Report Div 6 Feile Final
- Apr 22,2024
Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Féile Division 6 Final
Trinity Gaels 3-03 St Finians Newcastle 1-04
Report by Rónán MacLochlainn
Trinity Gaels finished on the front foot when defeating a battling St Finian’s Newcastle by five points in their hugely entertaining Dublin LGFA Féile Division 6 final at O’Toole Park on Sunday morning.
We could not have wished for a more enjoyable start to proceedings in Kimmage as both teams gave their all in the searing heat with the winning margin at the end failing to reflect the tightness of the exchanges.
It was Trinity Gaels that raced out of the blocks and deservedly took the lead in the 3rd minute through Sophie Winkless before Lexie Myler added to their lead two minutes later when finding the net from a free.
Ruby Blake’s point showed that St Finian’s offered a threat of their own but Trinity Gaels continued to impress as they moved five-points clear thanks to scores by Myler and Ella Byrne.
Crucially, St Finian’s finished the half in an impressive manner as two points in quick succession by Aibhe Clare and Keelin Blake reduced their deficit to 1-3 to 0-3 by the turnaround.
It wasn’t long before the sides were level as a brilliant run and pass by Eabha Dowling was collected by Leyla Abkary and the talented centre-forward made no mistake as she crashed her shot beyond Molly Carroll in the Trinity Gaels goal.
In the 23rd minute, St Finian’s could well have taken the lead but Blake was terribly unfortunate to see her powerful shot cannon to safety off the crossbar.
Suitably warned, Trinity Gaels made the most of that let-off as they scored their second goal within two minutes with Sarah O’Farrell finding the bottom corner of the net from twelve yards.
Abkary replied with another fine score at the opposite end but there was no doubting the cup would travel out to Donaghmede as Carroll made the lengthy but fruitful journey from her goal when converting a penalty two minutes from time.
Scorers – Trinity Gaels: L Myler 1-1 (1-1f), M Carroll (penalty), S O’Farrell 1-0 each, E Byrne, S Winkless 0-1 apiece. St Finian’s Newcastle: L Abkary 1-1, A Clare, R Blake, K Blake 0-1 apiece.
Trinity Gaels: M Carroll; I Dillon, L McCarthy, L Reilly; K Bulger, H Seaton, E Kane; M O’Farrell, C Barratt; S Winkless, L Myler, S O’Farrell; E Byrne, K Byrne, L O’Donnell. Subs: R Croly, D Spratt, H Kavanagh, J Sheeran, H Pearson, R Dunne, G Dwyer Roche.
St Finian’s Newcastle: A Peggs; U Sviglinskiene, E Cullen, S Kirwan; S Aherne, E Dowling, L McInerney; D Tominiyi, C Norton; S Msindo, L Abkary, D Clare; L Barnes, A Clare, E Murray. Subs: C Kinsella, A Hutchinson, R Oboh, S Walsh, K Blake, A Burke, E O’Dwyer, C Walsh.
Referee: Eugene Murphy Senior (St James’ Gaels).
