Hogan stars in Tinahely win! Wicklow champs too strong

at Maudlinstown, Wexford with a point from Niamh Butler and moments later some good work between Diane Leniston and Rebecca Foley fed to the speedy Butler who shot low to the corner of the net giving Lousie O’Neill no chance.

Moments earlier Louise had pulled off a great save from Sara Byrne so there were spells where Clonard found some holes in the Tinahely defence. The Tinahely full-back line of Emily Hadden, Sarah Hogan and Ciara Stokes made few mistakes.

After 20 minutes the Tinahely ladies were now getting control of the game. Jessie Byrne, Emily Mulhall and Jackie Kinch seemed to be engineering most of the attacks and were well supported by an attacking half-back line.

Clonard had little hope in stopping this inrush so they gave frees away and Laura Hogan converted three pointed frees before another great move involving Aine Byrne, Ciara Byrne and Trina Byrne fed to Laura and Laura hit another great goal. At half-time the score was Tinahely 2-8, Clonard 1-3.

It is fair to say Clonard needed a great start to the second half if they were to get back into the game.

In the first 10 minutes, Tinahely were dominant in every sector of the field and points from Laura Hogan, Jackie Kinch and the energetic Ciara Byrne kept the score board ticking over. The Tinahely management made a few substitutions with Orla Kealy for Aishling Winterbotham, Emma Katus for Trina Byrne, Derval Byrne for Jackie Kinch, Abby Doyle for Emily Hadden and Kate Hatton for Ciara Stokes.

The pressure was still applied to the Clonard defence as the new arrivals impressed the Tinahely mentors.

The game was all but over although Clonard played to the final whistle and were unlucky not to convert some scores late in the second half .

This was a very impressive display from a well drilled and disciplined Tinahely team,.Louise O’Neill was solid in goal and the full-back line of Stokes, Hogan and Hadden dealt with the few attacks that came their way.

Aine Byrne was brillant at centre-back and well supported by Aimee Maher and Aishling Winterbottom. This was Aishling’s first start in a senior championship game so she will have learnt a lot.

Aoife Gorman and Jessie Byrne ran their socks off while Jackie Kinch was at her brilliant best and won every ball that came her way. Emily Mulhall and Trina Byrne worked so hard and were involved in almost all of the Tinahely attacks.

At full-forward Ciara Byrne was in super form and was just too much of a handful for her marker. Emily O’Reilly also worked hard at corner-forward while Laura Horan scored 2-8. No more to be said.

Tinahely will face a stiffer test in the future with the Offaly champions next on the list at a home venue for the Wicklow girls.

This Offaly team were defeated in last year’s Leinster final so their intention for 2016 is to go one step better. This will be a game we all look forward to see.

Tinahely: L .O’Neill; C. Stokes, S. Hogan, E. Hadden; A. Maher, A. Byrne (capt), A. Winterbothan; A. Gorman, J. Byrne; E. Mulhall, J. Kinch (0-04), T. Byrne (0-1); L Hogan (2-8), C Byrne (0-5), E. O Reilly (0-1). Subs: O. Kealy for A. Winterbottom, E. Katus for T. Byrne, D. Byrne for J. Kinch, A. Doyle for C. Stokes, K. Hatton for E. Hadden.

Clonard: N. Walsh; G. McManus, L. Sludds, C. McDonald; C. Bates, A. Tormey (capt), L. Brennan; N. Buckley, L. Bruen; N. Tormey, E. Buckley (0-1), D. Leniston (0-1); S. Byrne, N. Butler ( 1-2), R. Foley (0-1).