Senior status beckoning for Eoghan Rua’s ladies
Steely performance as Eoghan Rua dig deep for victory
ST. MARY’S EOGHAN RUA 4- 5 5- 12 EOGHAN Rua will be playing senior football in 2017 as they overcame St. Mary’s in a pulsating encounter at Markievicz Park on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the scoreline, Mary’s were anything but a pushover for Eoghan Rua, with the West Sligo side ahead by just a point at the half- time whistle.
But John Feeney’s side stormed ahead after the interval, hitting 3- 04 in the second- half compared with the four points of St. Mary’s.
Eoghan Rua were ahead by 1- 03 to 0- 00 with seven minutes on the clock thanks to Amie Cawley’s fourth minute goal, added to by impressive scores from Eoghan Rua.
Shane Breheny’s side were ready to pounce once given an opportunity and Eoghan Rua were guilty of allowing them a chance, as Karen Maloney was allowed too much time in possession.
The Mary’s stalwart, who will have been pinpointed as a threat b the Eoghan Rua management prior to the game, found herself in plenty of space after eight minutes, and she needed no invitation to shoot past Michelle Taylor in goal.
The impressive duo of Sinead Naughton and Amie Cawley were causing all kinds of problems for the Mary’s defence, as they extended their side’s lead at the 15 minute mark.
Eoghan Rua could very well have been even further ahead, but an excellent save from Meadhbh Kenneally in goal prevented Amie Cawley from scoring her second goal of the afternoon.
With things not going their way, Mary’s introduced Emma Hansberry in the first- half, the Wexford Youths player displaying her soccer skills by scoring a Mary’s penalty after 18 minutes.
Things were started to go Marys’ way, with Sarah McMoreland netting their third goal of the day, before the Sligo town side finally scored their first point of the day on 23 minutes thanks to Hansberry.
Trailing by two points at this stage, Eoghan Rua then hit three points unanswered, before they were awarded a penalty.
Caoimhe O’Grady was adjudged to have committed a foul in front of goal, and one would have been forgiven for assuming that Eoghan Rua would extend their lead even further. But, that wasn’t in the script just yet as Orna O’Dowd missed the target with her penalty. It mattered little, though, as her team- mate and player of the match Naughton netted Rua’s second goal of the afternoon as halftime edged closer.
Mary’s did have the ball in the net in injury time thanks to McMoreland, but a square ball meant that it was disallowed. But Amy Gerrity made amends for that, hitting the back of the net in the nick of time.
Mary’s were struggling to hit the ball over the bar, and this would cost them later as they would be given very few chances in the second- half.
The sides were level with 39 played as McMoreland and Maloney hit over for Mary’s with Cawley responding for Rua.
Rua’s Lorraine Tuffy said prior to the game that their side set out at the start of the year to earn senior status, and it was clear that this was a plan they weren’t going to let fall through.
Saoirse McGowan made the evening all the more difficult for their opponents as her tame shot at goal somehow slipped through the hands of Kenneally in goal. Emma Hansberry fought her way forward and looked through on goal on 53 minutes with just Taylor to beat, and any gambler would have put their house on her to score, but Taylor fancied her chances and pulled off a wonderful save.
Sinead Naughton’s injury time goal, was followed by Sophie Barrins’ goal with Orna O’Dowd and Naughton extending their lead to 5- 12.
Rua knew that senior status was theirs, and Aisling Molloy’s late red card following a clash with Emma O’Connell had little bearing on the game at that late stage. This was Eoghan Rua’s day, and the West Sligo side were comfortable in the end, but their victory was well deserved. ST. Mary’s: Meadhbh Kenneally, Aileen Ruane, Caoimhe O’Grady, Aoife Connolly, Sarah Keaney, Lisa Martyn, Sadbh Brennan ( Emma Hansberry, 14), Ruth Goodwin, Laura Ann Laffey, Amy Gerrity, Karen Maloney, Emma O’Connell ( Laura Maloney, 69), Kayleigh Cawley, Sarah McMoreland, Grainne Egan. EOGHAN RUA: Michelle Taylor, Claire Duffy, Niamh Jacob, Clara Battle ( Aoibhe Barrins, 58), Geraldine Ruane, Colley Casey, Leeane Taylor, Lorraine Tuffy, Orna O’Dowd, Sarah Curley, Aisling Molloy, Sinead Naughton, Saoirse McGowan, Amie Cawley ( Aoife Tuffy, 30+ 4[ Amie Cawley, 32]), Sophie Barrins.