Coolera/Strandhill meet Molaise Gaels
U16 B CHAMPIONSHIP
ALTHOUGH technically a home tie for St Molaise Gaels, this match was played in Ransboro Pk last Thursday. Molaise began as you would expect the home side to, and before long had established a healthy lead. Goals from Rachel Kelly and Sorcha Feehily, as well as three points from the influential Rebecca Healy saw the North Sligo side lead 2-04 to 0-02.
Coolera-Strandhill slowly settled into the game. Points from Kayleigh Walsh, Orna Murphy and Anna McDaniel reduced the deficit. Cliodhna O’ Sullivan and Amy Hampson began to get on top in midfield and a goal from Cliodhna, in addition to two goals from the excellent Eva White and a brace of points from Anna Callaghan meant that, by half time, the Coolera/ Strandhill girls led by 3-08 to 2-05.
Coolera-Strandhill began the second half as they had finished the first, and seemed to be in control with scores from Amy Hampson, Orna Murphy and Kayleigh Walsh. Molaise responded well, and in a game that ebbed and flowed throughout, scored three goals in quick succession. Aoife Hayes had moved from corner forward out to the wing and continued to cause the Coolera /Strandhill defence problems. Rebecca Healy and Bronagh McGeewere were also working the defence hard, but Aoife Gormley and Ava Griffin were proving up to the task. Molaise had turned a six point deficit into a one point lead mid-way through the second half and it is to their credit Coolera/Strandhill didn’t let their heads drop.
Every ball was being keenly contested.
Mary-Kate McPartland, Nessa O’ Sullivan and Amy Hampson won many of these contests and when Amy scored her second point of the evening, the sides were level.
Rachel Kelly and Tara Casserly worked hard in midfield for Molaise in an effort to drive their team forward, but by now the Coolera pair of Amy Hampson and Cliodhna O’ Sullivan had the upper hand. A penalty, excellently dispatched by Anna McDaniel and a final point from Eva White eventually saw Coolera-Strandhill prevail 5-12 to 5-06.
This was an excellent game of football from start to finish, and could have gone either way, but the stronger finish from Coolera/ Strandhill was just enough to see them through.
There were many fine performances on both sides, notably from Eimear Messenger, Rachel Kelly, Sorcha Feehily, Rebecca Healy and Aoife Hayes for Grange, while Eva White, Aoife Gormley, Nessa O’Sullivan, Amy Hampson, Ava Griffin, Kayleigh Walsh and Anna McDaniel starred for Coolera/Strandhill.
TEAMS; Coolera-Strandhill: Úna Griffin, Lisa Kilfeather, Aoife Gormley, Nessa O’ Sullivan, Mary-Kate McPartland, Eva White, Ava Griffin, Amy Hampson, Cliodhna O’Sullivan, Ellen Walsh, Kayleigh Walsh, Anna Callaghan, Anna McDaniel, Alana Wilson, Orna Murphy, Lauren Dalton.
ST Molaise Gaels: Grace O’Connor, Lauren Gilmartin, Eimear Messenger, Aoife Kelly, Éabhaoin Conneely, Grace
McCarthy, Orla Devlin, Rachel Kelly, Tara Casserly, Sorcha Feehily, Loretta Haran, Bronagh McGee, Saoirse Hayes, Rebecca Healy, Aoife Hayes, Anna Clarke, Caroline Feerick, LilyKate Nicholson, Caoimhe Colleran, Leanne Finnegan.
REFEREE: Des Henry.