The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
St Brigids undone by Galway girls’ goal blitz in All-Ireland ‘B’ final
LIDL PPS ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR ‘B’ FINAL St Brigids Killarney 1-16 Coláiste Bhaile Chláir 6-11
ST Brigids fell at the final hurdle as a superb second half performance saw Galway side Coláiste Bhaile Chláir claim the All-Ireland PPS Junior B title in Rathkeale last Saturday. In fairness to the Killarney school they gave as good as they got for most of the game but a three-goal blitz in the third quarter put paid to their chances of claiming the title.
A goal and 16 points is excellent scoring at any level but Coláiste Bhaile Chláir had the ability to score goals at vital times, while the Killarney students found it much more difficult to penetrate. The old cliché that goals win games was certainly apt on this occasion and Coláiste Bhaile Chláir punished at every opportunity.
St Brigids had a great start and went 1-3 to 0-1 up after seven minutes with their goal from Ciara Randles. Randles and Anna Clifford were showing well in the forward line and with Chloe O’Connor buzzing around the midfield area, the omens looked good for the Killarney students.
Coláiste Bhaile Chláir needed a response and it came with efforts from Chellene Trill, Shauna Brennan and Sinead Donovan. Shelly Clifford pointed for St Brigids but Shauna Brennan then struck for Coláiste Bhaile Chláir’s first goal.
St Brigids were still in control and points from Julie Delaney and Randles, from a difficult free, pushed them 1-6 to 1-4 ahead. Coláiste Bhaile Chláir struck for their second goal in the 25th minute when Sinead Donovan rifled the back of the Evie Culloty’s net.
Brennan for Coláiste Bhaile Chláir and Randles swapped points and St Brigids took a twopoint to the break. A feature of the first half was St Brigids excellent defence with Megan Brosnan and Isabelle Murphy making some vital interceptions at times.
St Brigids started the second half brightly and Anna Clifford scored a superb point after a searing run. Clifford was excellent throughout and took on the Coláiste Bhaile Chláir backline at every opportunity. The Galway side responded immediately and Eimear Mitchell scored their third goal to level the contest.
Kate Slevin and traded points before Shauna Brennan slotted over a brilliant score to push Bhaile Chláir one ahead, Randles equalised for St Brigids, but from here on it was all Bhaile Chláir as the St Brigids challenge faltered.
Three goals in four minutes, with two from substitute Andrea Trill and Kate Slevin, powered the Galway girls into a 6-8 to 1-14 lead and with just 10 minutes left. The goals came from swift counter-attacks from the Galway students as their exceptional pace opened up holes in the St Brigids defence.
St Brigids didn’t give up and Ava Murray in the Bhaile Chláir goals was forced to make a good stop from Shelly Clifford. Three points on the bounce from Randles (2) and Kate Lynch gave St Brigids renewed hope, but Culloty in the St Brigids goal was forced to make her second great save of the game from Chellene Trill as Coláiste Bhaile Chláir attacked once more.
Another late point from Slevin ensured that the title would be going to Galway, but the Killarney girls can take solace in the fact that they kept trying to the finish.
Best for St Brigids were Isabelle Murphy, Tara Murphy, Zena Shine and Ava Doherty in defence, Chloe O’Connor got through a huge amount of work at midfield, while Anna Clifford Ciara Randles, Julie Delaney and Shelly Clifford were the pick of the forwards. COLÁISTE BHAILE CHLÁIR: Ava Murray, Megan Flaherty, Laura Flynn, Emma Murphy, Kiara Kearney, Niamh McGrath, Leah Tunney, Shannon O’Connell, Chellene Trill (0-2), Edel Flattery, Sinead Donovan (1-2), Kate Slevin (1-3), Laura Scanlon, Eimear Mitchell (1-1), Shauna Brennan (1-2). Subs: Andrea Trill (2-1) for Laura Scanlon 35 mins.
ST BRIGID’S KILLARNEY: Evie Culloty, Megan Brosnan, Amy Myers, Isabelle Murphy, Tara Murphy, Ava Doherty, Zena Shine, Mairead Bennett, Chloe O’Connor (0-1), Anna Clifford (0-3), Ciara Randles (1-6, 4f), Treasa O’Sullivan, Kate Lynch, Shelly Clifford (0-1), Julie Delaney (0-2).
REFEREE: Jason Mullins (Limerick)
MAIN PLAYER
Ciara Randles and Anna Clifford were certainly St Brigids marquee players and troubled the Galway school time and again. Shauna Brennan of Coláiste Bhaile Chláir got the official player of the match reward, and it was well deserved as she terrorised the St Brigids defence all afternoon despite a succession of different markers.
KEY MOMENT
Coláiste Bhaile Chláir’s three goals in four minutes finished St Brigids challenge. Prior to the goals the sides were level, but St Brigids found it too difficult to claw their way back from such a body blow.
TALKING POINT
The high standard of the football on show was a testament to the quality on both teams. The teams shared 7-27 between them and the game was a brilliant advertisement for all that is good in ladies football.