Anne’s make swift exit
CONFEY (KILDARE) ST. ANNE’S 5-14 0-11
ST. ANNE’S maiden voyage into the Leinster ladies’ football Senior club championship ended in defeat despite a gallant effort from the Wexford victors against Confey in Leixlip on Saturday.
The game started at a high pace and the hosts were up by 1-3 to nil in the first seven minutes. The Confey goal came from Deirdre Gately while Aine Gately notched a pair of points and Rachael Divilly scored from a free.
St. Anne’s then took control of the game, scoring seven of the next eight points within the next ten minutes. Rachel Bennett got her club on the scoreboard, and points followed from Lorraine Breen and Fiona Bennett.
Fiona Rochford scored her first, running from midfield to point, and then she added another after hard work from Fiona Bennett. The Wexford captain then registered her fourth point in three minutes to even the score (0-7 to 1-4).
With the visitors on a high, Confey hit back and scored two goals in the 19th minute. The first came from Deirdre Gately, with the second from Aine Gately straight from the resulting kick-out.
Divilly went on to score the next point for Confey from a free in the 26th minute. They could have increased their lead, only for two good saves from Leanne Moore.
As the game moved towards the interval, Deirdre Gately scored her third major, and it was followed by a point from Aine Gately.
Then, in added-time, Fiona Rochford received a kick-out from Leanne Moore on her own ‘45, soloed the length of the pitch and kicked the ball over the bar to leave her side 4-7 to 0-8 down at the break.
The second-half continued with both teams showing the same skill and running play that they exhibited in the first. Confey introduced a sweeper and soaked up continuous pressure from the St. Anne’s forwards.
Rachel and Fiona Bennett threatened, forcing Mairéad Scallan in the Confey goal to make numerous saves.
Although St. Anne’s had 70 per cent of the play in the second-half, they returned only three points in the first eleven minutes from Fiona Bennett, Fiona Rochford and the last from Rachel Bennett.
While St. Anne’s continued to push, the hosts scored six on the counter, including five from Aine Gately. The last action of was another Confey breakaway attack with Gately scoring the goal, bringing her total scores to 2-9, all from play.
St. Anne’s: Leanne Moore; Aisling Kavanagh, Sinéad White, Mairéad White (capt.); Annie Breen, Nicola Cullen, Clara Rochford; Fiona Rochford (0-6), Niamh Crosbie; Katie Hannigan, Rachel Bennett (0-2), Martha Rochford; Lorraine Breen (0-1), Kelda Cullen, Fiona Bennett (0-2). Subs. - Niamh Hannigan for Cullen (40), Sadhbh Dearl for C. Rochford (46).
Confey: Mairéad Scallan; Orla Horan, Cliodhna McNamara, Niamh Scally; Niamh Quinn, Orla O’Shea, Siofra O’Regan; C.J. Hogan, Sarah Munnelly; Siofra Daly, Aine Gately (2-9), Keri Hardy; Emma McCartney, Rachael Divilly (0-3 frees), Deirdre Gately (3-2).
Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).
RESULTS AND FIXTURES Division 1 league final: Shelmalier 2-14, Clonee 4-6.
Division 3 league semi-final: Clongeen 1-7, St. Martin’s 1-6.
Division 5 league semi-final: Davidstown-Courtnacuddy 4-9, Starlights 0-10.
SUN. OCT. 22
AT ST. PATRICK’S PARK: Division 5 league final, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy v. Clonard/Volunteers, 11 a.m.
12.30 p.m. - Division 4 league final, Taghmon-Camross v. Castletown.