Pat’s edge thriller
Second county final in a row for Hollingsworth’s side
ST PATRICK’S secured their place in the 2018 Senior county final following this thrilling victory over a battling Baltinglass side under lights in Avondale GAA Club last Saturday evening.
Scenes of pure delight were witnessed along the St Pat’s sideline when the final whistle sounded on a damp night in Rathdrum where conditions had complicated matters in terms of handling but had not tainted a fantastic display from two quality sides.
Robert Hollingsworth’s side were cheered on by a decent travelling support who came bearing flags and major hopes of a return to the county decider having pushed Tinahely hard last year in the county grounds. It is against the defending champions that they must do battle again, and they will need to come prepared to knock the powerhouse of Wicklow ladies football off their perch.
In a very simple way this semi-final victory comes down to St Pat’s being able to take their scores that bit easier than Baltinglass and a better use of possession at a crucial stage in the game that decided this helter skelter game which was without a doubt anyone’s right up until that final whistle.
One of the best examples of that slight advantage Pat’s had over Baltinglass was in the last score of the game. Pat’s attacked the Baltinglass goal and the ball was worked to Laura Manley, who had a fine game over the 60 minutes. It was here that a cool head was needed, where a spark of creativity could unlock a stubborn defence, and rather than go for a Hail Mary effort or panic, Manley spotted Saoirse O’Reilly out to the side in a bit of space and the dual player played a sweet ball out to the corner-forward who dispatched a fine score over the bar to leave Baltinglass behind by two points with time almost up.
A little while earlier with the score at 3-6 to 2-8 Baltinglass had worked themselves into a similar position at the other end but a poor shot choice had resulted in a harmless wide and moments later another shot dropped short to Jen Lyons in the Pat’s goal. It’s fine margins in these tight games that decides who marches on to county finals and who makes a championship exit at that most cruel of stages.
Conditions considered, this was an absorbing game of football from start to finish that was only slightly sullied by a very high free count but enhanced by strong defensive displays and some fine attacking football.
Of their total of 3-8, the full-forward line of St Pat’s would bag 2-6, a fair reflection on their performance as a whole, with Rioghna McGettigan proving a thorn in the Baltinglass defence all night.
Both sides went at it hard early on with a Marie Kealy free replied to with gusto through a superb Jess Lyons goal and a point from Erynn O’Brien.
Baltinglass were far from stunned by the concession of the early 1-1 and they profited from very poor defending when a high ball was tapped down to full-forward Rebecca Bowes who fired home her side’s opening major to make it 1-1 to 1-1.
A rapid 1-1 from McGettigan at one end was complimented by strong defending from fullback Saoirse O’Reilly Snr as Pat’s opened a 2-2 to 1-1 lead, the goal a ripper of a shot across the face of the Baltinglass goal.
Geraldine Norton came to the rescue for Baltinglass soon after as she deflected a goal-bound strike from Saoirse O’Reilly over for a point but Baltinglass gathered their thoughts to take the game to Pat’s and they added the next two points through Marie Kealy and Sarah Jane Winder to reduce the deficit to a one-score game at 2-3 to 1-3.
In that period Baltinglass would also record two wides, see a Marie Kealy effort come back off the upright and watch as full-forward Rebecca Bowes’ punched effort from a high ball was blocked by a watchful Pat’s defence.
Pat’s would close out with a pointed free from Jess Lyons to lead 2-4 to 1-3 at the break.
Baltinglass exploded into the second half with early points from Paula Faulkner and Marie Kealy (free) and a wicked Chloe Farrell goal after she robbed Jen Lyons’ kick out with 33 on the clock to wrestle the lead back from Pat’s at 2-5 to 2-4. They led by two moments later thanks to a Marie Kealy free, but Pat’s found the net again after a fine move ended with Rioghna McGettigan firing home past Geraldine Norton to make it 3-4 to 2-6 after 37 minutes.
Pat’s were dominant in the next few minutes with two wides and a point from Rioghna McGettigan and the added bonus of seeing Baltinglass corner-back Orla Hanlon leaving the field on a yellow card after a foul on Erynn O’Brien.
Baltinglass coped extremely well without their defender and were level with Pat’s when she returned at 2-9 to 3-6 thanks to points from Marie Kealy (three frees) which were added around a fine Laura Manley score for Pat’s.
Baltinglass wouldn’t score again in this game despite throwing everything they had into those last five minutes. Pat’s proved just that bit more clinical and perhaps a shade fitter as Baltinglass kicked away possession on a number of occasions.
A pointed free from Rioghna McGettigan and that Saoirse O’Reilly security score were enough to send Pat’s back to another county final, and, judging by the reaction after the final whistle, that achievement means a hell of a lot of this team and their supporters.
Scorers – St Patrick’s: Rioghna McGettigan 2-3 (1f), Jess Lyons 1-1 (f), Saoirse O’Reilly 0-2, Laura Manley 0-1, Erynn O’Brien 0-1.
Baltinglass: Marie Kealy 0-7 (5f), Rebecca Bowes 1-0, Chloe Farrell 1-0, Sarah Jane Winder 0-1, Paula Faulkner 0-1.
St Patrick’s: Jen Lyons; Sorcha Doyle, Saoirse O’Reilly Snr, Lucy Dunne; Kate Hennessy, Rose Fagan, Sarah Ennis; Niamh McGettigan, Sarah Delahunt; Jess Lyons, Aishling Hayden, Laura Manley; Saoirse O’Reilly Jnr, Rioghna McGettigan, Erynn O’Brien. Subs: Sinead McGettigan, Niamh O’Brien.
Baltinglass: Geraldine Norton; Orla Hanlon, Jackie Byrne, Sarah Fennelly; Sheilfi Daly Danne, Hannah Sheerin, Susan Dowling; Sarah Jane Winder, Paula Faulkner; Anna McGrath, Evelyn Deans, Chloe Farrell; Niamh Byrne, Rebecca Bowes, Marie Kealy. Subs: Helena Dowling, Margaret Nolan.