Gaeltec U16D County Final
Windgap 9-5 Glenmore 6-7
A cracking contest between two evenly matches sides eventually went Windgap’s way after a ding-dong battle against Glenmore last Sunday in Hugginstown. It took extra time to separate these sides and ultimately Windgap’s greater ability to get goals at crucial stages saw them through – and this was a case of third time lucky for them after U16 final defeats in 2023 and 2024.
On a pleasant morning, Glenmore scored the opening point through the excellent Aisleann Mullally but Windgap were competing well in all areas and received a boost when midfielder Moya Egan finished to the net in the 6th minute. Glenmore responded well with a point from Katie Aylward and a point from Aisleann Mullally and when Aisleann broke through the Windgap defence to find the net in the 12th minute, they had a 1-3 to 1-0 lead and looked the better side. Windgap did plunder a second goal from Rachel Cullen in the 18th minute but Glenmore continued to look the stronger side from here to half time with Saorlaith Mullally and Katie Aylward to the fore – and they added a further two goals to their scoreline to take a 3-3 to 2-1 lead to the half time break.
Windgap emerged for the second half and with Moya Egan reverting to centre back to pick up Aisleann Mullally, and with improved performances all over the field particularly from Lucy Crowley, Shonna King, Abby Vaughan and Rachel Cullen, they started to dictate proceedings in many areas of the field. They had hit the front by the 35th minute as goals from Rachel Cullen and Sarah Power had them ahead by a point although much of this good work was undone moments later when a mixup led to a Glenmore goal as this match continued to take unlikely turns. The exchanges were frenetic at this time as both sides pushed for an advantage and a further Windgap goal by Rachel Cullen in the 47th minute was added to by a Teagan Fleming goal in the 53rd minute to give them a 6-3 to 4-6 advantage. Glenmore refused to die however and the ever dangerous Aisleann Mullally escaped the Windgap markers to rifle home an equalising goal in the 57th minute to level the match and take us to extra time.
Having had the better of the second half, Windgap continued to dictate the opening period of extra time with their substitutes Teagan Fleming, Ruby Grace and Hannah Egan all adding extra energy to their side. They struck for three crucial goals during this period with the goals coming from Kate O’Brien (2) and Moya Egan from a free, and Hannah Egan’s well taken point afterwards gave them a big 9-4 to 5-6 lead at the extra time interval. Glenmore battled bravely to the end and did outscore Windgap by 1-1 to 0-1 in the second half of extra time (with an excellent goal from Aisleann Mullally) but the ten point lead Windgap had achieved proved too much to overcome. So a fine win for the Windgap girls and fixtures chairperson Tom Egan was proud to present the U16D cup afterwards to his daughter and captain Moya to cap a great day for the girls in red & white.
Windgap: Jenna King, Naveah Drennan, Tara Kennedy, Anna Miller, Caoimhe O’Shea, Abby Vaughan, Lucy Crowley, Moya Egan, Sarah-Kate O’Shea, Kate O’Brien, Shonna King, Elena Saunders, Sarah Power, Rachel Cullen, Kate Kelleher. Subs: Teagan Fleming, Ruby Grace, Hannah Egan, Katie O’Brien, Niamh Egan, Briona Moore, Julianne Hearne, Lorna Miller, Ellie Power.
Glenmore: Danielle Phelan, Annaleigh Vereker, Evelyn Reid, Louise Vereker, Saoirse Doyle, Saorlaith Mullally, Ella Talbot, Olivia Mullally, Mia Barry, Katie Aylward, Aisleann Mullally, Claire Donnelly, Lauren Vereker, Freya Halligan, Nicole Brophy. Subs: Hannah Claridge, Kayla Butler, Ruth O Connor.
Referee: Conor Everard
By PRO Thu 16th Oct
