Report Div 7 Feile Final
- Apr 22,2024
Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Féile Division 7 Final
Templeogue Synge Street 2-05
Stars of Erin 2-03
Report by Nigel McCarthy
Templeogue Synge Street held off a stirring second half comeback from Stars of Erin to claim the Dublin LGFA Fèile Division 7 crown today in St Peregrines GAA club.
Both sides started this highly entertaining encounter on the front foot and Templeogue opened the scoring in the opening seconds with a fine point from Elly O’Kennedy Carr.
Stars of Erin swept up the other end of the pitch and the ever dangerous Holly O’Neill was brought down in the square after a penetrating run. O’Neill dusted herself down to take the spot kick but unfortunately her was just inches too high and cleared the crossbar for a point.
Templeogue Synge Street retook the lead in the sixth minute with a converted free from the impressive Neisha Fairbrother. Five minutes later Templeogue took control of the half when Emily McNiff finished a good team move to the net.
Holly O’Neill grabbed her second point of the game after another excellent run through the heart of the defence but midfielder Faye Frain hit a fine point down the other end to give Templeogue a 1-03 to 0-02 lead at the break.
Just like the preceding final a goal seconds after the restart changed the momentum of the game.
Stars of Erin worked the ball down the right hand side of the pitch, the ball was crossed from the wing across the box for the unmarked Emma Shiels to palm the ball to the net to leave just a point between the teams.
The Templeogue lead was stretched back out to two in the 19th minute, it could have been more though as a shot by Isabelle O’Flaherty hit the post and Holly O’Dell recovered the ball and struck it over the bar.
The game looked all but over a minute later when Ayla Mooney smashed the ball to the net.
But Stars of Erin refused to accept defeat and continued to push forward and a pointed free from Alannah Sanchez reduced the deficit.
The same player won the restart and carried the ball forward, off loaded to Emma Shiels, there was a scramble for the ball in the square as the Templeogue defenders tried to clear the ball but it was Holly O’Neill who collected the ball and finished it to the net to set up a grandstand finish.
Templeogue’s Isabelle O’Flaherty drove forward with the ball and found Holly O’Dell who provided a little breathing space for her side with a fine point.
But there was still just enough time for one more Stars of Erin attack, another penetrating run from Alannah Sanchez opened up space in the Templeogue defence and she superbly found go-to forward Holly O’Neill, she let fly but her goal bound effort was saved and the follow up shot was deflected wide and that was that and Templeogue held on for the win.
Templeogue Synge Street Scorers: Emily McNiff 1-00, Ayla Mooney 1-00, Holly O’Dell 0-02, Elly O’Kennedy Carr 0-01, Neisha Fairbrother 0-01 (1f), Faye Frain 0-01.
Stars of Erin Scorers: Holly O’Neill 1-02, Emma Shiels 1-00, Alannah Sanchez 0-01 (1f).
Templeogue Synge Street: Sorcha McCormick, Jane Hackett, Aoife Browne, Mary Claire Buckley, Melissa Clarke, Amelia Connell, Neisha Fairbrother, Darcy Folan, Faye Frain, Eleanor Galvin, Ella Glynn, Greta Harte, Maggie Houlihan, Mia Jones, Zoe King, Tess Mannering, Una McGarry, Emily McNiff, Ayla Mooney, Holly O’Dell, Isabelle O’Flaherty, Elly O’Kennedy Carr, Julia Quinn, Kate Wallace, Caoimhe Ward, Tori Whelan.
Stars of Erin: Ava Plant, Lucy Blee, Matilda Campbell, Izzy Craig, Mollie Doherty, Clara Flynn, Gracie Howley, Bella Kenneally, Jeanne Lawless, Charley Lindsay-Kennedy, Megan McConnon, Lauryn Mullen, Isabelle Nolan, Lily-May Nolan, Holly O’Neill, Georgia Pollard, Kate Reaper, Louisa Richmond, Alannah Sanchez, Emma Shiels, Alva Skelly, Eden Walsh.
Referee: Charlie O’Reilly (St Peregrines)
