Gaeltec Minor C County Final
St Annes 3-18 Emeralds 3-7
St Annes recovered from a slow start to record a convincing win in a delayed Minor C championship final in Tullaroan last Sunday against near neighbours Emeralds in a high standard contest from start to finish. This win completed a remarkable run of three titles at U14B, U16C and now Minor C in three successive weekends and it is clear that there is a pipeline of talent coming through in the club which has now also established itself as an adult club at intermediate level. Emeralds also showed evidence of underage talent in this match and when added to their own recent U16B success, it is clear that they also have ample underage talent being developed which can help them drive on at adult level in the years ahead.
Despite heavy overnight rain, pleasant sunny conditions prevailed on an excellent surface in Tullaroan on Sunday afternoon for this match and an excellent crowd turned up to support both sides. Underdogs Emeralds opened on the attack which yielded an opening goal inside two minutes following a goalmouth scramble. However, St Annes then tore into the contest and six minutes later, they had taken the lead 1-2 to 1-1 thanks to points from the excellent Niamh Drennan and Aoife McCormack and a fine finish to the net by Macy Downey. They were backed by the slight elements for the opening half and continued to press home their advantage for the next twenty minutes with fine scores from Mairead Duggan, Niamh Drennan, and Clea Whelan to stretch the lead to 1-9 to 1-4 as we approached half time. St Annes then looked to have taken control of the match with a goal from Ellen Nolan but Emeralds did rally before half time and scored a goal of their own from Aine Carey on the half time whistle to leave the half time score St Annes 2-9 Emeralds 2-4.
Buoyed by this goal, Emeralds did threaten to make this a very close contest in the early stages of the second half driven on by Ciara Joyce at centre back and three Aoibhe Burke frees had reduced the margin to four points (2-11 to 2-7) by the 38th minute. However, this was to be as close as they would get to St Annes who proceeded to drive for home with their lively forwards continuing to torment the Emeralds defence. Scores followed in the closing quarter from Niamh Drennan, Macy Downey, Clea Whelan, and substitute Kate O’Higgins to largely end the match as a contest. There was time left for both sides to add late goals – with Emeralds netting close to full time to reduce the deficit only for Aoife McCormack to put the seal on a fine performance by the St Annes girls in the last minute with a goal to stretch the final scoreline to an eleven point winning margin. This margin of victory was harsh on the Emeralds girls who competed really well throughout the contest but St Annes did have the greater scoring power in both halves which made the difference in the final analysis. Overall, a very competitive contest played in a very sporting manner throughout by two fine sides.
St Annes: Orla Duggan, Béibhinn Tobin, Grainne O’Loughlin, Leah Daly, Níadha Garrett, Aoife O Grady, Cara Delaney, Sinead Henderson, Cora Doherty, Ellen Nolan, Mairead Duggan, Niamh Drennan, Clea Whelan, Aoife McCormack, Macy Downey. Subs: Laura Fogarty, Kate O’Higgins, Grace Delaney, Mia Nicholson, Orlaith Corcoran.
Emeralds: Clodagh O’Shea, Aobha Minogue, Rut Moriarty, Niamh Cleere, Saoirle Newman, Ciara Joyce, Roisin Walsh, Lily Cleere, Roisin Gibbons, Aoibheann Ryall, Alanna Russell, Aine Carey, Jayda Lawlor, Aoibhe Burke, Leyla Ahern. Subs: Gracie Harrington, Dearbhla Gleeson, Emma Fogarty, Ruth Hickey, Fiona Hickey, Catherine Cleere.
Referee: Julian Dwyer
By PRO Thu 23rd Oct
