Tomkins bags 3-10 in Colaiste Bhríde cruise

COLÁISTE BHRÍDE powered to the Wicklow Schools Junior ‘A’ ladies football title when overcoming a gallant Coláiste Chraobh Abhann side from Kilcoole in the decider in Echelon Park Aughrim last week.

Full-forward Kate Tomkins was the scoring star on the day, harvesting a whopping 3-10 over the course of the hour, while there were very helpful tallies from Leanne Twamley, Charlotte Doyle and Danielle Shannon to nae just a few.

On a freshly mown surface with the barest hint of a breeze favouring the side playing into the Herbst goal end, conditions could hardly have been better for football.

The Kilcoole girls got off to a great start when they were awarded a penalty in their first attack. Centre-forward Yasmin Bishop found the net from the spot kick and Kilcoole were up and running.

However, the Carnew girls’ response was swift and decisive. Danielle Shannon and Kate Tomkins scored two points on the trot and followed with a goal apiece from Tomkins and Leanne Twamley. Centre-forward Allanah Murphy added a point to leave the Carnew school ahead by 2-3 to 1-0 with five minutes gone.

Kate Tomkins almost notched her second goal when her rocket of a shot came back off the crossbar before Claire Ginty pointed for the north Wicklow side.

A Kate Tomkins point for Coláiste Bhríde brought a response from Grace Finnegan, whose shot for the top of the net was tipped over the bar by goalie Emma Kirwan. 2-4 to 1-2 after 10 minutes.

However, from this point on for the remainder of the first half, the Carnew school gained huge control in the middle third of the field and the flow of play was heavily in their direction.

Charlotte Doyle and Karen O’Brien began to control the middle, half-forwards Leanne Twamley, Alannah Murphy and Daniele Shannon came strongly into the game and Kate Tomkins was very much the target player up front.

Anna Doyle, Lily Turner, Yasmin Bishop, Grace Finnegan and half-backs Sarah Ward, Nicole McAuley and Siofra Brady battled strongly for Coláiste Chraobh Abhann but they were unable to stem the tide and the scores against them began to mount.

Leanne Twanley pointed, Emma Cullen goaled, Charlotte Doyle had two points, Alannah Murphy pointed and there was a run of eight points in a row between Kate Tomkins and Danielle Shannon (four apiece), Shannon goaled again and further points from Charlotte Doyle (two) Emma Cullen and Clodagh Doyle brought the Coláiste Bhríde score to 4-17 at half-time.

Understandably, the tempo of the game dropped way back in the second half with the Carnew students still very much in control.

A point from Karen O’Brien and a goal from Charlotte Doyle kept the scoreboard ticking over and they went on to add further scores from Leanne Twamley 1-1, Alannah Murphy (0-2) and Kate Tomkins 1-4.

Coláiste Chraobh Abhann had a much better finishing quarter and managed to improve the scoreboard considerably.

Yasmin Bishop scored 1-2 and full-forward Issy Parker contributed 0-3. Midfielder Lily Turner also added a point.

The final score was 8-27 to 2-7 in favour of Coláiste Bhríde.

Referee Derek Oman presented the Junior ‘A’ trophy to Coláiste Bhríde captain Karen O’Brien.

The Carnew school thus retained the trophy, having also won in 2023.

COLÁISTE BHRÍDE: Emma Kirwan (Annacurra); Laoise Doran (Carnew), Sophie Reilly (Tinahely), Doireann Byrne (Kilanerin); Laura Gregan (Tinahely), Colleen Gregan (Carnew), Aoibhe Johnson (Clonmore); Charlotte Doyle (1-4, Annacurra) Karen O’Brien (0-1, Carnew), Leanne Twamley (2-2, Carnew), Alannah Murphy (0-4, Annacurra), Danielle Shannon (1-4, Annacurra), Clodagh Doyle (0-1, Craanford), Kate Tomkins (3-10, Clonee), Emma Cullen (1-1, Carnew) Subs: Olivia Austin (Carnew), Faye O’Brien (Carnew), Leah Doran (Carnew), Caoimhe Kinsella Nolan (Carnew).

COLÁISTE CHRAOBH ABHANN: Sarah Neville (Kilcoole); Abbey Brennan (Kilcoole), Lilian Kavanagh (Kilcoole), Laura Ginty (An Tóchar); Sarah Ward (Kilcoole), Nicole McCauley (An Tóchar), Siofra Brady (An Tóchar); Anna Doyle (Ashford), Lily Turner (0-1, An Tóchar); Claire Ginty (0-1, An Tóchar), Yasmin Bishop (2-2, Ashford). Sadhbh Nolan (An Tóchar); Grace Finnegan (0-1, Kilcoole), Issy Parker (0-2, Kilcoole), Sophie Kavanagh (Kilcoole). Subs: Melisa Kirwan, Keelan Power, Ava Murphy, Abbey Norman, Leah Byrne, Rosie Colleran.

REFEREE: Derek Oman (Dublin)