Minor All County League – Piltown v Mullinavat

Minor ACL – Piltown v Mullinavat – 21^st April

by Jason O’Brien, Piltown PRO

A game that ended in a draw, after both sides seemed to have it won with time running out, and no one could argue that it was the correct result.

The scoring started in the 5^th minute when Ambar Laherty struck for the visitors, we struck back when former full back, now turned full forward got possession of a free from Sophie Long turned and put it over the bar at the Complex end. On a sunny still evening the action on the pitch was fast and frenetic, as both midfield and half lines fought for the upper hand, with the Ambar Laherty against Aoife O’Shea and Seána Davis against Aine Kirwan looked to be where the match would be lost or won.

Mullinavat struck next and this time it was a green flag, as Ruth Hennessy broke away from Lia O’Brien and Katelyn Moore and headed for goal from the right wing and as she bore down on Kate Farrell in the Piltown she pulled on it and it went agonisingly over the line despite Kates best attempts to stop it.

Hennessy scored again as she put the ball over the bar in the 19th minute and Aine Woods joined the scorers when she pointed in the 21^st minute after she got possession from a sideline cut.

Piltown were awarded a free out on the right wing in the 25^th minute, and Ella Fogarty drove it confidently between the uprights to leave the half time score Piltown 0-02 Mullinavat 1-03

Mullinavat were scoring again two mins into the second half when Kerrie-Ann O’Connor found room on the right and scored a point. Were the home side struggling? After that score you might start thinking they were, but Piltown scored the next five points with Ella getting two points, her sister Brid Fogarty scored another, and then Eimear Commins scored a goal as she followed in a long shot that Beth O’Keeffe could only parry, and Eimear swept it home. The home side were now one point up, and now you would think are Mullinavat struggling?

The battle was still being fought in midfield, and with Sarah Norris put back at centre back, she looked more comfortable and broke down lots of Vat attacks. Their excellent midfielder Ambar Laherty then scored two points in quick succession to put the Vat back in front after 53 minutes, it was swinging their way again.

Then the tireless dogged midfielder Aoife O’Shea got the score her performance deserved as she equalised with a point in the 55^th minute. It now came down to who would score, Who would make a mistake, Who was the bravest!

And once again it looked like a full forward would win a game, as Ruth Hennessy scored a point right on the 60minutes, was that it? Was she the match winner.

But no, unfortunately for her, despite scoring 1-02 on the night, we had a brave one of our own. It was Ella Fogarty, as she stood over a 45 as the game slipped deep into added on time.

No bother to Ella, as she was the calmest in the grounds and drove it high and mighty over the bar. What an end to a very competitive entertaining game.

Full Time Score – Piltown 1-07 Mullinavat 1-07.

Scorers –

Piltown

Ella Fogarty 0-4 (1 45 + 1 free), Rachel O’Keeffe 0-1, Brid Fogarty 0-1, Aoife O’Shea 0-1,

Eimear Commins 1-0

Mullinavat –

Ruth Hennessy 1-2, Ambar Laherty 0-3, Aine Woods 0-1, Kerrie-Ann O’Connor 0-1