Adamstown team excels
ON THE back of a powerful firsthalf display, Adamstown claimed the ladies’ football Minor Division 2 championship title with victory over a gallant Crossabeg-Ballymurn in a wet Boolabawn recently.
It was, undoubtedly, a success built on a solid team performance.
There were outstanding showings all over the pitch and it started with the excellent Rachel Greene in goal for the New Ross District combination.
Not that she wasn’t well protected against a dangerous Crossabeg-Ballymurn attack.
Youngster Grace Cloney was exceptional at wing-back while Róisín Dillon held the side together from the number 6 position.
Niamh Higgins played the midfield role with skill and the work of the entire half-forward line really stood out in a creative, and scoring, capacity.
Much of the damage was done in a superb first-half.
Cathy O’Brien registered three points, and the action also featured two goals from Julie Furlong, including one terrific finish that no ‘keeper in the country would have stopped.
Green flags were also raised by Hannah Keating and Cloney, while Sandra Murphy slotted away a precise penalty.
Against a slight breeze, Crossabeg-Ballymurn managed just Ava Kelly and Dúirí McDonald points in the opening half. It left them with a mountain to climb after the break, down by 5-3 to 0-2, but they went about it with great hunger.
The Wexford District club bossed the second-half and gradually worked their way into the reckoning.
McDonald, Derbhla Doyle and Emma Byrne all netted, while Leanne Cullen also got her name on the scoresheet with a point.
However, it wasn’t enough to prevent a second Minor county final loss in a row for Crossabeg-Ballymurn.
Jasmine Martin sold two dummies and rattled the net for her side in the half, and only for a fantastic Laura Bury save the victors would have added another late penalty.
Adamstown: Rachel Greene; Oonagh Barden, Jane Doyle, Marguerite Furlong; Eimer Mernagh, Róisín Dillon, Grace Cloney (1-0); Niamh Kehoe, Niamh Higgins; Julie Furlong (2-0), Cathy O’Brien (0-4), Hannah Keating (1-0); Eadaoin Stafford, Sandra Murphy (1-0 pen.), Jasmine Martin (1-0). Subs. - Zara Power, Rachel Power, Leah Bradley-O’Connor, Caitlin Mernagh, Shauna Wickham.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Laura Bury; Brona Flynn, Mary Eviston, Hannah Kehoe; Sinéad Reck, Karleigh Kinsella, Laura Kelly; Diúrí McDonald (1-1), Kaitlyn Whelan-Kinsella; Aine Fortune, Derbhla Doyle (1-0), Ava Kelly (0-1); Niamh O’Brien, Emma Byrne (11), Emily White. Subs. - Loren Doyle for Whelan-Kinsella, Leanne Cullen (0-1) for O’Brien, Leah Scallan for Fortune, also Aoife Nolan, Cathríona Cullen, Róisín Fortune, Amy Whelan.
Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St. James’).