AIG Dublin Feile final Div 4 Match Report
- May 21,2018
Kila Butler stars as athletic Skerries Harps wrap up Feile Division 4
Skerries Harps 3-8
Round Towers (Clondalkin) 2-4
Skerries Harps got the better of Round Towers (Clondalkin) in the Division 4 final at Blanchardstown IT on Sunday morning, with the pacey north Dublin side efficient in possession and fluid going forward.
Goal hungry Round Towers (Clondalkin) were the only unbeaten side in the division 4 feile going into the final, having hit the net no less than 11 times on their way through their Saturday three group games, but it was Harps who go off to the better start, controlling much of the early possession.
Ellie Carr opening the scoring with a goal, hitting past the despairing hand of Nora Aja in the Round Towers goal from close in, with Sophie Rogers adding a fine point from distance shortly afterwards.
Kila Butler added a second goal shortly afterwards from a high ball by Hannah McGinnis, while Round Towers struggled to get an meaningful possession up the other end as the Skerries half-forward line stood out, finding plenty of space to quickly move forward.
The west Dublin club did edge back into the contest before half time, with a scrambled goal and a point at the other end narrowing the scores as they enjoyed a period of dominance, creating a series of 50/50 opportunities and putting Skerries under pressure.
It was a solo break from Lara Pollard - who finished right into the side netting - that got Round Towers back to within a goal, only for the impressive Butler to bring the score out to 2-5 to 2-1 before half time.
The second half opened with a scrappier period, a full six minutes passing before Alex Melia hit over from close in for Round Towers and notched the first point of the period. Midway through the half, Skerries hit back with a vital goal from Ellen Gilmore, who finished calmly on the end of a swift move from Harps that split the Round Tower defensive line.
Butler could have added another shortly afterwards if not for a sharp save from Aja in the Round Tower goal, followed swiftly by another stop with the foot as Skerries dominance began to overwhelm.
Karla Meehan pulled one back for Round Towers, but the clock was running down and the damage had been done. Skerries Harps - dominant largely thanks to their swift interplay and athleticism - ran out comfortable winners.
Round Towers (Clondalkin) - Nora Aja, Karla Meehan (0-1), Emily O’Brien, Megan Denniffe, Tara Morris, Niamh McGrattan, Sarah McVeigh, Lucy Cullen, Lauren Brannigan (1-0), Rachel Condon, Kate Whelan (0-1), Lara Pollard (1-1), Alex Melia (0-1), Aisling Roebuck, Siobhra Gleeson
Skerries Harps - Ciara Gallagher, Aisling O’Reilly, Hannah O’Sullivan, Cara Gilbride, Robyn Brereton, Ellie Beggs, Aoife Thorne, Sophie Rogers (0-2), Aimee Murphy (0-1), Keela Fehily(0-2), Ellen Gilmore (1-0), Kila Butler (1-2), Laura Kilbride, Meiyu O’Sullivan, Ellie Carr (1-0), Hannah McGinnis, Leah Beggs (0-1)