Redmond to the fore as Pat’s prevail
Joy for Wicklow town side
ST PATRICK’S VALLEYMOUNT 1-6 1-3
A tremendous second-half display from St. Patricks led by Orla Redmond saw the Wicklow town girls claim the ladies Intermediate title at Joule Park Aughrim last Sunday afternoon.
A tense low-scoring game was lit up by Redmond in the final quarter after Valleymount had pushed them all the way.
The game started at a savage pace with both defences on top. Chances were few and far between. Pats opened the scoring after six minutes with an Aimi Healy free. It took Valleymount eleven minutes to trouble the scoreboard but after an excellent flowing move Liz Brophy clipped a fine score.
Niamh Caffrey struck Pats back into the lead before Megan Dunne extended it with a booming point from distance.
Valleymount were on top in the closing stages of the half but for all their pressure they could not breach a brilliant Pats defence. As the game entered first half injury time the impressive Annie Maguire added a beautiful left booted effort and the lakeside girls squared it up at the interval when Niamh Kelly Dunne pointed from out on the stand side wing.
A feature of the first half was the battle between Valleymount wing back Katie Maguire and Pats wing forward Naoise O’Reilly with Maguire showing a great reading of the game with numerous interceptions and never wasting a ball in possession.
Six minutes into the half, Valleymount got a tonic goal. When Brophy collected the ball 40 yards out from goal there seemed no danger but the centre forward set off on a galloping run that snaked through the Pats rearguard and she showed composure to finish past the keeper.
Unfortunately, it was to be Valleymount’s final score as Pats took over midfield through Aine Cahill, Laura Leonard and the impressive Luci Hobbs.
Redmond struck a morale-boosting point she added a second soon after and O’Reilly tied it up with an excellent point on the run with 15 minutes to go.
The crucial score came just after. Caffrey and Hobbs combined to free up Redmond and she showed a bit of class to side foot the ball under advancing keeper Emer Miley.
The last 15 minutes were scoreless as the Pats defence withstood the Valleymount charge. A late goa-lbound free kick from Brophy was as close as Valleymount got to the goal they needed.
A low scoring but excellent game. The defences of both teams were excellent with the better team ultimately winning.
Liz Brophy and the two Maguires were excellent for Valleymount. Pats had outstanding performers in Hobbs, Cahill and Leonard. However, player of the match had to be Redmond who struck the vital scores when her team needed them.
Scorers - St. Patricks: Orla Redmond 1-2, Aimi Healy 0-1, Niamh Caffrey 0-1, Megan Dunne 0-1, Naoise O’Reilly 0-1.
Valleymount: Lizzy Brophy 1-1, Niamh Kelly Dunne 0-1, Annie Maguire 0-.1
Zoe Byrne; Aoife Dunne, Meadbh O’Keane, Natasha Fitzgerald; Rebecca Hollingsworth, Liz Malone, Laoise Marron; Laura Leonard, Luci Hobbs; Sophie Porter, Orla Redmond, Naoise O’Reilly; Megan Dunne, Niamh Caffrey, Aimi Healy. Subs: Aine Cahill, Leona Franey, Siobhan Gorman, Chloe O’Donavan
Emer Miley; Aisling Mahon, Eimear Behan, Kelly O’Neill; Katie Maguire, Ali Miley, Ellen Traynor; Annie Maguire, Sive Byrne; Niamh Kelly Dunne, Lizzy Brophy, Daisie Summer Cullen; Sarah Richardson, Amy Burke, Orla Clarke. Subs: Hollie Eve Cullen Dunne, Claire Miley, Caroline Cahill.
John Bermingham (Coolkenno)