Truly terrific battle
Tinahely and Blessington give it all in under-16 thriller
2-17 4-8
TINAHELY were crowned under-16 ‘A’ football champions after a sensational battle with Blessington that required extra-time to decide the matter in the Wicklow LGFA championship in Baltinglass last Tuesday evening, September 22.
This was a game that had everything and more and was a wonderful advertisement not only of ladies football but also of the serious talent coming up through the ranks in the club game in Wicklow. Played at a frantic pace throughout with some splendid scores and overall play from both panels, this was a battle that could have went either way right up to the final whistle that saw Tinahely players and supporters rejoicing while Blessington were left distraught.
However, in the aftermath of the game, it appears that the contest might not have needed to go to extra-time had a point from Blessington centre back Alana Carroll after 25 minutes not been overlooked in what was a helter-skelter encounter.
Carroll drove forward into the heart of the Tinahely defence, played a nice one-two before slotting over just inside the upright at the road end of the pitch in Blessington. Video evidence clearly shows the ball went over the bar but the score doesn’t seem to have been registered by match referee Ciarán Walshe while there were no umpires present on the night to aid his decision.
This would have left Blessington’s Sadhbh Fisher with a match-winning free-kick from over 40 yards out right at the death rather than the levelling score that everyone believed it to be, with the young star hoisting over one of the
finest scores imaginable under immense pressure having been informed that it was the last play of the game.
That drama aside, this was a truly epic encounter that had the vocal and passionate supporters on the edge of their seats for the 80 minutes or more that the action flowed up and down the field for.
The pace of this game was relentless from start to finish and both sides and Ciarán Walshe deserve credit for the manner in which the game was played and the entertainment value it provided to those present and those watching on the live stream.
It was nip and tuck early on. The superb Sadhbh Fisher opened the scoring from a free but Tinahely looked very dangerous throughout and corner-forward Aoife Stafford bagged their opening two scores with the second bordering on a goal chance.
Clara Keane returned Blessington to the front but a fine point from a Shauna O’Shea free made it 0-3 apiece.
Blessington were enjoying a very healthy spell at this stage. The strong running of Aibhe King was causing the Tinahely midfield and defence nightmares while the busy Robyn Brennan was giving the Tinahely defenders plenty to think about.
But the Blues dropped two shots short to Emer Kinsella in the Tinahely goal before eventually capitalising on their possession dominance when Aishling Brennan fired home the game’s first major not long before the first water break. Aoife Stafford swung over a quality score for Tinahely to leave it 1-2 to 0-4 for Blessington as both teams broke for that water break.
Things were looking very positive for Blessington when Fisher pointed a free she had won herself but for the next 10 minutes a high press on the Blessington kickout put them massively on the back foot and Tinahely owned the scoring and possession stats with points from Shauna O’Shea (two, one free), Eimear O’Sullivan, Ao
bha Harmon (two) and Annaleigh O’Neill to turn the game on its head and lead by 0-10 to 1-3.
But Blessington would rally and a converted penalty by Sadhbh Fisher left just a point between the sides at the half-time break.
The second half was as thrilling a half of football as you’re likely to see anywhere.
The action swept up and down the field with Tinahely’s Laci Shannon, who covered every blade of grass on the field throughout this game in what was an exceptional performance, grabbing the opening score.
Anna Carylon pulled off two saves in quick succession but all Blessington had to show after the first eight minutes were three wides and two shots dropped short to Kinsella and you wondered would they live to regret those misses.
Tinahely pulled team captain Eimear O’Sullivan out around the middle and she would have an excellent game while substitute Zoe Katus gave them real strength up front.
A Sadhbh Fisher free leveled matters but Tinahely substitute Faye Doyle fired over smartly to push Tinahely back in front as tensions heightened considerably.
Back came Blessington and Clara Keane finished home to the back of the Tinahely net to give Jess Brennan and Kim Connors’ side a major boost.
The excellent Aoife Stafford pointed to lessen the damage but the very impressive Alana Carroll then fired over that controversial score that wasn’t recorded by officials or on the scoreboard.
Stafford added another for Tinahely before Laci Shannon finished off a superb move to give them a lead with only seconds remaining.
Blessington attacked and won a free. Up stepped Sadhbh Fisher and she drove it high into the black Baltinglass night and it sailed sweetly over. 3-6 to 0-14 the scoreboard read and we were off to extra-time.
A decent Blessington start recorded no scores and then Tinahely stepped it up big time. Laci Shannon capping a wonderful evening with a stunning 1-1.
Leila Shannon struck back with a point for Blessington but you could feel the energy growing within the Tinahely camp and they had a warrior within their ranks waiting to make her stamp on the game in the form of Aobha Harmon who took an offload from Zoe Katus and ran 30 yards through the Blessington defence before lashing home past Anna Carylon.
Blessington took this blow on the chin and reacted superbly early in the second half of extra-time when Aibhe King pointed and Aisling Brennan goaled to leave it 4-8 to 2-16.
Back came Harmon with a humdinger of a point after Tinahely had kicked a wide and dropped one short to give them a precious twopoint lead going into the closing stages of the game.
Blessington attacked and won a free. Sadhbh Fisher dropped it in and Bryana Reid plucked it from the skies but Tinahely’s Laura Doyle blocked.
Away went Tinahely. Laci Shannon in the golden boots flying up the field yet again. But possession was lost. Back came Blessington. The ball was worked to Aisling Brennan who walloped a shot off the upright and wide.
Tinahely tried to relieve the pressure but Blessington battled like demons and won possession back and it was worked to Sadhbh Fisher who stormed past three or four Blesington defenders before unleashing a shot went out for a 45 and she slumped to the ground out of pure exhaustion.
They came again but Tinahely stood strong and the final whistle sounded bringing an end to a truly memorable and thrilling game of football.
Best for Tinahely were Laci Shannon, Roisín Byrne, Aobha Harmon, Shauna O’Shea, Aoife Stafford, Aoibhe Lancaster and captain Eimear O’Sullivan.
Blessington were best served by Sadhbh Fisher, the excellent Robyn Brennan, Alana Carroll, Aibhe King, Leila Shannon and Anna Carylon to name but a few. TINAHELY: Emer Kinsella; Kayla Tighe, Roisín Byrne, Tara McDonald; Eimear Breslin, Hannah Doyle, Aoibhe Lancaster; Laci Shannon, Ciara O’Brien; Aobha Harmon, Shauna O’Shea, Annaleigh O’Neill; Aoife Stafford, Tara O’Keeffe, Eimear O’Sullivan. Subs: Emily Ging, Saidhbh Byrne, Laura Doyle, Aoife Campbell, Molly O’Dare, Livia McDonagh, Faye Doyle (0-1), Zoe Katus, Grainne Lambert.
Anna Carylon; Kayleigh McGuire, Grace Quigley, Orlaith Nia; Elaine O’Dwyer, Alana Carroll, Caoimhe Kinsella; Emily Rose O’Toole, Aibhe King; Aisling Brennan, Sadhbh Fisher, Emma Stynes; Leila Shannon, Robyn Brennan, Clara Keane. Subs: Aoife Cullen for O Nia, Bryana Reid for E Stynes, Aoibheann Bailey for G Quigley. Not used: Ava O’Driscoll, Ava Jordan Dempsey.
Ciarán Walshe (Baltinglass)