AIG Dublin Feile final Div 2 Match Report
- May 21,2018
Beann Eadair edge Division 2 final after extra time in tight, defensive contest
St Vincent’s 0-9
Beann Eadair 1-8 (after Extra Time)
Beann Eadair came out on top after the closest of division two finals feile, taking the title after extra time at Blanchardstown IT on Sunday afternoon as Vincent’s tired.
Defences were on top in the early stages, with Beann Eadair having slightly the better of the play, Jane McGurrin pulling the strings in midfield. It was Ava Lamba who hit the first point for Vincent’s, though, swiftly following it with a second as the Marino side showed their efficiency up top.
Generally, however, defences were on top, with Clodagh O’Gorman cleaning up a series of attacking balls into the St Vincent’s backline, and Ellen O’Shea similarly effective at the back for the Howth side.
Beann Eadair got off the mark through a free from Nicole Haas, before Robin Fitzpatrick forced a save out of Amy O’Gorman at the other end, and Roisin Boland extended Vincent’s lead back to two points. With the defences well on top, that was it for the first half, which finished 0-3 to 0-1.
Vincent’s struck first again in the second half, with Lamba tapping over a close-range free given for overcarrying in the Beann Eadair backline. Lamba was very much acting as the Vincent’s playmaker from half-forward, and while both defences still appeared on top, much of the Marino side’s better attacking play came through her.
After Lamba hit another free, the lead edged over a single score for the first time, and Beann Eadair were struggling to get much territory. They did make that rare attacking space count, though, as Ellen O’Shea smartly lobbed Emma Traynor from the left edge of the box to bring things back to 0-5 to 1-1.
Lamba and Molly McGurrin exchanged points, before Robin Fitzpatrick extended Vincent’s lead back to two points from close in. Time was running out for Beann Eadair, who had Vincent’s pinned in their own box as the clock ticked over full time.
They took a point from close in to reduce the gap to one, and won another free just outside the box, which Ellen O’Shea knocked over to equalise, forcing overtime at 1-4 to 0-7.
With five minutes each way of extra time to be played, Kate Skillington drew first blood with a point for Beann Eadair, who carried in the momentum, and almost added a goal from O’Shea, only for Naoise Holden to pull of a superb block on the line.
Vincent’s leveled up through Lamba, though it could have been more, with Amy O’Gorman in the Beann Eadair goal tipping her finish over the bar.
Beann Eadair went ahead again through Issy Markey, before Lamba smashed the bar, sending Beann Eadair in with a single point lead at 1-6 to 0-8.
Vincent’s were tiring, and conceded a free early in the second half, which O’Shea tapped over, before Lamba pulled one back at the other end.
Vincent’s couldn’t conjure up they point they needed to force another leveler, though, and Beann Eadair, after the closest of contests, won out, with Ellen O’Shea adding a bouncing late free to close things out.
St Vincent - Emma Traynor, Naoise Holden, Sarah Ladden, Clodagh O’Gorman, Kate McGovern, Dearbhla Parker, Ali O’Dea, Isabel Fitzpatrick, Eimear Adamson, Riona Fennelly, Ava Lamba (0-7), Roisin Boland (0-1), Mary Kate O’Connor, Robin Fitzpatrick (0-1), Anna Griffin, Ava Dinnegan
Beann Eadair - Amy O’Gorman, Emma Fitzgibbon, Caitlin Conlon, Chloe Hansen, Amy Comerford, Nicole Haas, Leah Aherne, Almha Fitzpatrick (0-1), Molly McGurrin (0-1), Jane McGurrin, Ellen O’Shea (1-4), Lainey Cuddy, Kate Skillington (0-1), Kate Collins, Mia Kennedy, Issy Markey (0-1)