Brilliant Ballygarrett
A MAJESTIC performance from the magnificent Aoife Wafer propelled Ballygarrett past Kilanerin to the ladies’ football Minor Division 4 championship title in Clonee on Friday.
In a game between two sides that played out a hard-fought, close contest in the group stages, Wafer and her incredible haul of eight majors was the big difference on an evening in which everything she touched turned to goals.
Not that she did it all on her own. Ballygarrett were strong all over the pitch, starting from goalkeeper Carragh Clarke.
It probably seems silly to suggest it with such a margin of victory, but had she not made a fantastic save from Shannon McLoughlin’s early penalty, then who knows how the game would have panned out.
Shereen Hamilton is no stranger to the inter-county under-age scene and she was excellent too, nabbing a major treble while all those around her chipped in, with no fewer than six different players recording assists for goals.
For Kilanerin it was a tough loss to take. They battled away gamely but it was just one of those days when nothing would fall their way. This young group will be back to fight another day for their club.
Wafer had her first goal while Joey Gahan and Ciara Doyle had points on the board when Clarke saved the early penalty.
It was 1-4 to nil after Leila Mulhall and Wafer added points before strong performer Cliodhna O’Connor got her club on the scoreboard.
Kilanerin’s best on the day, Kaitlyn O’Connor, registered in the 20th minute but goals from Hamilton and Wafer (two) left her side with a mountain to climb, down by 4-5 to 0-2.
Shannon McLoughlin pulled another point back but more scores followed at the other end, with Ballygarrett going in 6-7 to 0-3 in front.
A fifth Wafer goal came shortly after the re-start but McLoughlin did kick another free for Kilanerin.
It only momentarily stalled the Ballygarrett forward thrusts, with Wafer netting three more and Hamilton completing her treble on their way to a 12-7 to 0-4 lead.
Kaitlyn O’Connor kicked her second point for Kilanerin with eight minutes left but substitute Katie Tobin found the net a short time later.
There was still time for Hamilton and Ciara Doyle to add further points before captain Kate O’Loughlin collected the cup. Ballygarrett: Carragh Clarke; Leila Mulhall (0-1), Amy Lawless, Hannah Brady; Fiona Cousins, Shereen Hamilton (3-3, 0-2 frees), Andrea Kinsella; Kate O’Loughlin (capt.), Joey Gahan (1-1); Ellen O’Loughlin, Sadhbh Corcoran, Aoife Wafer (8-3); Chloe Sweeney, Ciara Doyle (0-2, 0-1 pen), Eve Loughlin. Subs. - Megan Doyle, Katie Tobin (1-0), Holly Moran, Rachel Brady, Sarah Dunne.
Kilanerin: Hannah Noctor; Hannah Neville, Caoimhe Noctor, Mariah Boland; Elsa Hughes, Alice Colfer, Róisín Noctor; Kaitlyn O’Connor (0-2 frees), Dearbhla Noctor; Laura Ivors, Cliodhna O’Connor (0-1), Orla Bolger; Katie O’Sullivan, Shannon McLoughlin (0-2 frees), Eimear Daly. Subs. - Bronagh Bolger for O’Sullivan, Ali Bushe for Daly, Caoimhe Kinsella for Ivors, Aoife McGonigle for Boland, also Róisín Hughes, Erin Bushe, Amy O’Sullivan, Tara O’Connor, Aoibhe Last, Shannon Owley.