St Brigids edge out Windgap to claim minor B crown, while goals the key asYoung Ireland’s defeat Mullinavat / Carrickshock to claim the C title

St Canices Kilkenny Credit Union Minor B County Final

St Brigids             2-08       Windgap             2-05      

A 59th minute goal by Charlotte McCluskey was the difference as St Brigid’s defeated a brave Windgap side on a 2-08 to 2-05 score line to claim the Minor B County title for 2015.

It was Windgap who began the game brighter and raced into a 0-03 points to no score lead in the opening sixteen minutes. Deirdre Purcell opened the scoring in the first minute with a free from forty meters after Aine Dunne was fouled. Kathy Long doubled Windgap’s advantage with a well taken point from twenty one meters. Deirdre Purcell then tapped over her second point of the afternoon from a free from forty meters in the sixteenth minute. St Brigid’s were enjoying a good period of possession in the opening quarter of the game but were guilty of hitting  wides five in total. They opened the scoring in the twenty second minute through an Éadaoin Murphy forty five. Molloy Walsh responded for Windgap with a point from twenty one meters in the twenty second minute.  Éadaoin Murphy replied for St Brigid’s with a free from forty meters in the thirtieth minute to narrow the gap to two points at the break 0-04 points to 0-02.

St Brigid’s raced out of the traps in the second half and got the opening two score to equalise the tie. Eimear Keoghan started the run with the opening point of the half in the thirty third minute from a free from forty meters. Ann Doheny then tapped over the equalising point in the thirty eight minute from thirty meters.  Ashling Butler put Windgap into the lead again with a point from twenty meters after latching onto a dropping Deirdre Purcell free. St Brigid’s responded brilliantly and went into the lead for the first time when they got in for the games opening goal in the forty third minute when a Éadaoin Murphy forty five deceived the Windgap defence and went straight to the roof of the net to put them ahead 1-04 to 0-05. Laoise Prendiville put St Brigid’s three points ahead 0-05 to 0-05 with a well taken point from twenty one meters in the forty sixth minute.  Windgap bounced back brilliantly and equalised the tie when Jade Butler got in for a goal a minute later when she latched onto a high ball in the St Brigid’s square to blast home from close range to equalise the game at 1-05 apiece. St Brigid’s then got two points on the trot to go into the lead again. Eimear Keoghan started the run with a free from twenty one meters in the forty ninth minute. Charlotte McCluskey continued the good run with a well taken point from play in the fifty second minute to make it 1-07 to 1-05.  Windgap struck back brilliantly when Kathy Long’s brilliant over shoulder shot from forty meters went to the St Brigid’s net to go ahead again by a point 2-05 to 1-07.  Eimear Keoghan put St Brigid’s into the lead again with a free from twenty one meters in the fifty seventh minute 2-05 to 1-08. Just as it looked like extra time would be needed Charlotte McCluskey struck for the decisive score, a goal in the fifty ninth minute when she latched onto a breaking ball to tap home from the edge of the small square to break Windgap’s hearts as they held on to claim a 2-08 to 2-05 victory.

Scorers-– St Brigids – Éadaoin Murphy 1-02 (1f, 1-01 -45), Charlotte McCluskey 1-01, Eimear Keoghan 0-03 (2f), Ann Doheny 0-01, Laoise Prendiville 0-01. Windgap –  Kathy Long 1-01, Jade Butler 1-00, Deirdre Purcell 0-02 (2f),  Molly Walsh 0-01, Ashling Butler 0-01.

St Brigids – Siún Corcoran, Lisa Hogan, Caoimhe Murphy, Kayleigh Nolan, Therese Purcell, Ciara Murphy, Laoise Prendiville, Tara Walsh, Anna Robinson, Éadaoin Murphy, Charlotte McCluskey, Eimear Keoghan, Kym Ryan, Niamh O’Connor, Ann Doheny.

Subs- Aisling Kelly, Amy O’Brien, Lauryn Corcoran, Leah Lanigan, Claire Kelly, Christine Caldbeck, Celine O’Dwyer, Rebecca O’Neill, Claire Quigley.

Windgap- Grace Foley, Laura Hennessy, Jane Walker, Elaine Power (Capt),  Margaret Purcell, Deirdre Purcell,  Claire Kirwan, Caoimhe O’Shea, Amyleigh Cahill, Kathy Long, Aine Dunne, Ashling Butler, Molly Walsh, Jade Butler, Emily Murphy.

