AIG Dublin Feile Div 5 Final match report
- Apr 03,2017
AIG Dublin Feile Division 5 Final
O’Tooles 1-03 St Anne’s 1-02
Report by James Hendicott
O’Toole’s saw off St Anne’s at Lawless Park in Swords on Sunday, as a narrow Division Five win in a hard fought game came thanks largely to their greater efficiency in front of goal.
Their 1-3 to 1-2 margin over the forty minutes reflected a game that could really have gone either way, with St Anne’s having much of the possession and territory as the game wore on, but O’Toole’s getting the reward their fast breaks and classy finishing lay claim to.
O’Toole’s dominated the first period, with much of their better play coming through their roving midfielder Amber Bergin. It was Bergin who was to put O’Toole’s in front, in fact, a point that took a while to come, after the Ayrfield club had seen a couple of decent chances fly wide, or straight into the arms of St Anne’s ‘keeper Katie Butler. They had the better of the early stages.
A free got St Anne’s level, scored by their own impressive forward-running playmaker, Jessica Perry, who popped up all over the half forwards as she drove Anne’s forward. Grace Mahon also played a key role, but it was O’Toole’s who were to go in with the lead, thanks to two swift attacks from their centre. The second - courtesy of a weaving run and confidently-taken finish by Brook Campbell just before half time - was the most cutting and skilful move of the contest, and arguably eventually proved conclusive.
The low-scoring nature of the game meant every point was to prove critical, yet the second half started boisterously, particularly for a determined St Anne’s. The Bohernabreena club were to go ahead, briefly, first through Perry blasting through the O’Toole’s defence to net in her best move of the match, and then through a Heather Jones’ free, that left them looking the more likely winners.
O’Toole’s had a string in the tail, though, and it was Sophie Handbridge’s goal that ultimately won the game. A long dropping free from Campbell was scrambled clear by Anne’s ‘keeper Butler, only to fall straight at the feet of Handbridge, who calmly slotted into the net.
St Anne’s had a number of chances in the closing minutes to level things up, some more difficult than others, and will feel they could have snatched a draw in the closing stages, one that they could equally argue fairly reflected the balance of play.
O’Toole’s, though, will point to their effective use of the ball going forward - their passages of play often saw the ball played into space and effectively pulled the defence out of shape - as well as the accuracy and composure with which they took their chances. They take the Division 5 Feile title.
O’Tooles Feile Panel:
Jodie Fitzgerald, Saoirse Lawlor, Sophie Handbridge, Aoife McGrath, Emma Lee, Amber Bergin, Keelin McNeill, Brook Campbell, Niamh Costello, Gemma O’Reilly Byrne, Shannon Kendell an, Katie Egan Keogh, Sophie McCarthy, Sophie Smithers, Ciara Senior, Laoise Browne, Michela Conlon, Katie Fennell, Sophie White, Holly Gifford
St Anne’s Feile Panel:
Katie Butler, Ellen Barnes, Jessica Perry, Jade Riordan, Jodie Coghlan, Leah Callery, Robyn Byrne, Heather Jones, Angel O’Toole, Grace Mahon, Rachel Callery, Marie Lee, Heather McGrane, Anna McEvoy, Aisling Vance, Faye Foster, Katie Murphy, Abbie Gannon, Caoimhe Jones, Orlaith Hannigan, Sandra Keegan