St. Kevin’s see off Avondale

Sheridan shines in the sun

AN impressive St. Kevin’s Senior camogie side stormed to the Wicklow Schools Senior ‘B’ championship title when seeing off a gallant challenge of Avondale CC in Dunlavin GAA Club on Monday morning last.

Fine showings from Tara Grace, Alannah Sheridan, Cara Mooney, Aoife Fenner and Grace Nolan to name just a few helped the Dunlavin students to a sweet victory on their home patch in sweltering sunshine.

The St. Kevin’s side got off to a flying start against visiting Avondale CC who were without some key players for the trip across the gap.

Cara Mooney got the home side up and running with a fine score before Sophie Carty walloped home the first goal after a fine save from Avondale goalkeeper Claire Fleming.

The Rathdrum side had some fine hurlers within their ranks, Niamh Whelan and Ava Breen battling hard in defence while Hollie Ward, Erin Doyle and Faye Manley emptied the tanks over the course of four quarters in a 12-a-side format.

It wasn’t a case of Avondale merely defending against the St. Kevin’s side, the visitors had plenty of attacks but proved wasteful in front of the posts, firing 10 wides and drawing saves from the impressive Niamh Jones.

But the writing was scrawled on the wall when St. Kevin’s opened up a 2-6 to 0-1 at the break, Avondale’s opening score arriving just before the break from the hurl of Áine Fogarty.

It looked like the Rathdrum side were going to launch something of a comeback when Leah Keogh rifled home an early free to the back of the net but St. Kevin’s proved ruthless, grabbing two majors in reply, the first from Grace Nolan who lashed home to the top corner, and the second from Saoirse Hennigan after good work from the lively Aoife Fenner.

Avondale CC struck back with a second major, again from the hurl of Leah Keogh, but that would be their final score of the day, with St. Kevin’s, powered by the outstanding Alannah Sheridan, never looking in any real trouble from there on in.

ST. KEVIN’S: Niamh Jones; Laura Kelly, Tara Grace, Leah Spillane; Abi Wright; Elizabeth Flood, Alannah Sheridan (0-3, 2f), Grace Nolan (1-0); Rose O’Hara (0-1); Cara Mooney (1-3), Sophie Carty (1-0), Aoife Fenner (0-2). Subs: Saoirse Hennigan (1-0).

AVONDALE CC: Claire Fleming; Kate Healy, Niamh Whelan, Lacey McSherry; Ava Breen; Áine Fogarty (0-1), Hollie Ward, Bea Clancy; Erin Doyle; Faye Manley, Paige Nolan, Ella Cranley. Subs: Rebecca Cleary, Aimee Fox, Canessa Toomey, Leah Keogh (2-0, 2f).

REFEREE: Derek Oman (Dublin)