GLORY FOR GEEVAGH
GEEVAGH PUT ON IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY AS THEY SEE OFF RIVALS ST NATHY’S TO CLAIM EIGHTH CHAMPIONSHIP WIN
The 2015 champions were five points in front at the break but they outscored St Nathy’s 2-4 to three points in the second half as the title was heading back to east Sligo.
Ciara Gorman and free-taker Aine Gormley were impressive for St Nathy’s but they chased Geevagh’s lead with Brehony, Sarah Reynolds and Stephanie O’Reilly causing all sorts of trouble up front.
With only three minutes registered, Geevagh were 1-1 to no score in front, after Nora O’Reilly scored their first point two minutes in.
Then a sudden move involving Sinead McTiernan saw the midfielder deftly get around the defence and smash into the back of the St Nathy’s net to give them a four-point cushion.
It was Aine Gormley who got the first score for St Nathy’s but they were dealt another blow on five minutes when the illustrious Brehony sought out corner forward Sarah Maxwell who found the net.
That gave Geevagh a 2-1 to one point advantage and it was beginning to look ominous for the holders.
Things went from bad to worse with only eight minutes played as Geevagh hit their third goal.
This time it was Brehony on target, after a good run from Elaine O’Reilly who dispatched possession to her as Geevagh were in front by nine points.
It was all Geevagh in the opening ten minutes as the St Nathy’s defence were under immense pressure.
Two frees from Gormley had them back within six points but it was the excellent Brehony again who struck for their fourth goal on 19 minutes.
It was Maxwell who passed to the teenager as she slotted home her second goal as Geevagh were in front by nine.
A point from the hardworking Gorman was followed by a free from Gormley as St Nathy’s trailed by seven on 22 minutes.
St Nathy’s were given a spark of hope right before halftime.
A driving move involving Ann-Marie Coleman saw her shot hit the post and the corner forward did extremely well to snatch the rebound. She quickly passed to Ciara Lavin who slotted to the back of the Geevagh net, giving them a lifeline before the break. Another free from Gormley had them behind by five at the interval, 4-4 to 1-8.
After the resumption, two quick points from Elaine O’Reilly (free) and an excellent point from play by Reynolds settled Geevagh and when McTiernan added another, they were cruising with an eight-point advantage five minutes into the second half.
On 40 minutes, it was game set and match for Geevagh when the outstanding Brehony found the net once again, Elaine O’Reilly involved in the build up.
There was little St Nathy’s could do as Niamh Ryan was fed by Reynolds to get their sixth goal on 53 minutes as the title was heading to Geevagh for the eighth time.
GEEVAGH: A Sweeney, M Supple, Y Frazer, R Breheny, K Cullen, N Brehony, C Mulvanney, S McTiernan (1-1), B Byrne (0-1), S Reynolds (0-1), S O’Reilly (C), J Brehony (3-1), S Maxwell (1-1), E O’Reilly (0-2, 1f), N O’Reilly (0-1).
Subs: N Ryan (1-0) for R Breheny (52), M Davey for Maxwell (60, inj).
ST NATHY’S: N Gormley, B Mitchell, A Doohan, E Coleman, L McGrath, E Flanagan, J O’Dowd, K Reynolds, T Doddy (C), A Gormley (0-6, 4f), C Coleman, D McGrath, A Coleman, C Gorman (0-5,3f) , C Lavin (1-0).
Subs: R Scanlon for Flanagan (15, inj), L McDonagh for E Coleman (41), U Cafferky for C Coleman (52), K Coleman for McGrath (60), A Gannon for Lavin (63).
Player of the Match: Jemma Brehony. REFEREE: G Champman.