Joy for Blessington
Brave Barndarrig lose out after entertaining decider
BLESSINGTON produced an impressive second-half display to break Barndarrig hearts in a very competitive and entertaining Wicklow LGFA Junior ‘B’ football final played in terrible conditions in Laragh last Sunday morning.
The introduction of Sharon Kelly in the first half proved to be a major factor in Blessington’s dominance in the second half with the impressive footballer proving to be a constant thorn in the Barndarrig side, contributing three points to the cause and providing a significant presence around the midfield area.
Barndarrig were a credit to themselves over the course of this game, both on and off the field. They never once relented, threw bodies into the fray, most notably Mary Doyle who surprised everybody in attendance when she got to her feet having contested a ball with the physically impressive Blessington full-back Becky Doran. The energetic and intelligent Doyle wasn’t the only Barndarrig women to feel the force of Doran who will feel aggrieved that her physical superiority is sometimes deemed as fouling when it is occasionally a simple case of a natural advantage.
Barndarrig, who were forced to wear the Avoca jerseys to avoid a clash of colours on the day, needed to have a decent tally on the board by the end of the first half. Theirs was the smaller panel and they would be pulling up the hill so to speak in the second half. Alas, for the Kilmacurra women, they headed for the half-time break with only a two-point advantage.
As well as that, Blessington retreated to the shelter of the dressing rooms in Laragh and
reappeared wearing a dry set of jerseys while Barndarrig were left shuddering in their soaked garments ahead of the start of the second half.
Blessington were a strong outfit. They called Una Murray in the Barndarrig goal into action in the opening moments when Lisa Mullaly forced her to save smartly. At the other end, Becky Doran started like a train and had cleared three balls in the opening five minutes.
Full-forward Sorcha Nolan opened Blessington’s account with a point after what was certainly a goal chance and she called Murray into action again two minutes later but the Barndarrig netminder was more than equal to the challenge.
It was the 15th minute when Barndarrig got their scoring up and
running with a fine Laura Murphy score after trojan work from Iona Murray and then the Barndarrig supporters were cheering with joy when Rachel Murphy fired home past Niamh Ellis in the Blessington goal to fire them 1-1 to 0-1 ahead despite all the early Blessington pressure.
Mary Doyle was proving very clever in her reading of the game in the opening half and her ball to Jess Traynor almost carved Blessington apart but Niamh Ellis saved the day.
Back came Blessington and Aoife Richardson capitalised on sloppy Barndarrig defending to pounce for a vital goal as the weather conditions worsened high in the hills. 1-1 to 1-1.
Grace Cleary would have the last say before the first water break
as she put Barndarrig ahead with a wicked point off her left.
Both sides were guilty of some very wayward shooting in this game and they acrued two missesd each while Blessington had a goal chance blocked down before Barndarrig midfielder Leonie Buckley profited from the hard work of fellow midfielder and Irish cross country star Una Britton to fire over and make it 1-3 to 1-1.
Grace Cleary added another for Barndarrig just after Sharon Kelly had her effort on goal saved by the excellent Una Murray and then Sorcha Nolan reduced the gap to two (1-4 to 1-2 for Barndarrig) before she was somehow prevented from goaling by a wonderful Barndarrig defence.
Two early wides for Barndarrig seemed to allow Blessington
gather their thoughts early in the second half and Sharon Kelly made is a one-point game with a great score for the Blues.
Barndarrig added another wide, this time form a free but they were going to regret those misses because Sorcha Nolan fired home a rocket of a goal to put Blessington firmly in the driving seat; Sharon Kelly winning the Barndarrig kickout prior to the goal. 2-3 to 1-4.
The game was decided in the next 15 minutes as Blessington turned the screw big time and added seven unanswered points from the boots of Kate Loughman, Izzy Halligan, Sharon Kelly, Kayliehg O’Neill, Niamh Kinsella, Lisa Mulally and Sharon Kelly again to put the game beyond reach.
Barndarrig had asked plenty of questions during that time but Niamh Ellis and her defence had proven more than capable of dealing with the threats.
A long ball from Hannah O’Shea was finished to the Blessington net by Laura Murphy at the death for Barndarrig but it was too little too late and Blessington rejoiced when Philip Bracken sounded the final whistle.
There was a slightly strange
end to the occasion. Barndarrig didn’t stay on the field for the presentation because, according to team manager Alison Shanley, directions from the the LGFA earlier in the week had appealed for teams not to gather in huddles and spectators not to take to the field after finals reached a conclusion and not, as was suggested in certain quarters on social media, out of bad sportsmanship at having lost out on the day.
Blessington captain Niamh Ellis lifted the cup to the cheers of her colleagues and supporters.
Niamh Ellis; Orlaith Ní Ghallchobhair, Becky Doran, Aoibheann Bailey; Sarah Peppard, Orlaith Behan, Caoimhe Kinsella; Kate Loughman (0-1), Síne O’Neill; Emma Lackey, Izzy Halligan (0-1), Emma Stynes; Lisa Mullaly (0-1), Sorcha Nolan (1-2), Aoife Richardson (1-0). Subs: Grace Quigley, Sharon Kelly (0-3), Meabh Murphy, Sarah Murphy, Kayleigh O’Neill (0-1), Niamh Kinsella (0-1), Juliette Gough.
Una Murray; Kavina Costello, Aoife Redmond, Iona Murray; Roisin Scales, Mary Doyle, Hannah O’Shea; Una Britton, Leonie Buckley (0-1); Eilis Murray, Jess Traynor, Roisin Stone; Rachel Murphy (1-0), Laura Murphy (1-1), Sophie Fogarty. Subs: Sarah Stanley, Hannah Joynt, Grace Cleary (0-2), Edel Mackey.