Piltown 2-13 St Martins 2-8
The 2024 county champions Piltown made it two wins from two league championship matches in Piltown on Sunday morning with a hard fought but deserved win over a very competitive St Martins side. After a comfortable win in their opening match, this was a much sterner test for Piltown as St Martins more than matched them for the first three quarters of this match. However, the champions greater experience did show in the closing quarter as they outscored their opponents 0-5 to 0-1 over this period to emerge as six point winners in the end.
The opening exchanges were frantic and St Martins having missed out on a first match last weekend due to a bereavement, were well up for the challenge of playing Piltown in their home ground. They had a few wides on the board before Shona Ruane gave them a real boost with a smart finish to the net in the 6th minute. However, they were rocked a minute later when a long delivery from Karen Duggan bounced high into the St Martins net to level the contest. Both sides traded scores for the next twenty minutes with Piltown getting their points from the excellent Katie Power (3) and Kellyann Doyle (3 frees) which were matched by St Martins points from Edel Coonan (3, 2 frees), Shona Ruane, and Katie Nolan (free). This left the score at Piltown 1-6 St Martins 1-5 in the 25th minute and although Piltown closed out the half with good scores from Katie Power and Ellen O’Keeffe but St Martins would have been pleased to be just 1-8 (P) to 1-5 (SM) at the break as they would have the slight wind in their favour for the second half. There were many fine performances during this period on this side most notably Katie Nolan for St Martins and Katie Power for Piltown.
The third quarter saw two sides continue to battle hard for the upper hand and two points from the lively Edel Coonan for St Martins in the opening six minutes of this half reduced the margin to a minimum. Piltown looked to have struck a decisive blow when Aoife Norris came forward to crash a 39th minute penalty to the net to open up a four point lead but this was almost immediately cancelled out by a St Martins goal at the other end when a shot from Emma Clancy dropped over the Piltown goalline. It was all to play for at this stage but Piltown’s experience and fitness began to show in the closing quarter with strong performances from Alanna Gallagher, Laura Norris and Katie Power who was a constant thorn in the St Martins defence. Katie linked up well with fellow county player Kellyann Doyle in the closing quarter to win frees which were converted by Kellyann and indeed Piltown’s final five scores were all from frees conceded by a St Martins defence which was now under constant pressure. Overall, a very competitive match which should stand to both sides when the next round of the league championship resumes in two weeks time.
Piltown: Aoife Norris (1-0), Lorraine Long, Alanna Gallagher, Jenni O’Dea, Aoife Landers, Laura Norris, Danielle Carroll, Karen Duggan (1-0), Lorna O’Shea, Ellen O’Keeffe (0-1), Kellyann Doyle (0-8, 8F), Laoise McKenna, Heather Phelan, Katie Power (0-4), Sophie Holden. Subs: Grace Farrell, Alice Talbot, Aine Doyle, Patsy Kenny, Aoife O’Shea, Leah Cooney, Rachel O’Shea, Lisa McCarthy, Sarah Norris, Sarah Tobin, Lisa Norris, Aine Ni hAitheasa, Emma O’Shea, Kayleigh O’Shea, Hilary Power, Antonia Power, Niamh Culleton, Aoife Doyle, Katelyn Moore.
St Martins: Rachel Moloney, Therese Kelly, Clodagh Hanlon, Annie Dowling, Orla Moore, Katie Nolan (0-2, 2F), Eadaoin Coady, Ellen Lawlor, Kelley Comerford, Carlise Comerford , Edel Coonan (0-5, 3F), Tara Roche, Emma Clancy (1-0), Shona Ruane (1-1), Sian Bolger. Subs: Ruby Doyle, May Cummins, Sarah Brennan, Leah McCarthy, Emma Daly, Muireann, Feeney, Grainne Healy.
Referee: Richie Dowling
By PRO Wed 27th Aug
