Graft, guile and Eoghan Rua get
FROM BECOMING the best in Sligo to being Connacht’s finest – it has been a fabulous journey for west Sligo’s Eoghan Rua.
Last Saturday’s 10-point defeat of Galway’s Naomh Mhuire, 6-13 to 3-12, in the 2020 final of the Connacht LGFA Junior Club Championship completes a dream sparked by last September’s capture of the Sligo LGFA Intermediate crown.
Although Eoghan Rua manager Shane Feeney was worried in the build-up that a slew of injuries could derail his team’s chances at Markievicz Park – the second of three provincial finals hosted by the Sligo town venue – Eoghan Rua still boasted numerous capable stars.
Lethal corner-forward Leah Duffy, who scored 2-3, powerful midfielder Louise Lindsay, whose impressive tally was 1-4, and flying wing-back Sarah Curley (named Connacht LGFA’s Player of the Match) were Eoghan Rua’s standouts.
Sophie Barrins (2-0) and Rachel O’Brien (1-2) also made valuable
Connacht LGFA Junior Club Final Eoghan Rua Naomh Mhuire 6-13 3-12
contributions to their side’s victory, so too full-back Joanne O’Donnell and goalkeeper Ellen McGuire.
Once Eoghan Rua got into their stride they were almost unstoppable, especially in the second-half, but they didn’t have it all their own way in the opening period.
Against opponents from Oranmore-Maree who relied almost exclusively on two players, centre-forward Verona Crowley, who scored 1-8, and midfielder-turned-forward Laura Ahearne, who shot 2-1, Eoghan Rua were just two points up at half-time, 3-5 to 1-9. But they heavily outscored the Galway side in the second-half, 3-8 to 2-3, to enthrall their fans and the watching LGFA’s national president, Castleconnor native Mícheál Naughton, whose nieces, Orla and Sinead, formed two-thirds of Eoghan Rua’s half-forward line.
With French flags waving from the terraces – Eoghan Rua’s colours are similar to the country who are among the favourites to win Euro 2020 – Sligo’s representatives in the Junior showdown got the first of their six goals after two minutes when Leah Duffy goaled confidently from Orla Naughton’s pass.
Spectators at the match on Saturday.
This goal erased Naomh
Mhuire’s fast start – Verona Crowley’s point – as the visitors twice drew level with Eoghan
Rua, 0-3 to 1-0 and 0-5 to 1-2, in the opening 12 minutes.
Leah Duffy’s second goal – another cool finish – settled Eoghan Rua. Sarah Curley started the move and Sinead Naughton provided the assist for the accurate teenager.
A brace of brilliant points from goalscorer Duffy, who scored either side of the water break, enhanced Eoghan Rua’s growing confidence. Still, full-back Joanne McDonnell’s goal-line save to keep
O'Dowd and Joanne McDonnell with the named Player of the Match
out Alison Blaney’s goalbound shot was a priceless moment for Eoghan Rua.
Naomh Mhuire kept in touch, however, and there was just a point between the sides, 2-4 to 0-9, when Eoghan Rua netted for a third time. Louise Lindsay took her goal with aplomb after Sophie Barrins and Fiona Feeney combined to create the chance for the midfielder, a former county player. Eoghan Rua’s lead then increased to five