Kinsale deny Dromtariffe in County Final
Full forward Orla Finn showed no effects from helping Cork to All Ireland glory two days earlier on returning to competitive fare and shooting a 1-10 tally with All Ireland minor medallist Sadhbh O’Leary adding 1-1.
The sheer quality of the winners performance in enterprising passages of play to respond positively whenever Dromtarrife threatened to knock them off course. Kinsale made the early running with points to Faye Ahern and Finn before the county star bagged a goal.
Steadily Dromtariffe dug their heels in, Maura Ellen O’Connor and Chloe Collins on target.
Still Kinsale looked far more assured, availing of the effective workrate of Christine Keohane, Tracy McCarthy and Georgina Buckley in defence with Lorraine Copithoene in the thick of the action at midfield.
No surprise, Kinsale possessed willing workers in attack, Finn ever effective as Jenny Murphy set in motion O’Leary for a goal. For a spell, Dromtariffe pulled themselves together on points by Claire O’Keeffe, O’Connor and Rachel Jones.
However, Kinsale consolidated their position, Finn firing over points that helped secure a 2-9 to 0-8 advantage at the break. And Kinsale built upon their interval tally quickly upon the restart with Juliette Cronin blasting to the net.
Fairness to Dromtariffe, they rallied under the guidance of Erica O’Connell, Alanna Barry, O’Keeffe and Collins. Points from O’Keeffe and the accurate O’Connor narrowed the arrears to seven yet while Dromtariffe competed well, at times, they lacked conviction and composure to create further inroads.
That compared to Kinsale reading the danger and in a sweeping move, Georgia Gould netted her side’s fourth goal.
Follow up points widened the gap yet Dromtariffe never gave up and their gallant efforts gained a late consolation goal from Fiona Daly.