Junior Joy for Lockes and ‘Bridge side

Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel Junior League Final

John Lockes/Bennettsbridge 2-13

Graiguenamanagh 1-3

By Aoife Lanigan, PRO

John Lockes/Bennettsbridge are Junior League Champions after defeating Graiguenamanagh in Grennan, Thomastown last Sunday

John Lockes/Bennettsbridge came out of the blocks fastest. Aisling O’Sullivan opened the scoring with a point from play. Then Rachel Phelan added a pointed free for them. Megan Walsh continued the scoring for John Lockes/Bennettsbridge with two points from play

Over the next ten minutes, no further score was added to either tally until Lucy Walsh split the posts for a point for John Lockes/Bennettsbridge. Aisling O’Sullivan added another point before Aisling hit a rasper of a shot to the back of the net to put John Lockes/Bennettsbridge 1-6 to 0-0 after 20 minutes

In the 21^st minute, Aisling Prendergast got Graiguenamanagh’s first point from a 45m free, she followed this up with another pointed free in the 25^th minute, this was to be their only scores of the first half

Aisling O’Sullivan scored another point for John Lockes/Bennettsbridge after she caught a puckout and sent it straight back over the bar to finish the scoring for the first half 1-7 to 0-2

On the resumption of play, Lucy Walsh added another point for John Lockes/Bennettsbridge

In the 35^th minute, Graiguenamanagh got a mini lifeline when the Lockes/Bridge goalie cleared the ball, but Graig’s number 15 reacted quickest and hit a low shot into the bottom corner of the net

It was short lived though, as John Lockes/Bennettsbridge took over again. Aisling O’Sullivan added another two points for them

Then Megan Walsh added another two points for the Lockes/Bridge team. Aisling Prendergast scored a point for Graiguenamanagh from a 45m free after multiple shots on goal were saved, before being deflected out for a 45

Caoimhe Shiel scored John Lockes/Bennettsbridge second gaol in the 55^th minute before Orlaith O’Connell finished off the scoring for the Lockes/Bridge, leaving the full time score 2-13 to 1-3 in favour of the Lockes/Bridge side

Scorers – John Lockes/Bennettsbridge – Aisling O’Sullivan 1-5 (1f), Megan Walsh 0-4, Caoimhe Shiel 1-0, Lucy Walsh 0-2, Rachel Phelan, Orlaith O’Connell 0-1 each

Graiguenamanagh – Aisling Prendergast 0-3 (3f), Hannah Moran 1-0

John Lockes/Bennettsbridge – Dominique Delaney, Rachel Hartely, Eimear Moran, Abby Wemyss, Kym Ryanm Meg Ryan (Capt), Luci Brennan, Laura Phelan, Rachel Phelan, Aisling O’Sullivan, Vivienne Holmes, Sarah Roche, Lucy Walsh, Caoimhe Shiel, Megan Walsh

Subs – Orlaith O’Connell for Sarah Roche, Tara Coyne for Luci Brennan, Elizabeth Keher for Vivienne Holmes, Aoibhe Ryan for Megan Walsh, Laura Duggan for Rachel Hartley, Erica Byrne, Kayla Byrne, Aine Dowling, Lauren Hartely, Niamh Hogan, Hannah Keher, Sarah Keher, Aoife Lynch, Erin Morrissey, Julie Nolan, Sal Ryan, Jessie Sharpe, Lucy O’Sullivan

Graiguenamanagh – Kelly Ann Whelan, Lily Treacy, Ellen Delaney, Jessica Ryan, Gemma Dunne, Darcy Bolger, Kitty O’Driscoll, Rebecca Hayden, Ava Prendergast, Aisling Prendergast, Lynda Fenlon, Sinead Lanigan, Denise Byrne, Hannah Moran

Subs – Leanne Farrell for Kitty O’Driscoll, Eimear Holden for Jessica Ryan, Alicia Barrett for Lily Treacy, Jenny Dunne, Holly Brooks, Fiona Lyng, Roisin Moran, Aoife Cahill, Lucy O’Driscoll, Kayla Dunne