‘Town are queens of Leinster

Thomastown 0-16

St Martins (Wexford) 3-6

Thomastown retained the Leinster Senior Title in grand fashion when defeating a determined St Martin’s (Wexford) in Netwatch Dr Cullen Park on Sunday

They say goals win matches but not this one

Three defensive lapses saw St Martin’s grab goals and a lifeline in this very entertaining Leinster Final

In truth, Thomastown always looked that little bit better and had crucial star performances turned in by Anna Farrell, Niamh Donnelly & Jenny Reddy

Thomastown got off the mark inside three minutes with smartly struck points by Anna & Eimear Farrell

But Linda Bolger had St Martin’s level with two pointed frees by the sixth minute

Eimear Farrell put Thomastown ahead again in the ninth minute with a well worked point after being played in by Sinead Brennan, but a minute later, Linda Bolger had equalised again

In the thirteenth minute, St Martin’s scored a goal by Lettie Whelan after a defensive slip up by the winners

By the twenty second minute, Thomastown atoned for that error, shooting points by Niamh Donnelly, Catherine Walsh despite a super stop from ‘keeper Mags D’Arcy, Anna Farrell and another Donnelly free

The Noresiders seemed to be back in control, but then they were hit for a second scrambled goal from Lettie Whelan in the twenty fourth minute

But the reigning champions stood firm. They secured the last score of the half through Niamh Donnelly after Mags D’Arcy had parried a shot away

Just before the half time whistle, St Martin’s did have another chance of a goal, but the final pass went astray. Despite that they still led at half time (2-3 to 0-8)

Anna Farrell was playing a fantastic game and deservedly won the ‘Player of the Match’ award

She directed matters wonderfully from midfield. Her well placed free in the first minute after the restart picked out her sister, Eimear and she pointed to leave the sides level for the fourth time

St Martin’s scored the next two points through Amy Cardiff, followed by a 45 metre from Linda Bolger by the thirty third minute

Pendulum Swung

The pendulum then swung strongly in Thomastown’s favour. St Martin’s would not score again until the fifty ninth minute

Thomastown struck seven points on the trot – six from Niamh Donnelly which were added to by a great score by Sinead Brennan

As the game headed towards the 60^th minute, few could see a way back for St Martin’s, but they never gave up

Emma Codd cut the lead to four points and from a long range free, Ciara O’Connor capitalised on a breaking ball in the square to force home a third goal in the sixth second minute. The gap was down to the minimum

St Martin’s ran at the Thomastown defence, but an infringement for overcarrying halted that move before the final whistle sounded

Scores – Thomastown – Niamh Donnelly (0-9, 6 frees), Eimear Farrell (0-3), Anna Farrell (0-2, 1 free), Catherine Walsh, Sinead Brennan (0-1 each)

St Martin’s – Lettie Whelan (2-0), Linda Bolger (0-4, 2 frees, 1 45), Ciara O’Connor (1-0), Amy Cardiff, Emma Codd (0-1 each)

Thomastown – Dearbhail O Keeffe, Eimear Corr, Ailish Butler, Aoife Holden, Ciara Farrell, Meighan Farrell, Sarah Walsh, Jenny Reddy (Capt), Anna Farrell, Eimear Donnelly, Sinead Brennan, Shelly Farrell, Niamh Donnelly, Catherine Walsh, Eimear Farrell

Subs – Sally Teehan for Sarah Walsh (inj), Lisa Donnelly for Catherine Walsh, Laura Quigley, Nicole Corrway, Chloe Corrway, Joanne Fitzpatrick, Aine Lannon, Laura Tennyson, Ailish O Shea, Lisa Carey, Maeve O’Connor, Blaithnaid Galway, Niamh O’Shea, Ciara Morrissey, Tara O’Neill, Caoimhe Kelly, Niamh Quigley

St Martin’s – Mags D’Arcy, Marie Claire Morrissey, Lauren Carty, Niamh Dunne, Katie O’Connor, Sarah O’Connor, Mary Barrett, Amy Cardiff, Chloe Foxe, Aisling Cronin, Linda Bolger, Ciara O’Connor, Emma Codd, Lisa Bolger, Lettie Whelan

Subs – Ella O’Connor for Aisling Cronin, Aine Ennis, Megan Carty, Becky Hamilton, Amy Ryan, Alannah Davis, Elsa McDermot, Rachael Bridges, Anna Mulligan, Anna Hennessy, Ellen Barrett, Lisa Firman, Ciara Howard