St Brigids hold the edge over Gowran in opening round

Michael Lyng Motors Hyundai Senior 1^st Round Championship

St Brigid’s 1-14

Young Irelands 1-10

By Aoife Lanigan, PRO

St Brigid’s are through to the Senior Quarter Finals next weekend after defeating Young Irelands in Danesfort GAA last Saturday

St Brigid’s are through to the Senior Quarter Finals next weekend after defeating Young Irelands in Danesfort GAA grounds last Saturday

Young Irelands started the brightest with Sarah O’Donnell and Steffi Fitzgerald pointing from play, but Lauren Ronan had the match level with two points from play for St Brigid’s

Young Irelands went ahead again with points from Julie Lennon and Steffi Fitzgerald, but St Brigid’s were gradually getting to grips with the game. Lauren Ronan scored a fine point after Orla Ryan played a neat pass to her

Ava Brett then equalised after Aisling Dunphy hit a free into the corner, Ava turned and hit a lovely point over the blackspot

Leah Brett then put St Brigid’s ahead with a point from play. Lauren Ronan extended the lead with a point from a free

Steffi Fitzgerald narrowed the gap with a pointed free for Young Irelands before Lauren Ronan converted a free for St Brigid’s heading towards half time

Just before the interval, when play was down at the far end near the Young Irelands goal, management from Young Irelands were calling for the attention for one of their players who was down on the ground at the other end. Play was stopped and medical attention was brought on for the player. There was a hold up of play for about eight minutes, when Referee Liz Dempsey blew the half time whistle after consulting both managers

Half time score was St Brigid’s 0-7 Young Irelands 0-5

On the resumption of play, St Brigid’s continued their dominance, Lauren Ronan converting a free. Two minutes later, Orla Ryan took a shot towards the Young Irelands goal, Tara Ronan jumped and challenged Hannah Brennan and Eimear Naddy for the high ball, Ronan got the faintest touch, flicking the sliotar into net to put St Brigid’s six points ahead

Steffi Fitzgerald added a pointed free for Young Irelands before Julie Lennon slotted over a lovely point also for Young Irelands

Lauren Ronan added a pointed free for St Brigid’s before Steffi Fitzgerald tagged on a point for Young Irelands

Orla Ryan and Steffi Fitzgerald traded points before Claire Doheny and Molly Conroy added a point a piece for St Brigid’s to put them back six points ahead

Then Young Irelands got a mini lifeline, when Ciara Bryan played the sliotar to Julie Lennon who slotted the ball over the advancing defenders head, Ciara O’Keeffe collected the sliotar and hit a rasper to the back of the net

Tara Ronan and Steffi Fitzgerald traded points, before Lauren Ronan hit her eight point to finish the scoring and leave St Brigid’s victorious on a scoreline 1-14 to 1-10

Scorers – St Brigid’s – Lauren Ronan 0-8 (6f), Tara Ronan 1-1, Ava Brett, Leah Brett, Orla Ryan, Claire Doheny, Molly Conroy 0-1 each

Young Irelands – Steffi Fitzgerald 0-7 (3f), Ciara O’Keeffe 1-0, Julie Lennon 0-2, Sarah O’Donnell 0-1

St Brigid’s – Miriam Walton, Nicola Butler, Edwina Keane, Moya O’Brien, Reece Delaney, Aisling Dunphy (Capt), Molly Butler, Laura Hennessy, Lauren East, Claire Doheny, Tara Ronan, Ava Brett, Leah Brett, Lauren Ronan, Orla Ryan

Subs – Molly Conroy for Lauren East, Katie Brennan for Reece Delaney, Ellie O’Neill, Isobel Caldbeck, Aoife Power, Siobhan Kenny, Margaret Maher, Robin Delaney

Young Irelands – Hannah Brennan, Mia Murphy, Eimear Naddy, Miriam Brennan, Aisling Fitzpatrick, Nicole Carter, Marie O’Keeffe, Ciara O’Keeffe, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Ellie Murrey, Steffi Fitzgerald, Sarah O’Donnell, Julie Lennon, Kate Drennan, Ciara Bryan

Subs – Emma Farrell for Ellie Murrey, Amy Lennon for Ciara Bryan, Abi Delaney Tobin, Aoife Farrell, Aisling Rudkins, Jayne Farrell, Meabh O’Neill, Roisin Brennan, Lucia Roche, Sinead Naddy, Clodagh Farrell, Doireann Farrell, Alex Brennan, Chloe Pitt, Katie Pitt, Aine Delahanty, Lizzie Byrne, Laura Langton, Orla Brennan, Lauren Phelan