St Brigid’s fare best – now Leinster awaits

Marble City Travel Intermediate County Final

St Brigid’s 1-13

Clara 1-11

St Brigid’s consigned Clara to another year in the Intermediate grade, and earned a shot at Leinster and All-Ireland Champions Myshall, when they edged a closely contested County Final

Clara were quick to get going in Dunmore, opening the scoring with a Niamh Byrne free. Mary O’Connell extended the advantage, scoring a point when she was played in with a good pass by Lucy Power.

St Brigid’s got moving with Caoimhe Murphy 5^th minute free after Clara were penalised for charging.

Clara continued to force the pace, Byrne restored their two-point lead with another free. Caoimhe Murphy (St Brigid’s) latched onto a through ball from Aisling Dunphy and stroked it over the bar, narrowing the gap to a point after eight minutes

Byrne’s 13^th minute free put two points between the sides again but St Brigid’s hit a purple patch from the 15^th to the 26^th minute, hitting Clara for six points without reply. Three Caoimhe Murphy points (2 frees), Eimear Keoghan (0-2) and Laura Hennessy (0-1) did the damage as they took control

With half time approaching, Clara’s Siobhan Curtis attacked the opposing defence. She was clearly fouled on the 21 metre line, allowing Byrne to point the resulting free. At half time, St Brigid’s led 0-8 to 0-5

On the resumption, St Brigid’s hit a point from a 45 metre by Caoimhe Murphy and Kym Ryan scrambled home a goal to push them 7 points ahead.

Clara were stunned but they recovered somewhat, Niamh Byrne shooting three frees in succession. The girls in blue, added two more points through Maria Doheny and Caoimhe Murphy to leave six in it with five minutes remaining (1-11 to 0-8)

The Clara girls weren’t going to lie down. They rallied, firing 1-2 through Niamh Byrne from placed balls, the goal coming from a penalty after Siobhan Curtis was brought down inside the square

That left the bare between the sides (1-11 to 1-10). St Brigid’s weren’t going to relinquish their lead and with the final whistle fast approaching, they tacked on two points from Maria Doheny and Caoimhe Murphy (free).

Clara pressed hard for an equalising goal. They came agonisingly close to getting it when Mary O’Connell hand passed towards goal but the sliotar skimmed the crossbar for a point

Scores – St Brigid’s – Caoimhe Murphy (0-8, 3 f, 1 45), Kym Ryan (1-0), Eimear Keoghan, Marie Doheny (0-2 each), Aisling Nolan (0-1)

Clara – Niamh Byrne (1-9, 1 p, 9 f), Mary O’Connell (0-2)

St Brigid’s – Bronagh Neary, Sarah Mockler, Nicola Butler, Tara Walsh, Anne Doheny, Amy O’Connor, Laoise Prendiville, Aisling Dunphy, Laura Hennessy (Joint Captain), Eimear Keoghan, Laureena Murphy, Caoimhe Murphy, Kym Ryan, Sarah Dunphy, Maria Doheny

Sub – Miriam Walton, Tara Hogan, Katie Brennan, Anna Robinson, Claire Quigley, Emma Boland, Therese Purcell, Christine Caldbeck, Celine O’Dwyer, Kayleigh Nolan, Niamh O’Connor, Therese Muldowney (Joint Captain), Siun Corcoran

Clara – Lisa Kehoe, Margaret Kehoe, Roisin Byrne (Vice Captain), Aine McDonald, Rebecca Nolan, Aisling Curtis, Lucy Power, Claire Nolan, Aisling Nolan, Mary O’Connell, Ciara Byrne, Niamh Byrne, Catherine Murphy, Siobhan Curtis, Aoife Murphy

Subs – Tamsin English for Aoife Murphy, Aoife Glynn, Gemma Dowling, Grainne Byrne, Dianamh Phelan, Niamh Treacy, Blaithin Breen, Leasa Byrne, Ciara Treacy, Aoife Treacy, Fiona Phelan injured (Captain), Laura Kehoe injured, Margaret O’Connell injured