Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel Junior County Semi Final
John Lockes 0-20 Graiguenamanagh 1-6
John Lockes took another impressive step towards the county junior title when they overcame stiff initial resistance from Graiguenamanagh to end up as deserving winners in the county junior semifinal in Thomastown last Sunday morning. After a number of comfortable recent wins at junior level, the Callan girls entered this match as firm favourites to make it to another final, but they knew a stern test would await from Graiguenamanagh who had an excellent win over Carrickshock in last week’s quarterfinal. For the opening twenty minutes, Graiguenamanagh looked capable of causing a repeat upset when the match was very evenly balanced between both sides. However, the Callan girls stuck to their own game plan and helped by impressive performances by the Phelan sisters Emily and Rachel, they grabbed control of the contest in the ten minutes before half time and powered through the gears in the second half in which they restricted their opponents to just a single point from a free.
The opening exchanges saw both sides tear into the action although two injuries to John Lockes girls saw some disruption to the flow of play. John Lockes had opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes but Graiguenamanagh were competing well in all areas of the field and they were boosted by a fine goal at this time from Denise Byrne to level the match at 1-1 to 0-4. The exchanges were very much end-to-end for the next ten minutes after which the sides were still level at 1-3 to 0-6, and the strong support for both sides in this well attended fixture made for a great contest at this time. Gradually, John Lockes then started to open up the Graiguenamanagh rearguard and six successive scores from the lively Emily Phelan (3), Aisling O’Sullivan (2) and Meg Ryan opened up a 0-12 to 1-3 lead as we approached half time. Graiguenamanagh did rally with two points from Nessa Dowling and a free from Aisling Prendergast reduced the gap to four points (0-12 to 1-5) at the interval with all to play for in the second half.
Unlike the first half, the second half didn’t have the same level of excitement as John Lockes continued to press home their advantage throughout the second period – three opening scores from Rachel Phelan and Aisling O’Sullivan (2) stretched the lead to seven points by the 36th minute and in truth, they never looked in danger throughout this period as their defence led by Rachel Hartley and Laura Phelan got a firm grip on the Graiguenamanagh forwards. This trend continued throughout the second period and further scores followed from Aisling O’Sullivan (3), Rachel Phelan and Emily Phelan to get the Callan girls to an impressive 0-20 points total. Graiguenamanagh battled to the end particularly goalkeeper Kelly-Ann Whelan who made a number of fine saves and fullback Ellen Delaney but it wasn’t to be for them against opponents who will be hard to beat in next weekend’s junior championship final.
John Lockes: Kym Ryan, Sal Ryan, Rachel Hartley, Aine Downing, Sarah Roche (Capt.), Laura Phelan, Erika Dunne, Sarah Keher, Rachel Phelan, Leah O’Donovan, Meg Ryan, Emily Phelan, Chloe O’Donovan, Aisling O’Sullivan, Caoimhe Kelly. Subs: Julie Nolan, Lauren Hartley, Niamh Hogan, Erin Morrissey, Sadhbh MacCormack, Maria Ryan, Kate Lynch, Anna O’Brien, Farrah Ryan, Maria Ryan, Aoibhne Corcoran.
Graiguenamanagh: Kelly Ann Whelan, Gemma Dunne, Ellen Delaney, Kitty O’Driscoll, Lucy Kennedy, Rebecca Hayden, Ava Prendergast, Darcy Bolger, Lynda Murphy, Rachel Brown, Sinead Lanigan, Aisling Prendergast, Megan Kinsella, Denise Byrne, Nessa Dowling. Subs: Kellyann Cotterell, Jessica Dowling, Orlaith O’Shea, Claire O’Neill, Jessica Ryan, Rachel Blanchfield, Sinead Fenlon, Daisy Barron, Lily Treacy, Aoife Lavin.
Referee: Paul Cahill
By PRO Fri 7th Nov
