O’Loughlin’s in charge in Intermediate Final

Intermediate League Final

Dr. Tierney Park, Graiguenamanagh 1/10/23

Referee Liz Dempsey

By Eoin Lawlor, O’Loughlin Gaels

O’Loughlin Gaels 3-10 to 1-7 Rower Inistioge.

On a well groomed Dr. Tierney Park O’Loughlin Gaels powered their way to their first Intermediate League Title.

It was a nervy start for the winners when on the 2nd minute the lively Caoimhe Keher Murtagh hit for goal to favour the Rower Inistioge girls. It was a good tussle all the way through and it was clear both teams were hungry. Laura Murphy won her own free on the 3rd minute which she duly converted for the Gaels and followed up very quickly with another from play after good work at midfield. Murphy was already clearly a marked player but on the 9th minute Midfielder for the southerners uncharacteristically forced referee Liz Dempsey to show a straight red reducing the red & green to 14players. Laura missed the resulting free but was to convert another within a minute after another foul on her to equal matters. Kehe-Murtagh tried to settle her team with a fine point to sneak ahead again on 12 minutes but it was that girl Laura Murphy who meant business on Sunday that would equal matters a minute later with a fine individual score. Cria Langton added a 45 to put the Rower ahead for the final time in the game as O’Loughlins began to put the squeeze on and take advantage of their extra player. Danielle Quigley took control in the rear guard and Laura Greene won a free at midfield. From it she looked to hit a massive point out for it to be blocked back by goalkeeper Emma Kavanagh only for Emma Poyntz to pounce and find the net for goal and put the Gaels three points clear on 20mins. Nyah Egan was showing her leadership with a string performance at mid-field now and get an off load to Laura Greene earned another point for the Gaels and a first of two for Greene. Laura Murphy added another and the city side went 5 points clear with 6 minutes to go to half time. Under pressure though the Rower Inistioge were not lying down and the final 3 points of the half through Kelly Hamilton (0-1) and a brace of converted frees through Cria Langton.

Half time score O’Loughlins 1-7 to 1-5 R/Inistioge

The Gaels introduced fresh legs at half time in the guise of Eva Collins. The impact was immediate as another Laura Murphy special Collins lashed onto and Abigael Egan offload to rifle home the Gaels 2nd goal. Within two minute Abigael Egan gathered a high ball and struck for the winners 3rd goal seeing the score read 3-8 to 1-5 on 40minutes. The Rower added a brace of points through free taker Langton but that was to be their final scoring as the winners saw out the game through points from Laura Murphy and Laura Greene.

The Gaels were deserving of their win and no doubt will eyes on the championship ahead. So too will the Rower Inistioge who have shown good form throughout the league.

O’Loughlin Gaels – K Furlong. S O’Keeffe, N Galwey, A Galwey, J Holohan, D Quigley, J O’Keeffe, N Egan, L Greene (0-2), A Butler, A Egan (1-0), L Murphy (0-7,4f), A Shealy, E Poyntz (1-0), R Crowley.

Subs: E Collins (1-0) for R Crowley, E Lawlor for A Shealy, S O’Leary for A Egan, I Vasiliauskaite for E Poyntz, A O’Grady for A Butler

The Rower Inistioge – E Kavanagh, G Galavan, A Gannon, A Foskin, R Dwyer, A Galavan, E Murphy, S Chapman, A Kelly, C Lyng, A Kelly, C Lyng, C Langton (0-5,5f), C Keher (1-1), K Hamilton (0-1), S Ryan