Rankin inspires colleagues
Lengthy gap bridged by Our Lady’s Island/Mayglass
OLI/MAYGLASS M’MOLIN/K’RIDGE 4-4 3-2
AN EXCELLENT display from wing-back Aoibheann Rankin inspired Our Lady’s Island/Mayglass to an eventual five-point victory over a battling Monamolin/ Kilmuckridge side in this exciting Rackard League girls’ football Roinn ‘C’ final in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Thursday.
Displaying tremendous power and composure when driving forward in possession, Rankin emerged from the game with a personal tally of 2-2.
And her second-half goal from a free proved crucial as it helped her side withstand a fine recovery from the Monamolin/Kilmuckridge girls.
It was a game where very little separated the sides, as Monamolin/Kilmuckridge recovered from a slow start to edge their way back into contention.
But when it looked as if they were about to haul their opponents’ lead back, Rankin came to the eventual winners’ rescue.
This was a fine display from the losers, who played some quality football through passages of the game, and with a little more luck in front of goal they could have at least forced extra-time.
While it was probably the right result in the end, Our Lady’s Island/Mayglass allowed their opponents back into the game by the interval after enjoying an explosive start, which in turn led to a tremendous second 25 minutes.
Rankin stood out as early as the fourth minute when she stormed through the centre before drilling a shot high into the corner of the net.
The same player went on to add a point, with Mia Meyler also kicking over a splendid point to leave the eventual winners leading by 1-2 to nil after ten minutes.
Six minutes before the break the Monamolin/Kilmuckridge girls, having built some promising attacks without the required results, finally got the breakthrough they deserved when Kasey O’Connor took advantage of a breaking ball to power home a fine goal.
Two minutes later they hit the front for the first time with an opportunist Robyn Kinsella goal after an Emma Boland free dropped in front of the posts, leaving them with a 2-0 to 1-2 lead.
The south county side finished the half strongly as Mia Meyler powered home an excellent goal, with the same player tagging on a point to give them a 2-3 to 2-0 interval lead.
Within three minutes of the restart, Kasey O’Connor reduced the deficit with a point, but Rankin responded by powering a 20-metre free high into the net, giving her side a 3-3 to 2-1 lead.
After Róisín Egan and Rankin (free) had exchanged points, Mia Meyler collected a loose clearance to make inroads before placing her shot across goal into the opposite corner of the net, giving her side a 4-4 to 2-2 lead to take into the closing twelve minutes.
As the game entered the final five minutes, Monamolin/Kilmuckridge gave themselves a real chance when Cody Hearne boxed to the net from close range, but despite intense late pressure they were unable to reduce the deficit further as the Island/Mayglass combination lifted their first Rackard League title in more than 20 years.
Our Lady’s Island/Mayglass: Jenna Ryan, Jessica Murphy, Kate Moran, Saoirse Crosbie, Tara Cullen, Eva Smith, Aoibheann Rankin (2-2, 1-1 frees), Ciara Murphy, Ava Wallace, Mia Meyler (2-2), Aveen Ellard, Ciara Kelly, Katie Foley. Subs. - Emma Cave, Naoimi Denton, Rebecca Clooney, Katie Fortune, Ava Newport, Ciara O’Lery, Chantelle Wallace, Holly May O’Sullivan, Keola Calvert, Ruby Jane Casey.
Monamolin/Kilmuckridge: Malin Knuth, Cody Hearne (1-0), Heather Falconer, Aoibhinn Egan, Gráinne Hourihane, Eva Corrigan, Robyn Kinsella (1-0), Róisín Egan (0-1), Emma Boland, Kasey O’Connor (1-1), Faye Tannam, Róisín O’Mera, Kiera Milling. Subs. - Olivia O’Connor for Hourihane, inj., also Lucia Kennedy, Katie Prunty, Katie Egan, Sophie Allen, Sophie Fortune-Shepherd, Ciara Ní Ghriallais, Ava Dobbs-Doyle, Orlaith Doyle, Caoimhy Hardiman, Leah Kinsella.
Referee: Martin Conway (Clonard).