Geraldines ease their Championship pain
GERALDINES ST FECHIN’S 4-6 1-6
GERALDINES erased some of the pain from their Senior Championship final defeat to Cooley as they claimed the Division 1 league title for the first time with a comfortable victory over St. Fechins in Tallanstown on Sunday morning.
The Blackrock/Haggardstown outfit were the better side and fully deserved their win. They also had the game’s outstanding performer in county star Rebecca Carr who hit 2.5 of her side’s tally.
It was Carr who opened the scoring after a cagey opening five minutes with a well taken point. Just two minutes later Gers received a major boost when a high center from Bonnie Fleming was touched onto a post by the Fechins keeper with Victoria Prendergast quickest to react to the loose ball by firing into the Fechins net.
The Termonfechin side responded well to this setback with points of their own from Pamela Campbell and Catherine McGlew. Both side’s then had chances to add to their tally before scoring hero Carr held off the close attention of her county colleague Ciere Nolan to shoot past Fechins netminder Emma Mullholland giving the Haggardstown side a 2.02 to 0.02 interval lead. Geraldines started the second half with an early Carr point before the county star raced through the heart of the Fechins defence and hit her second goal of the game.
Further points from Lorna Moriarty and Carr (2) left Gers well placed as they led 3.6 to 0.3 in the forty seventh minute.
The introduction of Rachel Kinch and Shayleen McDonagh sparked Fechins into life with Kinch forcing the impressive Geraldines custodian Alanna Finn into two fine stops. Fechins were given a lifeline when Shayleen McDonagh rose highest to flick a high floated delivery from a 45 by Sara Moore to the net.
Kinch and McDonnell added further points but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Carr’s free kick was finished to the net by sub Moriarity in the twenty sixth minute.
After the match Geraldines captain Helen Ryan accepted the Cup from county chairman Dermot Woods GERALDINES: Alanna Finn, Eilish Hand, Lisa McCabe, Irene O’Hare, Andrea Lennon, Gemma McCrave, Amy Dalton, Helen Ryan, Aine Lynch,Rebecca Carr, 2.05, Maebh O’Hagan, Fionnuala Cafferty, Victoria Prendergast 1.00. Subs used: Lorna Moriarty, 1.01,Tess Fleming, Nina Slowey, Sandra Lynch, Megan Scully,
ST.FECHINS: Emma Mulholland, Rachel Beirth, Anna Redmond, Jenny Mulrey, Orla McEvoy, Ciera Nolan, Orla Brennan, Roisin Kavanagh, Pamela Campbell, 0.02, Catherine McGlew 0.01, Hayley McDonnell, 0.01, Sara Moore, Louise McCullough, Sharon McDermott, Hazel Haughney.. Subs used: Rachel Kinch, 0.02, Shayleen McDonagh, 1.01, Katie Flynn, Grace Haughney.
REFEREE, Gerard Corrigan.