Blessington prevail
Shield success with narrow victory over Valleymount
BLESSINGTON VALLEYMOUNT 4-8 3-9
BLESSINGTON picked up the spoils in this thrilling Minor ‘B’ Shield encounter played out in good conditions on Sunday morning last.
It was a well contested final between two well matched teams in what was a local derby, with plenty of goals flying in which crucially proved to be the difference between the sides in the finish.
Kim Connors and Jess Brennan’s side were more clinical with their chances in front of the scoring space, while Emer Miley’s Valleymount side would rue a couple of gilt-edged chances in each half.
Valleymount started the brighter with two quickfire points from Amy Allen and Sarah McDonald. Blessington responded with a major from the boot of Isabelle Halligan after great build up play by Emma Rose Higgins.
Both sides wasted scoring chances and could not add to their tally before Aoife Richardson fired over a long-range point to close out the opening quarter.
Valleymount’s Sive Byrne took the paint of the wrong side of the upright with a goal chance for what was a huge let of for Blessington.
The home side notched up further points from Sarah Murphy and the lively Sadhbh Cotter, to build up a nice cushion before Sarah Murphy rose another green flag for Blessington.
The industrious Amy Allen won possession of the resultant kickout and played a great ball into Amber Keeneghan who fed the on rushing Poppie Rose Cullen Dunne who fired her shot high into the roof of Anna Carlyon’s net to put the Valleymount side right back in the hunt.
Valleymount were right in the game now, the alert Sive Byrne dropped a quick free kick into the danger zone, where Poppie Rose won possession and was through on goal until she was fouled; penalty was the call from the Baltinglass official.
Poppie Rose Cullen Dunne took the penalty herself but rose her shot inches above the crossbar for a point.
Blessington immediately hit back and responded with a major of their own in the next attack; a powerful run by Aoibheann Bailey cut through the Valleymount rearguard, and she lay off to Kayleigh O’Neill who shot low and found the back of the net going into the closing moments of the half.
Valleymount rallied yet again, after a great one-two between Amy Allen and Shan Ros Morris, Amber Keeneghan linked up with them, gathering the ball, turning two defenders and Amber finished the ball to the net with real aplomb just as the half-time whistle sounded, with the scoreboard reading 3-3 to 2-3 in favour of the ladies in blue and white. Game On.
It was nip and tuck between two well balanced sides on the restart, with Blessington’s Aoife Richardson first to register a point after good play by Aoife Kinsella.
Blessington tagged on another brace of points before Sive Byrne landed an outrageous score, a contender for score of the game, to eat into the deficit.
Valleymount battled away hard adding on a couple more points, before Amy Allen rifled home another goal.
However, Blessington finished of the stronger with a crucial goal from Sadhbh Cotter to get the home side over the line in a thoroughly enjoyable game.
Blessington’s Grace Quigley, Sarah Murphy, Aoibheann Bailey and Isabelle Halligan put in excellent preformances, while for Valleymount, Sarah McDonald, Amy Allen, the Cullen Dunne sister’s and Shan Ros Morris, all put in huge shifts.
After the game, Margaret Allen of the Wicklow LGFA, congratulated both teams on a great sporting game of football, thanked the referee, and then presented the Minor ‘B’ Shield, to the joint winning captains, Meaghan Carlyon and Abaigh Craul of Blessington.
- Blessington: Sarah Murphy 1-2, Kayleigh O’Neill 1-1, Isabelle Halligan 1-1, Sadhbh Cotter 1-1, Aoife Richardson 0-3.
Valleymount:Amber Keeneghan 1-1, Poppie Rose Cullen Dunne 1-2, Sive Byrne 0-2, Amy Allen 1-1, Sarah McDonald 0-1, Shan Ros Morris 0-1, Hannah Burke 0-1.
Anna Carlyon; Aislinn Flanagan, Orlaith Behan, Clodagh Hynes; Caoimhe Kinsella, Grace Quigley, Meaghan Carlyon; Aoibheann Bailey, Isabel Halligan; Aoife Richardson, Sarah Murphy, Kayleigh O’Neill; Emma Rose Higgins, Abaigh Craul, Sadhbh Cotter. Subs: Leah Quigley, Aoife Kinsella, Emma Stynes, Hannah Byrne, Aoife Cullen.
Scorers BLESSINGTON: VALLEYMOUNT:
Saoirse O’Toole; Becky Ryan, Orna Byrne, Maia O’Brien; Hollie
Eve Cullen Dunne, Orlagh Clarke, Betty Ryan; Sive Byrne, Amy Allen; Shann-Ros Morris, Sarah McDonald, Hannah Burke; Alex Burke, Poppie Rose Cullen Dunne, Amber Keeneghan. Subs: Claire Miley,
Ella Keogh, Daisie-Summer Cullen Dunne, Aisling Maguire, Clodagh Brophy.
REFEREE:
Brian Foley (Baltinglass)