Tinahely dominate Pat’s can’t maintain great start against reigning champs
TINAHELY ST PATRICK’S 0-18 1-04
ST PAT’S came to Tinahely last Friday evening to shock the reigning county champions in the Senior football championship but, despite an energetic start where they really took it to the home side, their ambitions floundered on the rocks that were Jackie Kinch, Laura Hogan, Aoife Gorman, Niamh Kenny and Jessie Byrne to name but a few.
Robert Hollingsworth sent out a well drilled and driven side for this championship game played in beautiful sunshine in Tinahely and they started superbly with Niamh McGettigan and Saoirse O’Reilly really getting stuck in to the battle and turning Tinahely attacks into opportunities for Pat’s.
Corner-forward Kate Hennessy was being utilised as a sweeper to try and stop the flow of ball in to the very dangerous Tinahely full-forward line.
One of those opportunities for Pat’s was an early goal chance which arrived when Saoirse O’Reilly robbed Jackie Kinch of possession.
The ball was worked to the powerful Niamh McGettigan who stormed up the field and fired in a lovely ball over the head of Sarah Hogan to the waiting Clodagh Fox.
The Pat’s full-forward bore down on goal with Shauna Bermingham making herself as big as possible but Fox slipped the ball low and wide.
A goal here could have really shocked Tinahely but credit to Bermingham for thwarting the effort so well.
Against quality opposition, the challenger will always need to convert their chances, but Pat’s failed to do this and the opportunities in that early period of dominance by the visitors fell by the wayside while at the other end Tinahely had their account opened by Jackie Kinch after good work by Loretta Gilbert with seven minutes on the clock.
A push from Saoirse O’Reilly gave Laura Hogan her first chance from a free and the county star didn’t disappoint.
Pat’s opened their account in the next move through Aisling Hayden who floated over a marvelous point after good work from Sarah Evans and Clodagh Fox but Tinahely’s power all over the field began to tell from here on in and they surged into a 0-11 to 0-02 lead at the break with their points coming from Loretta Gilbert (3), Rachel Byrne, Ciara Byrne, Aoife Gorman, and Laura Hogan (3), with Sarah Delahunt converting a free for Pat’s after Clodagh Fox had been fouled.
A good start was vital for the Pat’s women but it was Tinahely who kept the momentum going with points from the influential Jackie Kinch and a converted free from Laura Hogan who also had a goal chance snuffed out by the excellent Jennifer Lyons in the Pat’s goal.
Emer McNulty and Niamh O’Brien did reduce to the deficit with two fine scores but these were answered by a Laura Hogan free and Ciara Byrne from play.
Robert Hollingsworth’s side were give a lifeline then when Sarah Delahunt fired home from the penalty spot to make it 0-15 to 1-04 after 16 minutes but a free from Laura Hogan and two points from Jackie Kinch helped Tinahely to a strong finish and a deserving victory on a scoreline of 0-18 to 1-04.
Plenty of potential in this Pat’s side and they are a coming force but Tinahely just had too much for them on this occasion.
– Tinahely: Laura Hogan 0-07 (4f), Jackie Kinch 0-04, Loretta Gilbert 0-03, Ciara Byrne 0-02, Aoife Gorman 0-01, Rachel Byrne 0-01.
St Patrick’s Sarah Delahunt 1-01 (p), Aisling Hayden 0-01, Emer
Scorers
McNulty 0-01, Niamh O’Brien 0-01.
Shauna Bermingham; Ciara Stokes, Sarah Hogan, Emily Hadden; Emily Mulhall, Niamh Kenny, Aimee Maher; Aoife Gorman, Jess Byrne; Ciara Byrne, Jackie Kinch, Sarah Byrne; Rachel Byrne, Loretta Gilbert, Laura Hogan. Subs: Ashling Winterbotham for A Maher (35min), Sinead Byrne for S Byrne 41min), Sarah Byrne for J Byrne (51min, inj).
Jennifer Lyons; Mebh O’Kane, Saoirse O’Reilly, Sarah Evans; Sinead McGettigan, Niamh McGettigan, Lucy Dunne; Laura Manley, Sarah Delahunt; Karina Blood, Aisling Hayden, Saoirse O’Reilly; Emer McNulty, Clodagh Fox, Kate Hennessy. Subs: Niamh O’Brien for Karina Blood (15min, inj).
Mags Doherty (Wexford)
Tinahely: St Patrick’s: Referee: