St Aidan’s N.S. overcome brave St. Mary’s N.S. to claim A title

Cumann na mBunscol Roinn A Final

St Aidan’s N.S. Kilmanagh 3-08     St. Mary’s N.S. Thomastown 0-02

In the glorious sunshine of Nowlan Park it was St Aidan’s N.S. Kilmanagh who proved too strong for St. Mary’s N.S. Thomastown and claimed the Cumann na mBunscol Roinn A title on a 3-08 to 0-02 point score line.

In a nervy opening few minutes it was the Kilmanagh girls that starting the stronger and opened the scoring in the third minute from a Tara Ronan point. St  Aidan’s were nearly in for the opening goal of the game in the sixth minute only Thomatown net minder Libby Begley pulled off a terrific save from a Molly Butler goal bound shot. Tara Ronan doubled St Aidan’s with an excellent point in the eight minute. St  Aidan’s got there opening goal in the game when Lauren Ronan found the net in the twelfth minute when she latched onto a Molly Butler pass to tap home.  Tara Ronan then tapped over a point in the twenty fifth minute from twenty meters out to push Kilmanagh 1-03 to no score ahead coming up to half time. Thomastown were enjoying a good period of possession in the closing stages of the half but try as they might they could not break down the St Aidan’s defence and they went in trailing by 1-03 to no score at the break.

St Aidan’s burst out of the traps at the start of the second half and got 1-01 on the bounce. Lauren Ronan got in for their second goal in the twenty six minute when she latched onto breaking ball to tap home from close range. Molly Butler continued the good run with a point from twenty five meters in the twenty ninth minute.  St Aidan’s nearly got in for a third goal a minute later only for the brilliance of Libby Begley who pulled of three great saves in a row from Molly Butler twice and then Tara Ronan. Thomastown were certain they were in for a goal of their own in the thirty fourth minute when Sarah Barcoe cut through the St Aidan’s and basted the ball to the corner of the net but she was adjudged of fouling the ball and the goal was disallowed. Molly Butler extended the St Aidan’s lead with a point in the thirty sixth minute an excellent score. Margaret Maher put the game to bed in the thirty eight minute when she goaled when she latched onto a rebound from a great Libby Begley save from close range to make it 3-05 to no score. Una Donnelly opened Thomastown’s account with a free from thirty five meters in the thirty ninth minute.  Molloy Butler responded with a point for St Aidan’s with a well taken point in the fortieth minute.  Tara Ronan then tapped over another point for St Aidan’s to make it 3-07 to 0-01 after forty two minute. Una Donnelly responded with a forty five for Thomastown in the forty fourth minute. Tara Ronan closed out the scoring for St Aidan’s with a point when she latched onto a Molly Butler pass to ensure St Aidan’s couldn’t be caught and ran out 3-08 to 0-02 victors to claim the Roinn A title.
Scorers – St Aidan’s N.S. Kilmanagh- Lauren Ronan 2-00, Tara Ronan 0-05, Molly Butler 0-03, Margaret Maher 1-00. St. Mary’s N.S. Thomastown- Una Donnelly 0-02 (1f).

St Aidan’s N.S. Kilmanagh: Caragh Keating, Roisin Casey, Abby O’Keefe, Tara Ronan, Aoibhe Murphy, Sarah Harrison, Kate Everard, Reece Delaney, Margaret Maher, Tara Ronan, Lauren Ronan, Molly Butler.

Sub: Kelly Lanigan, Eillie O’Neill, Kate McCluskey, Claire Doheny, Moya O’Brien, Ellie Lanigan, Dearbhla Cullen, Caoimhe Young, Caoimhe Cahill, Mollie Lawlor, Molly Dunne, Caoimhe Butler, Caroline Brennan, Robin Delaney, Lauren East

St. Mary’s N.S. Thomastown:  Libby Begley, Anna Cass, Una Donnelly, Roisin Moran, Aine Kirwan, Sarah Barcoe, Orla O’Keeffe, Aoibhe Collins, Sarah Hudson, Sinead Galway, Molly Rice, Hannah Hayes.

Sub: Edie Maher, Aoife Coverdale, Eabha Doherty, Dearbhla O’Reilly

Referee: Eugene Ryan

St Aidan’s N.S. Captain collecting the Cumann na mBunscol Roinn A Trophy from County Chairman Martin Quilty