Strong show

at Blessington and provincial dreams further down the line, this formidable unit are going to take some stopping with players like Ciara Stokes, Emily Mulhall, Sarah Hogan, Niamh Kenny, Jessie Byrne, Sarah Byrne and Ciara Byrne in flying form over the course of the 60 minutes.

Blessington had their stalwarts and their fine performers and will improve as the season progresses but it was the overall passion and drive of the Tinahely women that won the day.

A perfect start in the form of a Loretta Gilbert goal got the visitors up and running; Gilbert continuing her devastating attacking play which she put to lethal use when slaying Carnew in the Division 2 clash on Saturday evening.

Two Laura Hogan points from frees were kicked either side of a Blessington wide from Hannah McManus and a Kim Connors save from a Sarah Byrne shot.

If Tinahely were guilty of anything it was some crazy shot selections, especially in the opening half, where they elected to shoot for points when they had overlaps or available bodies inside.

Ciara Byrne opened her account before Laura Hogan swung over another score but Blessington were in trouble because Tinahely were coming hunting for goals and Loretta Gilbert’s effort was ruled out for a square ball while Kim Connors did very well to get down to parry Laura Hogan’s strike out for a 45.

The home side needed a score and they got one when Shauna Byrne got forward and split Jackie Kinch’s posts to make it 1-04 to 0-01 but three Ciara Byrne points in a row and a Loretta Gilbert effort that was made by the tenacity of Emily Mulhall from half-back left the score reading 1-08 to 0-01 and few could have arguments about