Subs- Alanna Dunphy, Lisa Power, Margaret Foley, Ciara Byrne, Katelyn Brett, Heather McLoughlin, Lucy Culleton.

Referee- Eamonn Larkin.

St Canices Kilkenny Credit Union Minor C County Final

Young Ireland’s 5-02                      Mullinavat / Carrickshock 2-05

Goals were the key as Young Irelands avenged there league final defeat to Mullinavat / Carrickshock when they recorded a 5-02 to 2-05 victory over them in Danesfort on Sunday.

It was the victors to raced out of the traps and got in for a goal after twenty seconds. Ava Comerford latched onto a long dropping ball into the Mullinavat / Carrickshock square to tap home. Mullinavat / Carrickshock bounced back brilliantly to the early goal and got in for one of their own in the second minute when Nieve Walsh dispossessed the Young Irelands defence to blast the sliotar to the Young Ireland’s net. They were a baron patch in the contest until Steffi Fitzgerald broke the deadlock with a free from thirty five meters in the fifteenth minute. Ciara Phelan equalised the contest again with a forty five in the sixteenth minute at 1-01 apiece. Jessica Dunphy put Mullinavat / Carrickshock into the lead for the first time with a well taken point form thirty meters in the seventeenth minute. Young Ireland’s then went on a devastating goal scoring spree finding the net three times in a five minute spell . Katie Quinlan started the run in the twenty first minute when she latched onto a breaking ball on the edge of the small square and taped the sliotar home. Kate Drennan then got in for Young Irelands third goal a minute later when she latched onto a Nicole Carter pass to tap home from close range. Steffi Fitzgerald then got Young Irelands fourth goal when her free from twenty one meters  out near the side line deceived the Mullinavat / Carrickshock defence and went straight the net to make it 4-01 to 1-02. Mullinavat / Carrickshock bounced back from this concession with two quick points in as many minutes.  Ciara Phelan started the run with a free from twenty one meters after Niamh Dunphy was fouled. Orla Grace then tapped over a point in the thirtieth minute from twenty one meters to make it 4-01 to 1-04 at the break.

Similar to the opening half Young Ireland’s raced out of  the traps and got in for their fifth goal in the thirty fourth minute when Ava Comerford latched onto a breaking ball on the edge of the small square to tap it home from close range.  Bonnie Comerford followed this up with a free from thirty five meters in the thirty ninth minute which proved to be there last score in the contest.  Niamh Dunphy opened Mullinavat / Carrickshock second half account with a point from twenty one meters in the forty sixth minute. They were then awarded a penalty in the forty seventh minute when Niamh Dunphy was fouled. Ciara Phelan’s effort was brilliantly saved by Young Ireland‘s net minder Charlotte Boote and Young Ireland’s cleared there lines. Nieve Walsh gave Mullinavat / Carrickshock a lifeline in the fifty fifth minute when she got in for her sides second goal when her shot from thirty meters deceived the Young Ireland’s defence and went straight to the net to cut the deficit to six points to 5-02 to 2-05.  Try as they might Mullinavat / Carrickshock couldn’t get another goal and Young Ireland’s held on to record a deserved victory on a 5-02 to 2-05 score line to claim the Minor C title for 2015.

Scorers-– Young Ireland’s – Ava Comerford 2-00, Steffi Fitzgerald 1-01 (1-01f), Katie Quinlan 1-00, Kate Drennan 1-00, Bonnie Comerford 0-01 (1f).  Mullinavat / Carrickshock – Nieve Walsh 2-00, Ciara Phelan 0-02 (1f, 1-45), Jessica Dunphy 0-01, Orla Grace 0-01, Niamh Dunphy 0-01.

Young Ireland’s – Charlotte Boote, Niamh Walsh, Katie O’Neill, Aine Smith, Ashleigh Boote, Aoife Naddy, Nicole Carter, Grace O’Donnell, Rebeccca Nevin, Rachel Dreeling, Bonnie Comerford, Steffi Fitzgerald, Katie Quinlan, Kate Drennan, Ava Comerford.

Subs- Ellen O’Donnell

Mullinavat / Carrickshock – Alison Foskin, Laura Maher, Vivienne Law, Ciara Walsh, Grace Aylward, Eimear Brennan, Michelle O Connor, Ciara Phelan, Michelle Mc Donald, Kiah Dwyer, Jessica Dunphy, Niamh Dunphy, Orla Grace, Nieve Walsh, Niamh Jones.

Subs- Grace Kent, Kerrie Ann Power, Sinead Brennan, Shauna Dwyer.

Referee- Seamus Quigley.