Adamstown overcome Ballygarrett comeback
ADAMSTOWN 4-8 BALLYGARRETT 2-2
ADAMSTOWN WITHSTOOD a brave Ballygarrett fightback to claim the ladies’ football Under-14 Division 2 championship title in St. Patrick’s Park.
The newly-crowned champions controlled the first-half but had to withstand a barrage from their gutsy opponents in the third quarter.
In fact, it followed much the same script as their Under-16 decider against Davidstown-Courtnacuddy a few weeks ago, as they rebounded impressively when the gauntlet was thrown down.
It helped hugely that half their team was involved in that success. More than that, they had talented playmakers like Leah Furlong, Sinéad Roche and Isobel English who all played vital roles in that win, putting in dominant showings in this final too.
Yet there is clearly a lot of hard work going on with both these clubs, and Adamstown were particularly impressive with their ability to do the basics really well, right across the field. Their handling, their passing, their decision-making were all excellent, with no discernible drop-off when they began to make changes.
They completely dominated the early stages but Ballygarrett defended with great heart to keep the score down. Sinéad Roche opened the scoring before Karolina Jaglarz twice showed her impressive ability with her left boot.
It was 0-4 to nil after Leah Furlong scored and she was the one that finally found a way past Nicola Wright in the 22nd minute. Jaglarz and Furlong added further points to ensure Adamstown went in 1-6 to nil ahead.
The eventual winners were warned about the potential for a Ballygarrett purple patch at the interval but they weren’t able to prevent their opponents from getting up a head of steam.
Katie Bolger and Robyn Kinsella netted before Caoilfhionn Ní Núalláin popped over a couple of points to incredibly close the gap to just one (1-6 to 2-2).
The Adamstown response to adversity was again impressive. In less than three minutes Sinéad Roche flashed home a goal and then Jaglarz netted with that trusty left foot.
It settled the champions down and they ran out impressive winners, with Roche bagging a late major to cap a memorable evening for her club.
Adamstown: Aoife McCabe; Ellen Gill, Liz Dempsey, Caoimhe Curtis; Ellie Kehoe, Isobel English, Rebecca Ogilvie; Leah Furlong (capt., 1-2), Katie English; Ellen Duggan, Sinéad Roche (2-2), Niamh English; Karolina Jaglarz (1-4, 0-1 free), Niamh Bates, Róisín Gill. Subs. - Chloe O’Neill for Furlong, inj. (34), Furlong for O’Neill (36), O’Neill for Gill (44), Eilis Roche for Duggan (44), Ciara Mooney for Curtis, inj. (55), Clodagh Creane for E. Roche (60+1), Maeve O’Neill for Bates (60+1), also Erin McDonald, Ella Furlong.
Ballygarrett: Nicola Wright; Rebekah Burke, Mia Davy Edmunds, Aoife Doyle; Orla Wafer, Sophie Moran, Rebecca Prendergast; Grace O’Keeffe, Emily Riley; Therese Lawless, Katie Bolger (1-0), Cianna McNamee; Robyn Kinsella (1-0), Caoilfhionn Ní Núalláin (0-2, 1 free), Alana Doyle. Subs. - Niamh Crowe for Alana Doyle (38), also Nelli Douglas, Ava Green, Aoife O’Connor, Eva Casey.
Referee: Ian Plunkett (Marshalstown-Castledockrell).