TOP CLASS TINAHELY
Sarah Byrne hat-trick helps slay a gallant AGB side
TINAHELY AGB 6-08 3-13
TINAHELY marched on to the ladies Minor ‘A’ county final after a thrilling clash with AGB in Annacurra last Friday evening.
Tinahely bagged six goals over the course of the hour with Sarah Byrne grabbing a vital hat-trick to help put a gallant AGB to the sword after a pulsating tie.
Things weren’t looking so rosy for Tinahely at the break with AGB leading by 2-08 to 2-03 but Sarah Byrne goaled immediately after the restart to give Tinahely a massive boost and get them right back in the game.
AGB opened well with a fine point from midfielder Ann Marie Keegan after 60 seconds and then points from Aine O’Reilly and a converted free from Roisin O’Reilly to leave them up by three points to no score with six minutes on the clock.
But Tinahely attacked with vengence. Eimear O’Brien gathered a high ball but her shot was handled easily by Laura Rice in the AGB goal thanks to a half block from Roisin O’Reilly.
The ball spilled out towards the sideline where it was gathered by Becky Bermingham but her kick pass to Katie Hurley was won by Anna Lawlor who raced inside and fed Eimear O’Brien who lashed home low and hard past Rice for the opening goal of the game with 11 gone.
Back came AGB. A scintillating pass across the field from Abbie Conroy Doyle found the welcome arms of Aine O’Reilly who stormed past the challenge of full-back Emily Hadden and rifled home past Maude Robinson Green.
Things improved massively for AGB in the next few moments with a point from Ann Marie Keegan and then a goal from Emma Furlong to leave them in the healthy position of 2-04 to 1-00.
Tinahely were always looking dangerous, though. Eimear O’Brien pointed and this was followed by a storming run up the field by Emily Hadden who exchanged a number of passes before walloping over the AGB bar.
And then Sarah Byrne struck for her first major of the day. She showed nimble feet to take her around a defender before bulging Laura Rice’s net with a rocket of a shot. Game very much on at 2-04 to 2-02 for AGB.
Eimear O’Brien bagged a sweet point but this was immediately replied to with a Roisin O’Reilly effort and a strong AGB finish recorded points from Emma Cox, Abbie Conroy Doyle and Emma Furlong to leave the AGB girls leading by 2-08 to 2-03. Byrne’s goal after the restart was exactly what the doctor had ordered for Tinahely and they followed this up with an Eimear O’Brien point before Eve Rogers struck back for AGB.
And then came the major turning point of the game. Two rapid fire goals from Tinahely that hit the AGB side hard, the first from the boot of Síofra Byrne and the second from full-forward Eimear O’Brien to leave it 5-04 to 2-09 with 12 gone in the second half.
Full credit to AGB they stuck at their task and they were rewarded by a goal from Aine O’Reilly but a quick 1-01 from Tinahely’s top performer Sarah Byrne pushed Tinahely out to an almost unassailable lead at 6-05 to 3-09.
But, again, AGB just wouldn’t back down and they came with a massive surge through points from Emma Furlong, Ann Marie Keegan and two from Emma Cox to leave just one between the teams. And they might have surged ahead but for a missed penalty.
This respite allowed Tinahely collect their thoughts and Eimear O’Brien, Zoe Katus and Síofra Byrne all pointed in the closing moments to seal the win for Tinahely on a score of 6-08 to 3-13 and they march on to the final where they will meet St Pat’s who accounted for Bray Emmets in the other semi-final.
Scorers – Tinahely: Eimear O’Brien 2-04, Sarah Byrne 3-01, Síofra Byrne 1-01, Emily Hadden 0-01, Zoe Katus 0-01.
AGB: Aine O’Reilly 2-01, Emma Furlong 1-01, Emma Cox 0-03 (1f), Ann Marie Keegan 0-03, Katie Hurley 0-02, Roisin O’Reilly 0-02 (1f), Abbie Doyle 0-01.
Maude Robinson Green; Abbie Doyle, Emily Hadden, Niamh Byrne; Anna Lawlor, Shannagh Goetelen, Aimee Maher; Aoife O’Gorman, Anna Doyle; Jade Shannon, Emma Katus, Sarah Byrne; Alice Mulhall, Eimear O’Brien, Síofra Byrne. Subs: Dervla Byrne for J Shannon, Zoe Katus for E Katus, Leah Geraghty for S Byrne.
Laura Rice; Caolfhinn Kavanagh, Meadbh O’Connor, Becky Bermingham; Sarah Garbett, Angilka Piycak, Emer Kelly; Ann Marie Keegan, Emma Furlong; Katie Hurley, Eve Rogers, Roisin O’Reilly; Aine O’Reilly, Abbie Doyle, Emma Cox. Subs: Becki Hayden for C Kavanagh, Grace Hurley for E Rogers, Orla Hayes for B Bermingham, Muireann O’Connor for R O’Reilly.
Ciaran Walshe (Baltinglass)