Match Report Feile Div 4 Final
- Apr 17,2023
Dublin LGFA Féile Division 4 Final
St Vincent’s 3-00 Whitehall Colmcille 0-02
Report by Cóilín Duffy
The saying goes that ‘Goals win games’ and St. Vincent’s bagged a hat-trick on the way to claiming the Dublin LGFA Division 4 Féile title on Sunday afternoon at St. Peregrines GAA Club. For the second time in as many days a goal-hungry Vincent’s side accounted for Whitehall Colmcille – after sending five past them in the sides opening game of the weekend in the group stages.
In warm conditions in Blakestown the Marino outfit netted twice in the second half; in a final that just saw five scores produced overall. Heading into this tie, Vincent’s also scored five goals in their semi-final victory over Foxrock Cabinteely, on the way to an 18-point victory.
It was much tighter in the other last four encounter, as Whitehall Colmcille recorded a 2-4 to 1-3 win over Raheny. Vins and Whitehall certainly had their homework done coming into this tie, with defences very much on top for large periods of this contest.
Both sides had early scoring efforts snuffed out – while a double marking effort by Whitehall on Vincent’s full-forward Emma Broderick proved effective initially – until Vins counteracted this and the aforementioned was on target for the opening goal on four minutes.
Grace Byrne was working hard for Whitehall around the midfield sector as was Esme Dillon on the half-forward line, and the latter won a free which Ava O’Neill converted to get her side off the mark in the sixth minute.
Defences were on top until the break with Vincent’s wide on four occasions, and the likes of Isabelle Lyons and her Vincent’s counterpart Grainne Mac Coitir also putting in good blocks in defence. Both sides pressed hard for scores on the restart, with Vincent’s having the bulk of the chances. However, Whitehall opened the second half tally through an eighth minute Katie Rowan effort to cut the gap to the minimum.
But Vincent’s pressed hard again, and won a penalty after Broderick was brought down – with Clodagh Glennon firing to the net to send goalkeeper Hannah Tierney the wrong way. Less than two minutes later Ciara Rowden fired Vins third goal – the scoreline now reading 3-0 to 0-2.
Whitehall rang the changes, but Vincent’s continued to pile on pressure.
Too their credit Whitehall stood tall defensively and held Vins scoreless over the remainder of the tie. But it was becoming harder to get the ball into their attack and Vins held out for a seven-point win.
After the game Dublin LGFA Chairman Joe Keane presented the Cup to St. Vincent’s Captain Ciara Rowden.
In a fitting tribute the Whitehall Colmcille players provided a guard of honour for Ciara on her way to lifting the cup.
In her speech Ciara thanked St. Peregrine’s for hosting; the referee and the LGFA. She expressed a ‘big hard luck’ to Whitehall Colmcille whom she said were ‘an excellent team’ and no doubt that they would see each other again in the future.
Ciara also paid tribute to the mentors for their encouragement and thanked the parents who ‘really drive us own when we need an extra bit’.
Finally, she thanked her teammates for their ‘excellent effort’ which she said was ‘always 100%!’
Scorers for St. Vincents: Emma Broderick, Clodagh Glennon (1-0pen), Ciara Rowden 1-0 each. Scorers for Whitehall Colmcille: Ava O’Neill (1f), Katie Rowan 0-1
ST. VINCENTS: Rachel O’Dwyer; Holly Byrne, Grainne Mac Coitir, Ciara Williams; Hope McKinlay, Katie O’Sullivan, Ava Doyle; Clodagh Glennon, Sally Kelly; Ciara Rowden, Camille Sullivan, Martha Crossan; Kay Ryan, Emma Broderick, Niamh Lambe. Subs: Nabbie Ryan, Fiana Ní Fhatharta, Connie Griffin, Orlaith Boland, Ciara Picard, Emily Corrigan, Ava Simmonson, Emily Bulger.
WHITEHALL COLMCILLE: Hannah Tierney; Saoirse Sherlock, Isabelle Lyons, Kate Phelan; Emily Cannon, Aisling Faherty, Olivia Parsons; Ava O’Neill, Carla Doran; Grace Byrne, Olivia Flynn, Esme Dillon; Lauren Kelly, Olivia Lyons, Abbie Murphy. Subs: Katie Rowan, Holly Harbourne, India McDevitt, Lexie Coleman, Caoimhe Murphy, Elena Lawrence.
REFEREE: Peter Trimble (Trinity Gaels)