AIG Dublin Feile Division 4 Final match report
- Apr 03,2017
AIG Dublin Feile Division 4 Final
Round Towers Clondalkin 2-02 Man O War 1-01
Report by James Hendicott
Round Tower got the better of Man O’War in the Division 4 Feile Final at Lawless Park in Swords on Sunday, as the Clondalkin side’s eye for goal in a contest full of controlled aggression and confident forward proved the key differential.
Man O’War had much of the possession over the course of forty minutes, but were held to more difficult chances for much of that interplay by a Round Tower side that were strategically adept in keeping the opposition at an arm’s length, and took their chances at the other end. Round Towers eventually won out by 2-2 to 1-2 in a tightly fought battle.
Man O’War had two great chances right at the opening of the game, as Round Tower struggled to come to grips with their physical presence in a scrappy opening few minutes. Nevertheless, it was Round Tower who opened the scoring, with Kate Whelan - consistently their best player in the half forwards - smashing home a penalty.
The Round Tower spots kick came off almost their first attack, as a clever through ball ended with their forward being clattered inside the area, and Whelan confidently blasting the resulting set-piece into the roof of the net.
Man O’War’s goal didn’t have quite the same panache, but bought them level shortly afterwards. A soaring effort by Sorcha Murphy catching out the otherwise impressive Nora Aja in the Round Tower goal. The looped ball dropped into an area Aja simply couldn’t reach as it nestled over her head and into the net for an equalising finish.
Round Tower had had the better chances, though, and deservedly went in front before half time, through another set-piece - a firmly struck free in this case - from the influential Whelan. The sides cancelled each other out to some extent as Round Tower went in 1-1 to 1-0 ahead.
Despite large periods of possession for Man O’War, Round Tower continued to take their chances and make their mark. Their second goal came courtesy of persistent pressure on the Man O’War net. It was Aoife Kennedy who eventually slotted in from close range, but most of the hard work was done down the Round Tower right, with a rapid crossed ball proving too hot to handle for Man O’War goalkeeper Serena Moore, and Kennedy knocking home the rebound.
A point from Man O’War’s Megan McAuley after a rapid move through the Round Tower defence was the best advert for the Lusk club’s attacking style during the contest, and led to a period of sustained dominance for the North Dublin club as they pushed all-out for the goal that would have put them in front.
It wasn’t to be, though, as Man O’War’s best period of the game didn’t make an impact on the scoreboard. Instead, a polished performance from Round Tower was eventually concluded by yet another Whelan point, as she burst past three defenders and calmly slotted between the posts.
Whelan had scored eight of Round Tower’s eleven points, and was certainly the key player on the attacking front, but their general sense of composure in possession and an ability to force Man O’War to shoot from distance was also key to a win that was a credit to the control at the heart of their playing style. Man O’War ran them close, but Round Tower were deserved Division Four Feile winners.
Round Towers C Feile Panel:
Nora Aja, Saoire Ng, Aoife Kelly, Bronagh Roebuck, Aisling Roebuck, Holly Gregg, Catherine Skikun, Niamh McGrattan, Megan Hoyte, Emily O’Brien, Rachel Condon,Kate Whelan, Erinn Kiely, Amy Fitzpatrick, Aoife Kennedy, Abbey Maher,Karla Meehan, Alex Melia, Megan Denieffe, Amber O’Hara, Katie Behan, Ciara Barry, Lara Pollard,Aisling Walsh
Man O War Feile Panel:
Sorcha Murphy, Ciara Marry, Eimear Leddy, Ella Hartford, Emily Cody, Alice Clinton, Serena Moore, Megan McAuley, Katie Gavin, Niamh Hoare, Lauren Richardson, Lucy Andrews, Roisin Cristea, Niamh Elworthy, Ciara Hartford, Kaitlyn Kiernan, Jessica Butler, Katie Thompson, Ciara McKeown, Sarah Stenson