St Martins 3-12 Tullaroan 2-8
A strong scoring burst in the second quarter laid the foundation for St Martins to claim the delayed U16C league final which was played on a pleasant Tuesday evening in Muckalee. Both sides produced fine passages of play during a very competitive final – and the edge in physicality which St Martins enjoyed helped them through against a gallant Tullaroan side who fought to the end.
St Martins opened in whirlwind fashion with five points inside the opening six minutes from Andea Roche (F), Ruby Mullins (2), Julia Healy and Sian Bolger. They were threatening to overwhelm Tullaroan at this stage but once Katie Dunphy opened Tullaroan’s account with a classy point from play in the 11th minute, they settled and had the better of the next ten minutes. A long shot from the same player ended up in the net a minute later and by the 20th minute, the sides were level at 1-3 (T) to 0-6 (SM). However, St Martins driven on by Ruby Doyle at centre back, then enjoyed another period of dominance to half time and this saw them score a further 1-5 with scores from Andrea Roche (1-3, 2 frees), Julia Healy, and Ruby Mullins. This saw the home side lead 1-11 to 1-4 at the break and this was a lead that they held to the finish line.
Tullaroan would have hoped for a fast start to the second half; however, these hopes were dashed when a shot from Mollie Rose Keegan ended up in their net in the opening minute of the second half. The Tullaroan defence led by Laura Millea and the excellent Sinead Cash did get a grip on the St Martins to keep them scoreless for the next fifteen minutes but at the other end the St Martins defence led by Emma Daly at full back and Ruby Doyle at centre back were also largely in command. Tullaroan had reduced the margin to 2-11 to 1-7 by the 47th minute thanks to scores from Tara McGree but a further St Martins goal from Andrea Roche at this time largely ended the match as a contest. Tullaroan fought well to the end and got a deserved late goal from Katie Dunphy in the 56th minute to leave the final score at 3-12 to 2-8.
St Martins: Aoibhinn McGuinness, Katie Casstevens, Ruby Doyle, Sarah McDonald, Hazel Feeney, Mollie Rose Keegan, Holly Walsh, Sian Bolger, Una Cummins, Julia Healy, Catherine Scully, Ruby Mullins, Andrea Roche, Emma Daly, Ava O’Brien. Subs: Mia O’Dwyer, Doireann Tallis, Jessie Casstevens, Deirbhile Coughlan, Kate Nolan, Cara Maher, Leah Dooley, Grace Corbett, Leah Murphy.
Tullaroan: Emily O’Shea, Rachel Walsh, Laura Millea, Emily O’Shea, Alanna Russell, Sinéad Cash, Ailish Doheny, Tara McGree, Lily Sweeney, Ava Dillon, Katie Dunphy, Ruth Walsh, Eimear Walton, Juliette Mulligan, Katie Hennessy. Subs: Eve O’Sullivan, Jennifer Holmes, Clodagh Holland, Grace Holland, Anne Delaney
Referee: Sean McMahon
By PRO Wed 27th Aug
