Alley hold the aces
District rivals pipped to U-16 crown
BUFFERS ALLEY 3-8 BALLYNASTRAGH GLS 2-6
BUFFERS ALLEY came out on top in the fiercely-contested final of the Under-16 camogie Roinn 1B championship in Oulart recently.
In a fairly even contest, the Alley’s domination of the opening ten minutes of each half proved to be enough to pip Ballynastragh to the title.
The gulf was so large during these time periods that the eventual winners outscored their opponents by 3-3 to nil in these ten-minute blocks.
And while Ballynastragh were almost able to peg Buffers Alley back in the first-half, they couldn’t repeat the same feat in the second period.
Beibhinn O’Brien got the Alley going right from the off. She scored the first two points before Ciara Kavanagh’s looping effort found the top right corner of the net in the seventh minute.
O’Brien was on the scoresheet again before Ballynastragh finally found their feet, as Aisling Fitzpatrick and Aoife McGonigle steadied the ship with two well-taken points.
There were further signs that Ballynastragh were growing into the game when Olive Curtis had her rocket at goal saved by Emma Reilly, but the pressure eventually paid off for Curtis when she rounded the Alley netminder and tapped into the net to significantly reduce the deficit.
Curtis kicked another over the bar before half-time, and Buffers Alley only maintained their lead through late Kavanagh and Fiona Cousins points (1-5 to 1-3).
The re-start yielded two crucial goals for Buffers Alley in the first seven minutes of the half.
Caitlin Walsh finished low before Róisín Egan connected with a bouncing ball to effectively put the game out of Ballynastragh’s reach (3-5 to 1-3).
The trailing side did their best to find a way back into the game, but frees from Tara O’Connor and Fitzpatrick were quickly answered by Egan, Cousins and Sadbh Doyle points.
Despite creating a number of goalscoring opportunities, it took until the 59th minute for one to be converted by Robyn Cousins, and by then it was too little, too late.
Shauna Owley fired over one more consolation point for the Gaels, but their Gorey District rivals triumphed and deservedly took the title home.
Buffers Alley: Emma Reilly; Ciara Murphy, Orna Corrigan, Lauren Murphy; Kate O’Brien, Fiona Cousins (capt., 0-2, 1 free, 1 ‘45), Kaycee O’Connor; Róisín Egan (1-1), Sadbh Doyle (0-1); Ciara Kavanagh (1-1), Beibhinn O’Brien (0-3, 2 frees), Belle Kisov; Rebecca Murphy, Caitlin Walsh (1-0), Robyn Kinsella. Subs. - Gráinne Dempsey-Doyle for Murphy (40), Eimear Kavanagh for Walsh (58), also Mary Hammel, Katelyn O’Leary, Neasa Ní Corcráin, Katie O’Leary, Eva Corrigan, Michaela Milling, Emma Atkins-Quigley, Hallie Burke, Rachel Harney, Catherine Harney, Aoife O’Connor.
Ballynastragh Gaels: Hannah Noctor; Laura Ivers, Cliona McCarthy, Saoirse McDonald; Caoimhe Fleming, Róisín Hughes, Róisín Noctor; Dervla Noctor, Olive Curtis (capt., 1-1); Aisling Fitzpatrick (0-2 frees), Orla Bolger, Róisín McGonigle; Aoife McGonigle (0-1), Tara O’Connor (0-1 free), Shauna Owley (0-1). Subs. - Ríadh Murphy for R. Noctor (31), Kiva Kinsella for Ivers (40), Bronagh Bolger for Fleming (55), Robyn Cousins (1-0) for O’Connor (58), also Aisling Buttle, Eva O’Connor, Katie Cunningham, Leah O’Reilly, Beibhín McDonald.
Referee: John O’Rourke (Shamrocks).