TINAHELY TERRORS
Lucy Mulhall returns to bolster defending champions
TINAHELY BLESSINGTON 3-20 1-03
TINAHELY cruised into another Senior ladies championship final as they blitzed Blessington in Baltinglass on Wednesday evening last.
On this form the reigning champions will be hard stopped after a clinical display.
Tinahely were far superior all over, back-boned down the middle by Niamh Kenny, Jessie Byrne and Jacki Kinch and they were also boosted by the return of Lucy Mulhall who lined out at wing half forward.
Rachel Byrne landed a goal in the second minute as Tinahely got off to a flier.
Byrne followed this with another point and then Shona O Connor won the resultant kick-out and played a great ball into Maura Reid whose shot was cleared brilliantly off the line by Sarah Hogan.
Jessie Byrne was instrumental for Tinahely at midfield, her fielding and distribution of the ball was having a major impact for the reigning champions.
Blessington started with two players on Jackie Kinch to try and stifle her marauding runs.
Laura Hogan was noted by the referee for some dissent moments later but Tinahely were dominating possession and Hogan landed a pointed free to increase the lead.
Then Tinahely lost Laura Ho- gan to a yellow card for a robust shoulder tackle on Molly Cullen, who was floored out off the pitch with 10 minutes played.
However, even a player light, Tinahely had all the play but registered three bad wides in the following minutes.
Sarah Byrne was taken out of it in the large square and a penalty was awarded as Blessington lost a player to the sin-bin.
Up stepped Jacki Kinch who sweetly dispatched the ball to the bottom right hand corner for Tinahely’s second major to close out this incident packed opening quarter with Tinahely leading 2-02 to no score.
Shona O’Connor again won possession and broke up the field where she was stopped illegally. Jessie Brennan, landed the long range free to get Blessington on the scoreboard.
Yet again, Jessie Byrne was to the fore and laid off to Rachel Byrne who tagged on another point.
It was all Tinahely at this stage but some fine goalkeeping by Kim Connors was keeping them at bay.
Shona O’Connor dropped a dangerous ball into the square where Shauna Birmingham spilled the ball,but no Blessington forward was in to punish and the ball was cleared.
Lucy Mulhall brilliantly landed a trio of points from the left wing first, then the right side and then from the centre with breathtaking ability.
Wing-back Niamh Kenny landed an inspirational point after a great break up the field.
Rachael Byrne and Loretta Gilbert each pointed to close out the opening half with the scoreboard reading 2-09 to 0-02 in Tinahely’s favour.
In the opening minute of the second half, Laura Hogan got away with another warning, again for dissent to the ref, and was lucky not to be going for an early shower.
Jacki Kinch was flying at this stage and shot over a point from an acute angle after good work by Jessie Byrne.
Laura Hogan landed another point as Jackie Kinch was driving through the heart of the Blessington defence, as Tinahely upped the pace yet again.
Aoife Gorman and centre-back Niamh Kenny knocked over two long range points to close out the third quarter, leading 2-15 to 0-02.
Roisin Ellis landed a smashing point for Blessington after good work by Cara Hennessy.
Rachel Byrne played a great ball into Laura Hogan who rounded Kim Connors and finished to the net for Tinahely’s third major of the game.
Shona O’Connor made an amazing break up the field, soloing 45 meters, beating three opponents and playing a one-two with Niamh Ellis, O’Connor finished with aplomb to the roof of the Tinahely net, a well deserved score for a lady that had an outstanding game throughout for Blessington.
However, back came Tinahely with points, from Rachel Byrne and a screamer from Lucy Mulhall and another brace from Laura Hogan as the full time whistle sounded to set up the Tinahely in a shoot out with St. Pats.
Scorers - Tinahely: Laura Hogan 1-05 (3f), Rachel Byrne 1-04, Jackie Kinch 1-02 (peno), Lucy Mulhall 0-04, Niamh Kenny 0-02, Loretta Gilbert 0-01, Aoife Gorman 0-01, Sarah Byrne 0-01.
Blessington: Shona O ‘Connor 1-01, Jess Brennan 0-01 (1f), Roisin Ellis 0-01.
Tinahely: Shauna Birmingham; Ciara Stokes, Sarah Hogan, Aishling Winterbotham; Emily Mulhall, Niamh Kenny, Aimee Maher; Jessie Byrne, Aoife Gorman; Sarah Byrne, Jackie Kinch, Lucy Mulhall; Rachel Byrne, Loretta Gilbert, Laura Hogan. Subs: Sinead Byrne (40 min).
Blessington: Kim Connors; Molly Cullen, Alana McMahon, Sarah Peppard; Emma Reid, Shona O’Connor, Mallaidh Behan; Cara Hennessy, Amy Ryan; Jess Brennan, Shauna Byrne, Nicole Walsh; Niamh Carroll, Maura Reid, Sophie Cronin. Subs: Roisin Ellis (35min), Niamh Ellis (35min), Lauren Byrne (41min), Rachel Hanlon (43min), Olivia Kinsella (50min).
Referee: Damien Byrne