Cumann na mBunscol titles head to Lixnaw and Kenmare

THE last two Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Girls finals were played in Austin Stack Park last Wednesday and produced to some excellent individual performances and brilliant passages of flowing football.

6/8 TEACHER FINAL REPLAY

HAVING finished level at 2-7 apiece following extra-time last week, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál, Lixnaw and Holy Family Rathmore produced another tense and exciting final.

Both management teams tweaked their teams but it was the master move by Lixnaw of bringing last week’s goalkeeper Muireann McElligott to defence to quell the influential Maggie Buckley along with the outstanding performance of talented midfielder Kathlyn Stack that pulled Lixnaw through to claim their first county Allianz Cumann na mBunscol.

Kathlyn accounted for seven of the Lixnaw points four converted frees a well struck ‘45’ and two excellent points from play. As with most replays both teams set up defensively and the forwards were denied space at every opportunity. Though Lixnaw were two points ahead at the break 0-1 to 0-3 the lead really flattered them as Rathmore will rue a litany of scoring opportunities.

Lixnaw had a blistering start and were denied goals thanks to three dramatic saves from Rathmore’s goalkeeper Nicole Cronin and inspired by these saves Rathmore dominated possession but didn’t convert. Caoimhe Dineen switched to the attack for Rathmore following the break and finished an excellent move to the net to give her side the lead. Lily O’Brien followed with a pointed free and Rathmore seemed to have found their rhythm. Kathlyn Stack pointed from a free but, Maggie Buckley was on target from play to leave her side 1-3 to 0-4 ahead half way through the second half.

Cara Cullen levelled matters five minutes from the end and though it seemed at this stage that both sides would settle for a draw but the North Kerry girls who were crowned Mini Sevens Camogie champions last month finished strongly with two more points from player of the match Kathyln Stack.

Credit Rathmore they went in search of the equalising goal but the injury time free from Lily O’Brien skimmed the cross bar and Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál were crowned county champions and claimed their first Allianz Cumann na mbunscol crown.

They had top performances from Kara Treanor, Amy O’Flaherty, Muireann Mc Elligott, Cara Cullen and the outstanding Kathlyn Stack. Rathmore were best severed by Nicole Cronin, Norma Leader, Aoife Nagle, Caoimhe Dineen, Lily O’Brien and Maggie Buckley. IN the Division 1 final St. John’s Kenmare also claimed their first division 1 girls title with a comprehensive display of fast attacking football and excellent combination play. They had the ability to counter attack at pace and with Amy Harrington, Aoife Crowley, Emma Foley and Fia Cusack in outstanding form they repeatedly stretched the Listowel defence.

Grace Foley opened the scoring with a goal and a point in the first few minutes for the Kenmare outfit. Amy Harrington and Aoife Crowley were on target also as Kenmare led 3-4 to 1-1 at break Grace O’Sullivan landing the Listowel goal and Aisling O’Carroll slotting over the point. Listowel started the second half in determined mood but couldn’t break down the resolute Kenmare defence and the Kenmare girls were full value for their 5-4 to 1-2 victory.

Listowel battled to the end and can be very proud of the performances which drought them to the final accounting for Killorglin last years champions on route. Nora Keane, Megan Behan, Keli McGrath, Grace O’Sullivan and Daisy Walsh excelled for them.