Scrappy goal foils OLOL
A SCRAMBLED goal by substitute Anna Malone, the only major in a game of multiple chances at both ends, proved the difference as Our Lady of Lourdes narrowly lost their Leinster Post Primary Schools Junior ‘C’ camogie final at Kilmacow on Saturday.
It was just one of those days for the Rosbercon school. There was nothing between the sides and the goal, whichever way it eventually came, was always likely to prove critical. Conditions were tough, as the recent rain meant the grass was long and clingy, making it difficult for both sides to play a free-flowing game.
Nonetheless, nothing was left on the field as Our Lady of Lourdes ran themselves into the ground in an attempt to get that Leinster title. However, double-digit goal chances later, the defensive work of their opponents could only be admired.
The victors got off to the quick start with Afton Grace and Caroline Kennedy pointing in the first five minutes. They didn’t register again until they grabbed the crucial goal midway through the second-half.
With Aimee Hanrahan and Sarah O’Sullivan pulling the strings in midfield, OLOL began to look dangerous. All three of the full-forward line had chances in the opening quarter, but a combination of narrow misses and great goalkeeping by Aoife Slattery kept them at bay.
However, there was no better example of exceptional goalkeeping than that supplied by Elizabeth Phelan in the 23rd minute. When Grace raced through and shot, the Rosbercon stopper made a solid save but the ball rebounded out to Ellen Kennedy who whipped it at goal. Somehow Phelan instinctively reacted with a point-blank stop to prevent the goal.
The scores eventually started to come. Aimee Hanrahan registered twice before the interval to tie the game at 0-2 each. Four minutes after the re-start Hanrahan added her third, after a powerful O’Sullivan run, to give her side their only lead of the contest.
When the goal came at the other end in the 44th minute it was a really sloppy one. Phelan did well to bat Kennedy’s 20-metre free away but Anna Malone fought hardest in the scramble that ensued and forced the sliothar over the line.
Energised by the goal, Abbey had a purple patch in which Kennedy added another couple of points to move 1-4 to 0-3 ahead with nine minutes remaining. They barely attacked again as wave after wave came at the other end.
Aoife Slattery put her body on the line to deny a determined Kate Lyng before scrambling away an Eimear O’Shea effort. Darcy Bolger fed Marie Claire O’Dwyer on the left, and the wing-forward hared away but missed the corner of the net by no more than six inches as it whizzed wide.
Substitute Jane Rossiter was next to find Slattery in sensational form, although that stop did allow Hanrahan to notch the resulting ‘45 and leave a goal between the teams. Try as they might, Our Lady of Lourdes couldn’t force the major in overtime and Abbey prevailed.
As disappointing as the result is for the Rosbercon girls, with the progress the school is making and the energy being put in by teachers and students they will undoubtedly be back for more in the coming years at Senior level.
Our Lady Of Lourdes: Elizabeth Phelan; Lauren Dollard, Annie Kirwan, Leah Hanrahan; Katie Bookle, Darcy Bolger, Chloe Mullally; Aimee Hanrahan (capt., 0-4, 1 free, 1 ‘45), Sarah O’Sullivan; Kate Lyng, Eimear O’Shea, Marie Claire O’Dwyer; Sinéad Lanigan, Michelle Kinsella, Ella Dollard. Subs. - Jane Rossiter for E. Dollard (47), also Aisling Walsh, Cara Walsh, Sophie Bland, Sophie Mullally, Siobhán Cummins.
Abbey C.C.: Aoife Slattery; Kate Sheridan, Aine Phelan, Ciara Atkins; Hannah Lacey, Laura Mulcair, Katie Larrissey; Caroline Kennedy (0-3, 1 ‘45), Una Kinsella; Danielle Maher, Jane Rochford, Afton Grace (0-1 ‘45); Emma Hewetson, Ellen Kennedy, Eimear Larkin. Sub. - Anna Malone (1-0) for Larkin (36).
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Carlow).