Taghmon take U-16 honours
Sarsfields defeated in final
THE FINAL scoreline didn’t reflect what was a keenly-fought contest as Taghmon-Camross took home the ladies’ football Under-16 Division 4 title with a 6-4 to 1-3 victory over Sarsfields at a showery Ballymurn.
Indeed, the 16-point margin at the end is deceptive, and doesn’t do justice to a battling display from the Wexford town girls, whose fighting spirit was effectively put to bed by three goals in the 51st minute.
By the same token, Taghmon-Camross were worthy champions, with their strength in depth perhaps best illustrated by the fact that half of their goals came off the substitutes’ bench, from Molly O’Gorman and Megan Dee (two) respectively.
The eventual victors forged a 0-2 to nil lead inside the first five minutes through Chloe O’Toole and Catherine Hayes (free), but Jodie Murphy kicked a fine retort for Sarsfields when seizing upon the loose ball.
Katie Flynn walloped the black spot on the crossbar from the first real Taghmon-Camross goal opportunity on 22 minutes, but they fared better in the next attack when Alisha Deery swept to the top corner of the net to develop a 1-4 to 0-2 lead at the change of ends.
Sarsfields were unlucky to see Rhianne Fox’s delivery bounce beyond everyone and clip the post in the last play of the first-half, but they brought themselves right back into contention in their first significant attacking play of the new period.
The sheer persistence of Murphy created the chance, and when Leiah O’Rourke spun out of contact before hitting the net, the gap was down to 1-4 to 1-2.
Urte Valenciute was then denied a second goal thanks to a fine save from Chloe Carroll, and that had a huge bearing on proceedings as Taghmon-Camross re-asserted control ten minutes later when Molly O’Gorman goaled with a low shot.
Hayes poked home the third Taghmon-Camross goal on 47 minutes, while Megan Dee blasted home a penalty via the underside of the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Hayes and Dee added another goal each as they secured the honours in style.
Taghmon-Camross: Chloe Carroll; Amie Cadogan, Chloe Monaghan, Aoibheann Murphy; Caitlin Berney-Nolan, Molly Redican (joint capt., 0-1 free), Laura Banville; Hannah Roche-Kelly (joint capt.), Chloe O’Toole (0-1); Alisha Deery (1-0), Edel Ryan (0-1), Amy Dunne; Anna Kelly, Katie Flynn, Catherine Hayes (2-1). Subs. - Megan Dee (2-0, 1 pen.) for Dunne (29), Molly O’Gorman (1-0) for Kelly (HT), Andrea O’Keeffe for Flynn (42), Hazel O’Keeffe for Murphy (44), Flora Doran for Monaghan (49), Lily Sidney-Kinsella for Banville (51), Cora Banville for Hayes (54), Katie Flynn for Berney-Nolan (60+1), Anna Kelly for Redican (60+1), also Evie Whittaker, Megan O’Sullivan.
Sarsfields: Aoife O’Keeffe; Orlaigh Lynam, Abbie Furlong, Catherine O’Sullivan; Muirinn Carty, Aisling Shipsey, Alanna Busher-Carley; Sophie Bergin, Katie Whelan; Leiah O’Rourke (1-0), Rhianne Fox (0-1), Urte Valenciute; Molly Donohue (capt., 0-1 free), Jodie Murphy (0-1), Laoise Crowley. Subs. - Maria Fortune for Whelan (HT), Chloe Fortune for Crowley (42), Ella Trappe for Murphy (53), also Eabha Carty, Keira Godkin, Rachel Furlong, Sarah Murphy, Caoilinn Gately.
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmalier).