Cushinstown claim title
R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN CLONGEEN 9-7 4-5
THE RECENT ladies’ football Under-14 Division 4 final saw neighbouring parishes Clongeen and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown battle it out in Horeswood in a bid to take the crown.
Both teams had an impressive run to the title decider. In the last four Clongeen beat Sarsfields while their counterparts from Rathgarogue-Cushinstown got the better of Crossabeg-Ballymurn.
Clongeen got off to the flying start they were hoping for, netting twice in the opening few minutes. Sarah Bennett found the rigging in the first minute and that goal was followed by a major from the impressive Grace Donovan.
The sides exchanged some fine points throughout the rest of the period, with a point separating the teams at the break after Rathgarogue-Cushinstown fought their way back into the contest (2-4 to 2-3).
They might have been even further ahead had it not been for a couple of fine saves from Amy Doyle in the Clongeen goal.
It continued to be a tight contest into the third quarter, with Megan Byrne netting a penalty two minutes after the re-start for Clongeen. However, as the period wore on the Rathgarogue-Cushinstown girls started to get a run going.
Scores flowed with Katie Murphy, Katelyn Carty, Katelyn Johnston, Cora McGrath, Ellie Nugent and Anna O’Brien all on target for the eventual winners.
With Ciara Kirwan, Claire McCarthy and Aimee Stafford all protecting a solid Caoimhe Cowman in goal, they shut down Clongeen scores. Tara Bookle was also impressive after entering the fray as a substitute.
While there was a good few points in it at the end, the score didn’t fully reflect what was a very tight and close contest by both teams, with Rathgarogue-Cushinstown just having the extra legs in the dying minutes of the game to claim victory.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Caoimhe Cowman; Ciara Kirwan, Claire McCarthy, Aimee Stafford, Ellie Nugent, Katelyn Carty, Fiona Lyng, Cora McGrath (joint capt.), Jessica Sutton, Gráinne O’Neill, Katie Murphy (joint capt.), Elaine Aspel, Lilly Somers, Anna O’Brien, Nicole Whitty, Tara Nolan, Amy Martin, Jemma Martin, Tara Bookle, Katelyn Johnston.
Clongeen: Amy Doyle (joint capt.), Hannah O’Grady (joint capt.), Rachel Bennett, Ellieanna O’Grady, Orlaith Butler, Kate Mythen, Elizabeth Whelan, Theresa White, Kaylah Farrell, Megan Byrne (1-0), Grace Donovan (2-5), Savannah Blake, Hayley O’Brien, Sarah Bennett (1-0), Katelyn O’Grady, Laura McCarthy-Bennett, Aoibheann Carty, Sarah Kate Hopkins, Caitlin Murphy, Katie Kehoe.
Referee: Kevin Kehoe (Our Lady’s Island).