Clongeen take second chance
Disappointment turns to joy
CLONGEEN POWERED to victory with a superb performance against Shamrocks in the ladies’ football Under-14 Division 4 final in Boolabawn on Sunday.
The New Ross District side were back in the final eight weeks after falling in the initial decider against Glynn-Barntown. However, the Killurin side had used several ineligible players, leading to Clongeen being granted the game and the trophy.
However, the ‘Geeners felt that scenario didn’t fit with the proper spirit of the game and the emotions that come with winning a county title.
They requested that they play for the crown, and that’s where Shamrocks, beaten semi-finalists, came into play.
In fairness to the Enniscorthy club, they finished their season even earlier in the autumn but filled in the void and battled their hearts out for the 50 minutes against an impressive Clongeen outfit.
Right away Clongeen started on the front foot, playing quick ball into a full-forward line that continuously showed in front.
Sarah Bennett, a little livewire at centre-forward, was first to find the net with a swerving effort past stand-in stopper Róisín Balfe.
Kaelah Farrell’s powerful leg paid dividends moments later when her free flashed high to the net. The pattern of the game continued but Shamrocks kept battling away, although Katie Kehoe did pop over a nice point on the turn.
Bennett drilled low to the net in the eleventh minute to make it 3-1 to nil. Despite being under pressure, Shamrocks restricted their opponents to just two more points before the interval, with Kehoe and the tricky Megan Byrne on target.
Weaving in and out of trouble, Bennett twice rattled the underside of the crossbar early in the second-half as her hat-trick goal just evaded her.
Kehoe did point and Farrell’s free was too accurate for Aoife Tirbhowan in goal as Clongeen moved 4-4 to nil in front.
To their credit, Shamrocks kept battling and the hard-working Codie Dunne got some reward with a classy low shot to the net.
She followed it with a pointed free but Clongeen refused to allow their opponents any further hope.
Instead they piled forward as legs tired and pushed further in front. Megan Byrne scored a pair of cracking goals, Farrell popped over two points, and Laura McCarthy added a bouncing major at the death to see Clongeen to the title in style.
Clongeen: Amy Doyle; Caitlin Murphy, Kate Mythen, Katelyn O’Grady; Laura McCarthy (1-0), Ellieanna O’Grady, Aoibhín Curtis; Orlaith Butler (capt., 0-2), Savannah Blake; Kealah Farrell (2-2, 2-0 frees), Sarah Bennett (2-0), Keela Daly; Katie Kehoe (0-3), Megan Byrne (2-1), Caoimhe Gardiner. Subs. - Abbie Casey for Gardiner (26), Lauren Cullen for Daly (34), Sarah Kate Hopkins for Murphy (34), also Róisín McCormack.
Shamrocks: Róisín Balfe; Leah Zaanaki, Ellie Cloke, Niamh Kenny; Dion Cahill, Rosie Murphy (joint capt.), Aoife Tirbhowan (joint capt.); Codie Dunne (1-1, 0-1 free), Ellissa O’BrienCash; Aliha Collier, Hannah O’Brien, Caitlin Morrissey; Lauren Doyle, Naoise O’Connor, Heidi Moorehouse. Subs. (unavailable) - Jenna Moorehouse, Ella Corrigan, Tara O’Brien.
Referee: Mag Doherty (Shelmalier).