From Tinahely
that to be fair.
A punched Laura Hogan point was followed by a lovely goal by the same player but she incurred the stern advice of her management team when she lamped an effort for a point wide at the death of the opening half.
Where some teams might take the foot off the pedal for the second period, Tinahely stamped down hard with Ciara Byrne lashing the ball off Kim Connors’ crossbar and Laura Hogan going wide from an effort at a point.
Hogan turned creator moments later when she set up Ciara Vyrne who lofted over sweetly and then Loretta Gilbert made it 2-11 to 0-01 to leave Blessington needing something fairly major in the next few moments if they were to have any hope of this being an annihilation.
Step up Maura Reid who dispatched a penalty past Jackie Kinch after nine minutes of the second half. But Blessington just couldn’t contain Tinahely.
The outstanding Sarah Byrne pointed to make it 2-12 to 1-01 and this was followed by a Laura Hogan effort before Sophie Cronin did very well at the other end with 15 on the clock.
Tinahely started to experiment then with Sarah Hogan dropping back to full-back and substitutes getting game time.
Sophie Cronin and Ciara Byrne swapped points before Molly Cullen fired over.
Sarah Byrne set up Aoife O’Gorman for a point before Loretta Gilbert somehow fired over for a point when anything other than a goal didn’t seem physically possible.
Ciara Byrne and Sophie Cronin swapped another two points before Aoife O’Gorman powered forward to land another stinging blow to the home side. Sophie Cronin goaled for Blessington but it was the last kick of the game.
Tinahely sent a clear message with this win. They are extremely motivated and they are moving very well. They are by no means unbeatable, but it will take a savage performance to take them down.
Tinahely: Jackie Kinch; Ciara Stokes, Emily Hadden, Aisling Wintherbotham; Emily Mulhall, Sarah Hogan, Niamh Kenny; Jessie Byrne, Aoife O’Gorman; Orla Kealy, Sarah Byrne, Triona Byrne; Ciara Byrne, Loretta Gilbert, Laura Hogan.
Blessington: Kim Connors; Mallaidh Behan, Cara Hennessy, Sarah Peppard; Niamh Ellis, Shauna Byrne, Emma Reid; Maura Reid, Molly Cullen; Amy Ryan, Shona O’Connor, Hannah McManus; Sophie Cronin, Alana McMahon, Nicole Walsh.
Referee: John Bermingham