Halpenny Travel SFC Final
Geraldines 1-16 Cooley Kickhams 3-06
Geraldines inspired by a brilliant performance from midfielder Rebecca Carr claimed their first ever senior title with a fully deserved win over Cooley before a record attendance in St. Brigid’s Park on Sunday afternoon.
Heavy overnight rain meant conditions would be a factor but Gers who were looking to avenge their defeat to Cooley 12 months earlier made light of them as as they raced into a three point lead after only four minutes with Carr (2) and Emma Gartlan on target. The holder’s who found points hard to come by in the opening period struck for the first of three first half goals when in their first attack Niamh Rice expertly converted a penalty following a foul on her sister Eibhlin.
Rebecca Carr restored Gers lead from a free before the Haggardstown club had a goal of their own when brilliant play by Ciara O’Connor saw her evade a couple of challenges before unleashing a thunderbolt which flew into the roof of the net.
Shortly after Cooley showed their attacking capabilities when Meg Woods was on hand finish to the net after good approach play. Kickhams received a blow midway through the half when midfielder Katelyn Quinn was sent to the sin-bin. Lauren McFaul, Rebecca Carr and Helen Ryan all added points before a sensational 50 yard run and pass by Niamh Rice put Eibhlin Rice in the clear and the full forward made no mistake before a thrilling half came to a close with Carr edging the Haggardstown side in front by the minimum 1:08 to 3:01.
As in the opening half Paula Levin’s side again started the better with points from Carr (4) and Ciera O’Connor to put them in control. Meg Ferguson got a badly needed score for Cooley which was cancelled out moments later when Rebecca Carr took advantage of a poor clearance to fire over 1:14 to 3:03 with the clock showing 46 minutes.
Cooley never give up and Boyle and Rice raised white flags but there was no denying the Gers who had the last say when centre back had Lauren McFaul had the last score.
Crowned Champions after a couple of near misses, the final whistle sparked scenes of understandable celebration among the huge Geraldines following. It was Geraldines first Senior Championship success since 1982 when they beat Kilkerley to claim the Joe Ward Cup. The captain back then was Pat Lynch whose daughter Sandra was joint captain on Sunday.
Geraldines: Grainne Boyle; Irene O’Hare, Eilis Hand, Tessa Fleming; Amy Dalton, Lauren McFaul (0-2), Aine Lynch; Helen Ryan (0-1), Rebecca Carr (0-10, six frees); Lisa McCabe, Bonnie Fleming, Ava Kieran; Emma Gartlan (0-1), Ciara O’Connor (1-2), Abbi O’Connor
Subs: Sandra Neary, Andrea Lennon, Megan Scully, Fionnuala Cafferty
Cooley Kickhams: Coirin Rice; Deborah Malone, Lisa McCarragher, Shauna Murphy; Laura Traynor, Claire Donnelly, Aoife Traynor; Laura Grills, Katelyn Quinn; Lauren Boyle (0-4, one free), Ciara Quinn, Niamh Rice (1-1, 1-0 penalty); Renee McGlynn, Eibhlin Rice (1-0), Megan Ferguson (1-1)
Subs used: Rita O’Brien , Leanne Tuohy)
Referee: David Loughran (St. Patrick’s)
Report by Dermot Woods
Hollywood Developments IFC Final
St. Patrick’s 3-11 Naomh Fionnbarra 1-9
Twelve months after suffering the disappointment of losing the championship final, St. Patrick’s finally claimed the intermediate crown when an excellent performance saw them defeat Naomh Fionnbarra at Dowdallshill on Sunday afternoon.
The Lordship side recovered from a slow start to take a firm grip of the game and goals from Nicola Connor, Kate Flood and Meg Woods proved decisive as they held off the challenge of a spirited Barrs side.
Few could argue with the merits of the Pat’s victory which was based on an impressive team performance. Captain and Player of the Match, Aine Breen led by example throughout to inspire a superb team effort where the experience of Connor, the quality of Flood and the industry of Kate Cumiskey and Aisling O’Doherty were decisive factors in attack.
Along with the hard-working Grace Treanor in the middle, the team also defended superbly with Anna Whyte, Melissa O’Hanlon and Dearbhaile O’Doherty catching the eye.
However, that defence didn’t enjoy the easiest of starts as they conceded three early points to Amy Grant, Leanne Sharkey and Marianne Hullen. Despite that setback there was no sense of panic in the Pat’s ranks and points from Flood and Cumiskey settled them before Connor pounced for the first goal on 12 minutes.
Flood added another point before firing low into the bottom corner on 23 minutes for a trademark goal after a surging run.
Cumiskey and Breen added points to make it 2-6 to 0-4 at the break with Leanne Sharkey replying with a point for the Barrs after her effort was tipped over the bar by Shannagh Toner McCaughley.
Pat’s remained in control in the third quarter, but Barrs continued to ask questions and gave themselves hope when Ciara McMahon found the net on 44 minutes to cut the gap to 2-8 to 1-4.
However, within a minute, Woods cut into to find the top corner after her initial effort had been saved to settle the nerves. Barrs pushed forward in the closing stages, but were thwarted by the Pat’s defence as the Lordship girls held out to win by eight points.
St. Patrick’s: Shannagh Toner McCaughley; Melissa O’Hanlon, Caoimhe Breen, Ellen Barry; Denise Finnegan, Anna Whyte, Dearbhaile O’Doherty; Aine Breen (0-1), Grace Treanor; Jacqui McArdle, Kate Flood (1-6), Aisling O’Doherty; Meg Woods (1-0), Nicola Connor (1-2), Kate Cumiskey (0-2)
Subs: Claire Savage for Barry, Laura Rice for Woods, Evelyn Donnelly for Finnegan, Niamh Butterly for Whyte
Naomh Fionnbarra: Annemarie Breen; Leah Cassidy, Heather Rogers, Katie McArdle; Deirbhile Osborne, Marie Claire Rogers, Roisin Osborne; Ellen Butterly, Niamh Devlin; Siobhan Markey, Leanne Sharkey (0-2), Amy Grant (0-1); Laura Sharkey, Ciara McMahon (1-3), Marianne Hullen (0-3)
Subs: Aideen Dunne for Grant, Briana Murphy for Devlin
Referee: Colin Halligan (Sean O’Mahony’s)
Report from Dundalk Democrat
