Very slow start haunts Martin’s
Defeat in Leinster contest
A SLOW start came back to haunt St. Martin’s as they never recovered from the concession of early scores, eventually going under to a 15-point defeat to Clonguish of Longford in this Leinster Club ladies’ football Intermediate championship game in Piercestown on Saturday.
St. Martin’s, who entered this game with high expectations, were rocked with the concession of 1-2 inside the opening four minutes.
The goal arrived after just 90 seconds when Aoife Darcy got on the end of a sweeping move to leave home ‘keeper Aoife McAuliffe helpless with a low shot to the corner of the net.
During the opening quarter St. Martin’s were desperately off the pace as the Longford side dominated in midfield, sweeping into a 1-5 to nil lead inside 14 minutes, before the home side managed to open their account with an 18th-minute Emma Codd point.
The score seemed to settle St. Martin’s who went on to create several chances, but their finishing failed to match their approach play as they kicked four successive wides before Elenor Kehoe shot a fine goal after excellent approach play from full-forward Aisling Cronin.
This left just five points separating the sides (1-6 to 1-1) at the interval.
With Megan Carty, Katie O’Connor and Lettie Whelan coming much more into the game on the resumption, they grabbed an Emma Codd point.
The home side were pressing strongly on the resumption but unfortunately their finishing continued to let them down, while at the opposite end in a quick counter-attack, Eva Gregg applied the finish for her side’s second goal after 38 minutes, a score which really decided the end result.
Having re-established their grip on the game, Clonguish went on to control the closing 15 minutes, kicking some excellent points in the process.
St. Martin’s could only manage one further point, an Emma Codd effort, but despite their best attempts they were unable to match the fluent football of their opponents.
St. Martin’s: Aoife McAuliffe; Lauren Carty, Ellen Barrett, Niamh Dunne; Rachel Bridges, Mary Barrett, Megan Carty; Lesley Bates, Lettie Whelan; Emma Codd (0-3), Katie O’Connor, Amy Cardiff; Marie Claire Morrissey, Aisling Cronin, Eleanor Kehoe (1-0). Subs. - Kate Devereux for Bates, Lisa Firman for Kehoe, Orlaith Barrett for M. Carty, inj.
Clonguish: Jessica Stewart; Oonagh McGowan, Sinéad Macken (0-1), Maria Kelleher; Catríona Moore, Niamh Darcy, Mairéad Moore; Ailbhe McGowan (0-1), Lynn Gregg; Oonagh Shanley (0-5), Aoife Darcy (1-0), Doireann McCarthy; Cliodhna Allen (0-1), Aishling Greene (0-7, 1 free), Natasha Hourican. Subs.. - Sarah Duffy for A. Darcy, Eva Gregg (1-0) for Hourican.
Referee: John Bermingham (Wicklow).