown: Jane Duggan, Meghan Rossiter, Sophie O’Leary, Sophie While, Sridevi Sinnott, Josie Mullin, Robyn O’Connor, Olivia Garnett, Sidhi Sinnott, Emma O’Leary, Sarah Nolan, Caitlin Hunt, Alice Hilliard, Sophie Conroy, Ina Mullin, Zoe Wildes, Sarah Conroy, Katelyn Kent, Jessica Fanning, Aoibh Cleary.
Gaelscoil Loch Garman: Rachel Ní Dhiomsaigh, Éabha Ní Chrualaoich, Aisling Ní Ghogáin, Sorcha Ní Mhurchú, Maria Ní Fhortcheirn, Niamh Ní Mhurchú, Caoilinn Ní Ghathlaoich, Grace Ní Núanáin, Caoimhe Ní Dhálaigh, Cáit De Lá, Cáit Breathnach, Jasmine De Gaor, Kacey Ní Mhaonaigh, Rachel Ní Rúairc, Hollie Ní Bhroinn, Isobel Ní Fhaoláin, Siúin Ní Ghathlaoích, Abigail de Lá, Eireann Ní Mhuirí, Ellie Ní Mhurchú, Saoirse Nic Roibín.