All the colour and drama from the U-14 county finals
Brave Bray have no answer as Byrnes run amok
TINAHELY showed themselves the masters of ladies football in Wicklow with a comprehensive victory over a fighting Bray side in the Division 1 league final in Ashford last Wednesday evening.
The opening exchanges led none to believe that this would be a one-sided contest as Bray started brightly without converting their chances.
Indeed, the Bray girls shot three wides in the opening exchanges as Alanna Conroy and Aoife Gillen were on top around the middle.
Indeed, it was Gillen who opened the scoring before corner-forward Laura Butler moved the north Wicklow outfit into an early lead with two of her own.
However, when a Laura Hogan free for Tinahely dropped short and full-forward Loretta Gilbert reacted quickest to convert they took over.
Hogan pointed twice, Jackie Kinch landed one from distance and the impressive Ciara Byrne got on the end of a flowing move.
The movement speed and accuracy of Tinahely was a joy to behold. The unselfishness of the team to look for a player in a better position than take a low percentage shot was also impressive to look at.
From such play they got their second goal. Aine Byrne found Rachel Byrne in the danger zone and she bamboozled the Bray defence to play in Laura Hogan who blasted home.
Tinahely were getting into their stride now with their lines of running, fitness and cohesiveness causing Bray real problems. A run of four points followed before Sarah Byrne shimmied by a few tackles to rifle to the net.
There was no let up from the Tinahely girls with Aoife Gorman racing through after intercepting a kickout to strike home.
A fifth goal of the half arrived when Ciara Byrne had a shot for a point that hit the upright. She reacted fastest to collect the rebound and place beyond Bray goalkeeper Aoife Heffernan.
Heffernan can hold her head up high she actually had a fine game and the score would have been much worse without her.
The second half began as the first ended with Tinahely utterly dominant. Further goals arrived early on from the boots of Sarah Byrne, who was set in on goal after an exquisite pass from Ciara Byrne, and Loretta Gilbert after Sarah had turned provider.
At this stage Tinahely let 7-14 to 0-5 but in fairness to the seaside girls they outscored their much-vaunted opponents in the last 15 minutes. Laura Butler was especially accurate from placed balls and substitute Orla O’Keeffe clipping a beautiful score after a good team move.
It was appropriate that Ciara Byrne pointed the last score as she impressed throughout especially in the early stages when Bray were huffing.
The teams collide in the championship semi-final in two weeks and although Bray are up against it they can look back at numerous times they worked the ball into the Tinahely area where a stray final pass or a tenacious hand from a Tinahely defender deprived them of a chance.
For Bray, Butler was good and centre forward Mikaela Shelley was a ball of energy throughout. The whole team deserve credit for battling to the end.
Tinahely were immense everywhere. However, in a team full of superstars it was the half-forward duo of Sarah Byrne and Ciara Byrne who shone brightest. It will take a serious outfit in Wicklow to stop them.
Scorers - Tinahely: Ciara Byrne 1-6, Sarah Byrne 2-3, Loretta Gilbert 2-0, Laura Hogan 1-3, Rachel Byrne 0-3, Aoife Gorman 1-0, Jackie Kinch 0-1, Emily Mulhall 0-1
Bray: Laura Butler 0-8, Aoife Gillen 0-1, Orla O’Keeffe 0-1
Tinahely: Shauna Birmingham; Ciara Stokes, Sarah Hogan, Emily Mulhall; Niamh Kenny, Jessie Byrne, Aimee Maher; Aoife Gorman, Jackie Kinch; Aine Byrne, Sarah Byrne, Ciara Byrne; Rachel Byrne, Loretta Gilbert, Laura Hogan. Subs: Shannagh Goetelen, Niamh Mutton, Jordan Shannon, Siofra Byrne.
Bray Emmets: Aoife Heffernan; Erin Horan, Alice Fitzgerald, Emily Deveney; Emma Doyle, Eve Murphy, Jane Butler; Aoife Gillen, Alanna Conroy; Una O’Grady, Mikaela Shelley, Molly Fitzgerald; Laura Durkin, Shauna Douglas, Laura Butler. Subs: Orla O’Keeffe, Shauna Ryan, Caoimhe Byrne, Eimear Martin, Eileen Henley.