Tinahely pack too much punch for Blessington
TINAHELY BLESSINGTON 9-7 0-4
DAVID fought admirably but in the end Goliath simply proved too strong as Tinahely overpowered a brave Blessington side.
Eimear O’Sullivan, Laci Shannon and late super-sub Emily Ging lead the way in the scoring charts with a brace of goals each as Tinahely rampantly lifted the U-14 ‘A’ Cup.
Blessington knew they would have to create something special were they to upset the odds and they started in the right manner as Kayleigh O’Neill notched the first point of the game but by the time they added their second; Tinahely had racked up 3-2 (in a 10 minute spell).
With two wides to their name in the opening minutes, it proved third time lucky for Tinahely as Fay Doyle pointed after being found by Shannon but then the floodgates opened.
Zoe Katus landed the first of her side’s nine goals and Shauna O’Shea got in on the act next as her shot floated over Blesso goalkeeper Niamh Kinsella.
Ace shooter Eimear O’Sullivan registered the first score of her 2-2 tally as her low shot bobbled over the line.
They may have had their backs to the wall but that didn’t stop Blessington from trying and Orlaith Ni Ghallchobair landed one of the best scores of the match as she cut in off the right and hooked the ball over the crossbar with her left foot.
Ni Ghallchobair added two more frees in quick succession (off the right foot, just because she can) so at the interval Tinahely’s four goals proved to be the difference; 4-4 0-4.
Unfortunately for Blesso they would be unable to add to their tally in the second period as Tinahely showed their ruthless side.
Aoife Connolly and Fay Doyle both raised a white flag apiece before the goals began to flow Tinahely captain Zoe Ketus accepts the Under-14 ‘A’ Cup from referee Ciaran Walshe.
again as Laci Shannon’s clever finish found the net.
On 48 minutes, Shannon’s shot squirmed in and a few minutes later she was denied a hat-trick of goals when a strong right hand from the Blessington goalkeeper
turned the ball away from danger.
The goal of the match - and possibly the season - belongs to Grainne Lambert.
There didn’t appear to be a whole lot of danger when Aoife Connolly fed the ball to the sub- stitute but Lambert thwacked the ball and it flew like an arrow before smashing in off the post with the most satisfying of noises.
Tinahely just how much strength in dept they have then when another replacement - Emily Ging - who had only been on the field a few moments, rattled the net twice in 30 seconds to make it an extremely comprehensive victory for her side.
- Tinahely: Eimear O’Sullivan 2-2, Laci Shannon 2-0, Emily Ging 2-0, Zoe Katus 1-1, Grainne Lambert 1-0, Shauna O’Shea 1-0, Fay Doyle 0-2, Aoife Connolly 0-2 (2f),
Blessington: Orlaith Ni Ghallchobair 0-3 (2f), Kayleigh O’Neill 0-1.
Megan Whelan; Emma Kinsella, Tara McDonald, Ciara O’Brien; Roisin Byrne, Hannah Doyle, Aobha Harmon; Aoibhe Lancaster, Aoife Connolly; Laci Shannon, Fay Doyle, Shauna O’Shea; Eimer Breslin, Eimear O’Sullivan, Zoe Katus. Subs: Aoife Stafford, Livia McDonagh, Roisin Dondlon, Molly O’Dare, Grainne Lambert, Kaylah Tighe, Tara O’Keefe, Saidhbh Byrne, Aoife Campbell, Emily Ging, Laura Doyle.
Niamh Kinsella; Grace Quigley, Kayleigh McGuire, Elaine O’Dwyer; Aislinn Flanagan, Sarah Murphy, Caoimhe Kinsella; Bryana Reid, Emily Rose O’Toole; Aoibheann Bailey, Kayleigh O’Neill, Sadhbh Cotter; Orlaith Ni Ghallchobair, Hannah Byrne, Sadhbh Fisher. Subs: Sophie Keogh, Zara Carey.
Scorers Tinahely: Blessington: