It’s 2-in-a-row for Thomastown U16A

Marble City Travel U16A County Final

Thomastown 3-16

Young Irelands 1-3

It was two in row for Thomastown as they successfully defended their county U16 Rionn A title with a convincing display against Young Irelands in Larchfield

Thomastown were quick of the mark, taking the lead when Roisin O’Keeffe converted a free, just after the throw in

The match went to & fro until the 10^th minute, when Thomastown’s Orla O’Keeffe connected to a long ball. The ball flew into the Gowran net, but the ‘score’ was ruled out for a square ball.

Young Irelands got off the mark in the 12^th minute, with a well worked goal. Aoife Farrell hand-passed the ball to Ciara O’Keeffe, who raced forward towards goal on a solo run.

With nobody coming to make a challenge, it was like the parting the Red Sea, Ciara got to the 14metre line and she blasted the sliotar to the back of the net.

A minute later, Young Irelands extended their lead, when Amy Lennon pointed a 45 metre free

This point seemed to wake Thomastown from their slumber and they scored the next three points without reply through Orla O’Keeffe, Roisin O’Keeffe (free) and Eva Hynes to draw level (1-1 to 0-4).

‘Irelands worked hard to get back in front. Rachel Doyle shooting them ahead after she picked off Amy Lennon’s 20^th minute free and split the posts

Thomastown then scored three points approaching the half hour through Eva Hynes, Roisin O’Keeffe (free) and Therese Donnelly. That little rally left them leading by two at half-time (0-7 to 1-2)

Moving swiftly on the resumption, Thomastown extended their lead with two more Roisin O’Keeffe points (45, free). Sarah O’Neill helped narrow the gap to three points after she grabbed a minor score on 35 minutes.

Took Over

However, this turned out to be Young Irelands last score as Thomastown took over, hitting their rivals for 3-7. Michelle Donnelly (1-1), Orla O’Keeffe (1-0), Roisin O’Keeffe (0-2 frees), Sarah Barcoe, Ruth Ryan & Eva Hynes (0-1 each) did the damage as the ‘Town stepped up the pace

Just as full time approached, Thomastown’s Orla O’Keeffe took a shot a goal which was deflected to the back of the net by one of the Young Irelands defenders

It was a cruel blow for the Gowran girls, who gave their all but couldn’t stop the rampant winners

Scores – Thomastown – Roisin O’Keeffe (0-7, 6f, 1 45), Orla O’Keeffe (2-1), (Own Goal 1-0), Eva Hynes (0-4), Michelle Donnelly (1-0), Therese Donnelly (0-2), Sarah Barcoe, Ruth Ryan (0-1 each)

Young Irelands – Ciara O’Keeffe (1-0), Amy Lennon (0-1, 45), Rachel Doyle, Sarah O’Neill (0-1 each)

Thomastown – Nicole Dunne (Captain), Shauna Dack-Kennedy, Una Donnelly, Sinead Galway, Ellen Ryan, Ciara Prendergast, Sinead O’Keeffe, Laoise Fennelly-Hunt, Roisin O’Keeffe, Sarah Barcoe, Eva Hynes, Ruth Ryan, Therese Donnelly, Orla O’Keeffe, Michelle Donnelly

Subs – Abbi Wymess for Eva Hynes, Eabha Galway for Sauna Dack-Kennedy, Niamh O’Connell for Michelle Donnelly, Aine Kirwan, Jessica Murphy

Young Irelands – Aisling Rudkins, Miriam Brennan, Hannah Brennan, Caitlin Simpson, Mia Murphy, Eimear Naddy (Joint Captain), Aoife Farrell, Rachel Doyle, Ciara O’Keeffe, Leah Brennan (Joint Captain), Amy Lennon, Zoe Fenlon, Sarah O’Neill, Maddy Lawson, Laura Langton

Subs – Heidi Sheridan for Laura Langton, Rebecca Lennon for Caitlin Simpson, Sinead Healy for Zoe Fenlon, Laura Nevin, Eva O’Donnell, Meabh O’Neill, Emma Farrell, Tiffanie Fitzgerald