Minor D League Final Report
Mooncoin 4-10 Graiguenamanagh 3-11
Mooncoin and Graiguenamanagh served up a cracking Minor D league final on Tuesday 18th August in Mooncoin in a match that had just about everything between two very committed sides who traded blow for blow over eighty minutes including extra time. In truth neither side deserved to lose a match which ebbed and flowed either way once the second half started and which could very easily have gone Graiguenamanagh’s way as they attacked for a winning goal deep into stoppage time but time ran out for them and Mooncoin’s second minor team held out for a win which looked unlikely for long periods of this match.
The first half was played in daylight and saw Mooncoin have the benefit of the slight breeze at the venue although it was Graiguenamanagh who looked the sharper side when in the scoring zone for the opening quarter as scores from Rachel Brown (3) and Katie Byrne saw them open up a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the 15th minute. Mooncoin were competing well in all areas and two points from the lively Stephanie Phelan saw them reduce the margin to 0-6 to 0-3 by the 27th minute but Graiguenamanagh struck for a timely goal soon afterwards when Megan O’Grady finished smartly to the net and this saw them take a 1-6 to 0-4 lead into the break.
With fading light, a decision was made to move the second half to Mooncoin’s other pitch with floodlights and Mooncoin started this half strongly with Molly Murphy adding 1-1 in the opening two minutes to reduce the margin down to the minimum (1-6 to 1-5). The intensity of the match was much increased in this half and Mooncoin were boosted by the arrival of substitutes who brought new energy to them; however, Graiguenamanagh held firm and when Freya Dawson finished smartly to the net in the 43rd minute, they had restored a 2-8 to 1-6 lead. Mooncoin were undeterred and after a smart point from play by Anna Reddy, they were right back in the contest when a Stephanie Phelan free ended up in the net in the 52nd minute – with the margin again back to the minimum. Once more, Graiguenamanagh held firm and looked to have kicked for home when Megan O’Grady pounced for her second goal in the 54th minute and although Stephanie Phelan reduced the margin with two fine points from play, a further Megan O’Grady point saw Graiguenamanagh to a 3-9 to 2-9 lead as we entered stoppage time. Mooncoin then mounted one last attack and it led to Ella Brennan finding the net from close range to the delight of their supporters as this forced the match to extra time (3-9 each).
Scores were harder to come by in extra time as both defences tightened up although Mooncoin added 1-1 in the opening period to open up a 4-10 to 3-9 lead – the goal a smart finish to the net right at the end of the first period of extra time from Molly Murphy. Graiguenamanagh had plenty of possession and territory at this time but found it hard to get scores although two smart points from Megan O’Grady (1 free) in the second period of extra time brought the margin down to two points. Alas for them, the winning score that they pushed for in the closing stages wouldn’t arrive and a fine match ended in rainfall with Mooncoin the victors on 4-10 to 3-11 scoreline. Overall, this match was a credit to both teams who gave their all from start to finish and both will be strong contenders for the Minor D championship which starts next week.
Mooncoin: Eibhlín Thompson, Doireann Vereker, Aine Doyle, Hannie Murphy, Mary Dunphy, Juliann Dunphy, Realtín Galvin, Ella Brennan, Angela Delahunty, Maedhbh Doyle, Stephanie Phelan, Anna Tyler, Caoimhe Fanning, Molly Murphy, Meabh O’Keeffe. Subs: Lilly Mackey, Suan Cross, Anna Tolan, Aoibheann O Donnell, Faye Sutton, Mamie Dunphy, Katie Walsh, Olive Dermody, Matilda Tyler Walsh.
Graiguenamanagh: Libby Barron, Daisy Barron, Aoife Lavin, Jessica Dowling, Muirinn O’Shea, Orlaith O’Shea, Hannah Kennedy, Lucy Kennedy, Ingrid Tierney, Meagan O’ Grady, Rachel Brown, Megan Kinsella, Chloe Byrne, Freya Dawson, Katie Byrne. Subs: Eva Ryan, Nessa Dowling, Jessica Reddy, Tara Fenlon.
Referee: Richard Dowling
By PRO Thu 20th Aug
