Report Div 9 Feile Final
- Apr 22,2024
Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Féile Division 9 Final
St James Gaels an Caislean 1-04
Ballymun Kickhams 0-00
Report by Nigel McCarthy
St James Gaels an Caislean claimed the Dublin LGFA Féile Division 9 title in a highly competitive final this morning in St Peregrines GAA club.
With both defences on top in the opening half scores were at a premium but St James Gaels an Caislean got their noses in front with two points late in the half.
The Crumlin outfit put themselves firmly in the driving seat eight minutes into the second half with a well worked goal.
Ballymun Kickhams battled throughout the game but came up against a tight tackling St James Gaels defence who refused to cough up any easy scoring chances to the Ballymun attack who were left to rue a couple of decent chances that went a begging.
St James Gaels an Caislean almost got off to the perfect start inside the opening seconds of the game when Sadhbh Doogan got a clear look at goal but her well struck shot was saved by Ballymun Kickhams keeper Arianna Maher.
On a prefect day for football the action on the pitch went from one end of the pitch to the other but both defences were on top with some excellent interceptions, blocks and dispossessions the order of the day.
Ballymun almost grabbed the first goal of the game in the fifth minute. Ella White picked out Sofia Gregg with a good pass, Gregg offloaded the ball to Emma McCarthy who’s shot was tipped around the post for a 45’.
James Gaels midfielder Macey Keeley had a good effort at goal blocked minutes later and her midfield partner Ella White hit a fine effort which narrowly whistled past the post.
With two minutes to go to the break it looked like the teams would play out a scoreless first half but the impressive Sadhbh Doogan slotted over a fine effort for the games opening point.
The Crumlin outfit pressurised the resultant kickout to win the ball back and Jennifer Moffitt swung over her sides second point to leave the score at half-time 0-02 to no score.
The second half proved to be equally as tight as the first, Ballymun Kickhams though, worked the first two scoring opportunities after the restart. Ballymun secured the restart and worked the ball to Sofia Gregg whose shot narrowly missed the target.
Maisy Woods made a great run down the right wing, passed to Mia Quigley who centered the ball to Sofia Gregg who was unlucky to see her goal effort deflected out for a 45’.
But seven minutes from the final whistle St James Gaels put themselves in the box seat, Ballymun gave away a free, Meabh Ramos Finnegan picked out Jennifer Moffitt with the free, Moffitt released Sadbh Doogan into space to strike the ball to the net for the opening goal of this intriguing contest.
Centre half back Molly Hyland who was one of the standout players throughout won the ball in her own half, drove forward and picked out Lucia Moffitt who rounded off the move with a fine point to stretch the St James Gaels lead.
There was some late drama near the end of the game, Meabh Ramos Finnegan who’s strong carrying of the ball caused the Ballymun Kickhams defence problems throughout the contest thought she had scored her sides second goal after dispatching the rebound after her initial shot had been saved, but the referee had blown for an infringement just before the ball ended up in the back of the net and the goal was chalked off.
Finnegan though wasn’t to be denied of getting her name on the scoresheet and deep in injury time swung over her sides fourth point to round of a deserving victory.
St James Gaels an Caislean Scorers: Sadhbh Doogan 1-01, Jennifer Moffitt 0-01, Lucia Moffitt 0-01, Meabh Ramos Finnegan 0-01.
St James Gaels an Caislean: Alicia Campbell, Mia Mac Colgan, Hazel Devlin, Sadhbh Doogan, Nora Farrell, Holly Farrelly, Megan Farrelly, Lily Gannon, Molly Hyland, Lily Kavanagh, Macey Keeley, Aisling Kinsella, Chloe Madden, Jennifer Moffitt, Lucia Moffitt, Eabha O’Keefe, Rosa O’Neill, Siobhan Poole, Meabh Ramos Finnegan, Caoimhe Swift, Kate Luz, Sophie Luz.
Ballymun Kickhams: Arianna Maher, Jorja Bonnell, Áine Butler, Clodagh Casey, Erin Casey, Maya Rose Elmonem, Emma Farrell, Annie Gallagher, Lacey Godfrey, Indie-Rose Grace, Sofia Gregg, Lily Keenan, Faye Lenehan, Robyn Martin, Emma McCarthy, Lucy McDonnell, Ciara Murray, Sadhbh Murray, Aoibha Nic Mhathuna, Nicole Parerenyatwa, Mia Quigley, Beatrice Stamati, Ella White, Maisy Woods, Morgan Farrell, Ava Kane.
Referee: David Maguire (Thomas Davis)
