Kemple stars for Carnew Decider should be a belter
A very good opening ten minutes burst during which they scored 2-2 to nil put in place the foundation for the victory of Carnew Emmets over Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney (AGB) in the semi-final of the Ladies Junior football championship played at Avondale on Saturday night last.
Lucy Kemple, who went on to have a huge influence on the outcome of this game, got the opening Emmets point from a free in the second minute.
One minute later Juanita Wilkinson got on the end of a Lucy Kemple free kick across goal to boot home the first goal of the game. Marie Deegan pointed from play and Lucy Kemple added a second goal; AGB were very much on the backfoot at this stage and had hardly got the ball past midfield.
Helen Hughes, Mary Doran, Ella Doran, and Anne Commiskey ruled supreme in the middle third of the field at this stage. Just before the referee paused for the water break AGB got their score, a point from a Liadon Kavanagh free.
The one-minute water break allowed the Arklow girls to press the reset button and from here on they gave as good as they got and were very competitive all the way for the remainder of the game.
Their problem was the lead that they needed to pull back and utter determination of Carnew Emmets to defend that lead all the way.
After the water break AGB came much more into the game through the combined efforts of Niamh Geoghegan, Zoe Tackas, Caolfhinn Kavanagh, Lizzie Burke, Liadan Kavanagh, Lucy Kindlon and the roving Grace Hurley.
The Carnew defence came under more pressure and goalie Elizabeth Collins made a great save from Izzie Burke after 20 minutes.
The defence was rock solid however and the Arklow girls were kept to two points from Lucy Kindlon and Liadan Kavanagh (free).
For the Emmets, wing forward Lucy Kemple went through a purple patch until half-time. She landed three points in a row from play – one a long kick from outfield which hopped over the bar.
Carlene Doyle gave AGB a boost when she burst through for an Arklow goal in the fifth minute of time added on. However, Lucy Kemple responded with appointed free just on the call of half-time. 2-6 to 1-3 in favour of the Emmets at the break.
The Arklow girls began the second half in a very determined fashion and laid siege on the Carnew goal. They came up against a defence which refused to yield.
In addition, AGB were inclined to over-elaborate, stringing a lot of passes together where a more direct approach might have brought better reward. Arklow were rocked back when Lucy Kemple scored a third Carnew goal in a break away attack after seven minutes of the half.
While Liadan Kavanagh replied with an Arklow pointed free, scores from here on had to be chiselled out. Liadon Kavangh pointed from play but immediately Lucy Kemple responded with two pointed frees by 20 minutes.
The longer the game went on the more confident the Carnew girls were of holding their lead. Liadon did shoot a great goal from a penalty with seven minutes of normal time left but it was too little too late and Lucy Kemple finished off a great personal display for her by getting the final score of the game with a point from play in time added.
Lucy scored 2-8 out of the Emmets total of 3-9 – good shooting by any standard.
Carnew were victorious on a score of 3-9 to 2-5.
Elizabeth Collins: Sinead Kinsella, Aoife Kenny, Sophie Doran; Caitlin Hughes, Helen Hughes, Ciara Wafer; Mary Collins, Ella Doran; Allana Dagge, Anne Commiskey, Lucy Kemple; Molly Mulroe, Marie Deegan, Juanita Wilkinson. Subs: Erin Callaghan for Sophie Doran, Tammy Hennessy for Molly Mulroe, Roisin Kennedy for Juanita Wilkinson.
Laura Rice: Emily Mitchel, Isobel Corr, Ellie Doran; Sinead Gavigan, Zoe Tackas, Niamh Geoghegan; Caolfhinn Kavanagh, Lizzy Burke; Muireann O’Connor, Liadan Kavanagh, Lucy Kindlon; Grace Hurley, Carlene Doyle, Rebecca O’Sullivan. Subs: Caoimhe Breslin for Sinead Gavigan, Ciara Lancaster for Carlene Doyle, Abby Healy for Liadan Kavanagh, Emer Cullenfor Rebecca O’Sullivan.
Eddie Leonard (St. Patricks)