Connolly leads Curry to victory

Sligo LGFA Connacht Gold Junior ‘B’ C’ship Final Curry

Coolera-Strandhill

A8-9 1-13

T LEAST half of this game was competitive, unlike the one that preceded it in blustery Quigabar. But last Saturday’s Sligo LGFA Connacht Gold Junior Championship ‘B’ Cup final ended up being all about Curry and, specifically, full-forward Bernie Connolly, who scored 3-4. Expert scoretaker Connolly – named the Sligo LGFA Player of the Match – was part of a ruthless full-forward line, a sector that was responsible for 6-9 of their 8-9 tally against an initially involved but later overwhelmed Coolera-Strandhill.

Aoife Cooke, who scored 2-2, and Ellen Giblin, the supplier of 1-3, were two others that Coolera-Strandhill couldn’t curb and what made it worse for the beaten finalists is that Curry’s management had another excellent forward to call on from the substitutes bench – Therese Marren, who notched two goals in the last five minutes. Although held to a draw at half-time, 2-5 to Coolera-Strandhill’s 1-8, Curry cut loose in the second-half by adding 6-4 – proving that this group of wellcoached, mainly young players could be an emerging force in future campaigns at higher levels. Coolera-Strandhill, for whom

Ruth Goodwin and top scorer Leah Kerrigan were excellent, so too midfielder Ellen Walsh, would have been encouraged by their first-half display. Although they were six points down by the 22nd minute, 2-5 to 0-5, CooleraStrandhill replied with four unanswered scores, 1-3, to head into the break on level terms.

The highlight of this recovery was Leah Kerrigan’s 28th minute goal – a bullet finish – following great work by Ruth Goodwin.

Goalscorer Kerrigan also scored 0-3 in that opening period, including the equaliser, with Ellen Wash, Eva White and Anna McDaniel also contributing well-taken points.

Curry were in a game, certainly, having not pushed on after getting first-half goals from Aoife Cooke, who netted in the 13th minute, and Bernie Connolly, whose 22nd minute goal was created by Kate Hosey’s pacy run through Coolera-Strandhill’s defence. Coolera-Strandhill tried something different for the second-half – goalkeeper Beibhinn Harte was given an outfield role and Lisa Kilfeather was handed Harte’s original role. Goalkeeper-turned-forward Harte scored twice, both frees, including a drive that flew only inches over Curry’s crossbar in added time at the end of the second-half.

But this begs the obvious question – if Harte is a capable forward then why didn’t she start in attack? The tactical switch backfired because Curry netted six times in the second-half.

Coolera-Strandhill opened the second-half scoring – they got the first score of the first-half, too – when Una Griffin pointed. This was one of three points for Coolera-Strandhill in the first 10 minutes of the second-half as they were just two points down, 3-7 to 1-11, by the 40th minute. Curry’s third goal – Ellen Giblin on target – had only rattled but not ended Coolera-Strandhill’s interest. But goals inside a minute from Bernie Connolly, who netted from a rebound after Ellen Giblin’s goalbound shot was saved, and Aoife Cooke, whose score was fortuitous, put Curry 5-7 to 1-11 in front. They never looked back.

Sligo LGFA Player of the Match: Bernie Connolly

Curry: Sara Coleman, Tara McLoughlin, Aine Stenson, Megan O’Donnell (c), Cliodhna Fleming, Eilish Sweeney, Kelly

Ann Henry, Chloe Cunnie, Nisha McDonagh, Kate Hosey, Aine Sweeney, Ailish Gordon, Ellen Giblin (1-3, 2f), Bernie Connolly (3-4), Aoife Cooke (2-2, 1f)

Subs used: Lauren Durcan, Grainne Cooke, Therese Marren (2-0), Isobelle Thornton, Michelle Brett, Sinead Walsh, Aoibhin Cooke, Tara McIntyre, Aoife Gillespie, Rachel Haran, Laura Brennan Coolera-Strandhill: Beibhinn Harte

AWARDS: Curry’s Bernie Connolly, who was the Sligo LGFA Player of the Match in the Junior ‘B’ final, and her team-mate Megan O’Donnell, who captained the winning team.

(0-2, 2f), Cliodhna Davitt, Holly Gilligan, Caoimhe O’Sullivan, Mary Kate McPartland, Niamh O’Callaghan, Sarah Maye, Ruth Goodwin, Ellen Walsh (0-2), Una Griffin (0-1), Eva White (0-2), Ava Griffin, Anna McDaniel (0-2), Leah Kerrigan (c) (1-4, 1f), Eabha Cawley

Subs used: Lisa Kilfeather, Shona Dalton, Keri Mitchell, Aisling Browne, Aoife Gormley

Referee: Pat

Normanly