Report Go Ahead Junior H Final
- Aug 11,2023
Go Ahead Dublin LGFA Junior H Club Championship Final
St Brendan’s 5-11 Geraldine’s P. Moran 1-4
By Cóilín Duffy
Four different players found the net for St. Brendan’s, as they put in a solid performance to claim Go Ahead Ireland Dublin LGFA Junior H Championship honours at St. Margaret’s on Thursday night.
Niamh Dwyer, Sinéad McKenna, Rebecca McLoughlin and Niamh Cooney all grabbed goals - the latter trio in the second half on the way to a 19-point win; although it wasn’t all one way traffic and just three points separated the sides in the 32nd minute before St Brendan’s staged a tour de force.
Light rain from just before throw-in threatened to make under foot conditions greasy, but the St. Margarets pitch held firm, which was great credit to the club, after heavy rain the previous weekend.
Both sides had attacking opportunities in the opening minute, but defences held firm.
Monaghan native Sinead McKenna grabbed St. Brendan’s opening score in the third minute, before both sides came unstuck in front of the posts over the next five minutes - Brendans with three wides during this spell and Geraldine’s with one.
Scoring accuracy was eventually restored as Geraldine’s captain Niamh Cooney led by example with a 10th minute point, before Anne-Marie Casey opened her account to give Brendan’s a 0-3 to 0-0 lead.
Geraldine’s battled bravely, but an effort from Sarah O’Hanlon was palmed out well by Argentinian native Agustina Lazzarini between the St. Brendan’s posts.
McKenna extended Brendan’s lead to four points, before Lisa Keenan grabbed a well taken score from an acute angle to open Geraldline’s tally in the 16th minute.
Attacking opportunities fell Brendan’s way and although they kicked two quick wides, they found the net for the first time in the 21st minute, through Leitrim native Niamh Dwyer.
Geraldine’s were bursting forward, with the likes of Sophie McDonnell, Éanna Fitzgerald and Sarah O’Hanlon trying hard upfront. However, scores were at a premium.
O’Hanlon did manage to get a 26th minute point, after Geraldine’s capitalised on a spilled pass, and indeed it was score-for-score in the latter stages of the opening half.
Niamh Cooney converting two pointed frees during this spell, while Sophie McDonnell grabbed the final score of the half for Geraldine’s P. Moran from a placed ball, as St. Brendan’s led 1-6 to 0-3 at the break.
Cian Walsh’s charges worked hard to add to their tally on the restart, but it was Geraldine’s who drew first blood.
Introduced in first half injury-time, Jane Dalton was keen to make her mark and she certainly did with an unstoppable powerful shot from distance to leave Lazzarini with no chance.
This certainly giving the Cornelscourt side a much needed boost, cutting the gap to three points, but they failed to make further in-roads, as they only managed one further point, which came deep into injury-time.
Brendan’s settled with an Anne-Marie Casey pointed free coming a minute after Geraldine’s goal.
To their credit Geraldine P. Moran’s tried earnestly to stem the St. Brendan’s onslaught which ensued.
A Niamh Dwyer goal chance was snuffed out, but just six minutes into the half Brendan’s cut through for their second goal.
Sinéad McKenna was involved before Rebecca McLoughlin was well positioned to finish to the net - something her Mayo Senior footballer brother Kevin would certainly be proud of!
2-8 to 1-3 ahead at this stage, two points from Anne Marie Casey brought her personal tally to four points, opening up a 10-point lead in the 41st minute.
It took a further 11 minutes for a score to be produced, with Brendan’s wides tally mounting to six in the half at this stage, all bar one of those missed chances coming during this spell.
This was often due to some good defending by Geraldine P. Moran, but their chances upfront were limited. A Jane Dalton missed effort came as a result of just their second real scoring opportunity since their 32nd minute goal.
Brendan’s came to life once more and finished well, registering 3-1 inside seven minutes - this spell started with McKenna finding the net from a long range free.
Niamh Dwyer added a point before further goals from McKenna and Cooney saw Brendan’s ended normal time 20 points in front.
Geraldine P. Moran’s never gave up and were rewarded with a fine point from play in injury-time from Sophie McDonnell, but it was too little too late for her side.
After the game Dublin LGFA Chairperson Joe Keane presented the Cup to St Brendan’s captain Niamh Cooney.
The Louth native registered 1-4 over the hour and was also honoured with the Go Ahead Ireland Player of the Match award.
Among those thanked in her speech were her opponents Geraldine’s P. Moran whom she said played their part in a fun game that had no badness, and praised them for their involvement in an enjoyable match.
Scorers for St. Brendans: Sinéad McKenna (1-0f) 2-2; Niamh Cooney (2f) 1-4; Anne-Marie Casey (2f) 0-4; Niamh Dwyer 1-1; Rebecca McLoughlin 1-0.
Scorers for Geraldine’s P. Moran: Jane Dalton 1-0; Sophie McDonnell (1f) 0-2; Sarah O’Hanlon, Lisa Keenan 0-1 each.
ST BRENDANS: Agustina Lazzarini; Enya Cody, Erin Fadian, Katie Cahill; Helen Lenihan, Anne Marie Kelly, Rebecca Aherne; Aoife Hamilton, Maria Molony; Sinéad McKenna, Niamh Dwyer, Jude McCoy; Anne Marie Casey, Niamh Cooney, Rebecca McLoughlin. Subs: Chloe Kennedy for Kelly (40); Caroline O’Connor for McCoy (49); Karen Sheehan for Casey (49). Panel: Sadbh McDermott, Anna-Maria Kelley, Aoife McEnery, Helen Macklin, Kathy McLoughlin, Siobhan Maloney, Tara Gilmartin.
GERALDINES P. MORAN: Roisin Sherwood; Susan Donnelly, Ciara McGuinness, Alison Keane; Clare Hudson, Lauren Foster-Ryan, Lucy Harmon; Sarah Farrell, Aisling O’Brien; Anna Fisher, Sophie McDonnell, Sarah O’Hanlon; Éanna Fitzgerald, Hannah Foster-Ryan, Lisa Keenan. Subs: Jane Dalton for Fitzgerald (30+2); Abbie Melisa for Hannon (37); Helen Fisher for Keenan (46); Aisling Finlay for Donnelly (49); Laura Gerry for O’Brien (57). Panel: Rachel Keogh, Sophie Byrne, Lucy Lynch, Eva Giblin, Zarinah Peer Berkeley, Shauna Fenton, Orla Gormley, Allanah Goggins, Megan Gormley, Emma McNamee.
REFEREE: Reg Harbron (St. Annes)