Rackard League finals in focus
Powerful midfielder McDonald drives team to victory
AN EARLY scoring blitz set Kilanerin up for a comprehensive 28-point victory over Piercestown in this one-sided Rackard League girls’ football Roinn ‘A’ final in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Wednesday.
A powerful display from midfielder Bebhinn McDonald, who finished the game with a personal tally of 4-2, inspired the north county side.
They totally dominated this game, with the McDonald presence effective right through the course of the 50 minutes.
Kilanerin started powerfully, hitting the front within 30 seconds of the start through an Anna Hughes point, but by the third minute they had stormed into a 2-3 to nil lead.
The goals came from Anna Hughes and Thomasina Carter, while points flowed from Neassa Ní Lúasaigh and Sienna Arcari.
It was the type of start many teams could only dream of, but Kilanerin were not satisfied to rest on their laurels as they continued to lay siege to the opposition goal.
Further goals followed from Bebhinn McDonald to leave her side leading by 4-6 to nil at the interval, with Piercestown unable to find a way through to goal despite their best efforts, with most of the half spent in a defensive role.
When Anna Hughes increased that lead with two quick points on the resumption, with a Sienna Arcari point in between, it was only a matter of what the end result would be.
Piercestown, despite showing immense improvement in their general play, had left themselves with far too much to do.
Kilanerin had built a 4-9 to nil lead before Pierestown eventu- ally opened their account with a 36th-minute point from Sinéad Cullen, but within three minutes Kilanerin launched a further attack that brought an Edie Byrne goal.
The outstanding Anna Hughes and Bebhinn McDonald were dominating midfield, leaving very little room for Piercestown to stage a recovery.
But credit to the Piercestown girls as they kept on battling, having a couple of goal attempts blocked close to the line.
Still, things were to get a whole lot worse for them as the eventual winners managed two further goals from Bebhinn McDonald to lead by 7-10 to 0-1.
An Anna Jeffares goal close to the finish was no more than Piercestown deserved as they kept battling to the final whistle, but the skilful and composed Kilanerin girls dominated this game right through the 50 minutes.
Kilanerin: Megan Fahy; Alexia Arcan, Róisín McGonigle, Amy Noctor; Rachel Boland, Thomasina Carter (1-0), Ella Jones; Bebhinn McDonald (4-2), Anna Hughes (1-4); Caoimhe McGonigle (0-1), Neassa Ní Lúasaigh (0-2), Edie Byrne (1-0); Sienna Arcari (0-2), Caoimhe Noblett, Lucy Buggy. Subs. - Emma O’Sullivan for Noblett, Ella McCarton for Byrne, Gemma Bolton for Noctor, Hannagh Sheriff for Buggy, Sophie Molloy for Arcan, Faye Boland for Arcari, also Ruby Naessens, Martha Hart, Emma Kelly, Kate Miller.
Piercestown: Ella Crotty; Kate Stafford, Nicole Goff, Grace O’Connor; Aoibhe Ormonde, Mia Quirke, Mary Connors; Isabell Lee-Morris, Chloe Curtin; Sinéad Cullen (0-1), Leagh Maddock, Helena Mullarney; Alanna Firman, Katie Audsley, Aoibhe Hurley. Sub. - Anna Jeffares (1-0) for Goff, Lucy O’Hanlon for Stafford, Lily Murray for Connors, Eva Cashman for Mullarney, Kaylee Walsh for Lee-Morris, Ellen Devereux for Hurley, also Amber Shaw, Rhianna Kenny, Emma Sharrock, Ella Hurley.
Referee: Brendan Holohan (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).