Match Report St Kevin’s Killians vs St Marys
- Aug 17,2024
Dublin LGFA Go Ahead Ireland Junior J Club Championship Final
St. Kevin's Killian's 2-9 St. Mary's Saggart 1-8
By Cóilín Duffy
St Kevin’s/Killian’s (SKK) overcame past final disappointments to secure the Go Ahead Ireland Dublin LGFA Junior J Club Championship at St. Margaret’s GAA Club on Friday. After heart-wrenching final losses to Cuala in 2023 (after extra-time) and Geraldine P Moran in 2022, SKK finally claimed victory, marking the end of a long-awaited journey.
Throughout the Championship, SKK showed a relentless hunger for goals, netting 35 times in four games, including 15 in the semi-final against St Peregrines and six in a 6-14 to 1-7 group stage win over St. Mary’s.
In the final, St Mary’s Saggart put up a strong defensive effort, holding SKK scoreless from the 49th minute. However, SKK’s decisive moment came in the 39th minute when Amy Connaughton scored her second goal of the match after a well-executed play involving Leanne McCarton and Ciara Richardson.
St. Mary’s started well, leading 0-2 to 0-0 after three minutes, with Caoimhe Healy and Ella O’Keeffe on target. SKK responded with an Aoife Carroll score in the 5th minute and took the lead for the first time by the 13th minute.
Despite St. Mary’s efforts, including excellent goalkeeping by Lauren Healy, SKK led 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter, with Richardson and McCarton also contributing to their tally.
St Mary’s regained the lead briefly with a Bronagh O’Mahony goal, after good work by Niamh Reilly.
SKK were again denied a goal thanks to Healy’s brilliance, before Aoife Goodwin stretched Mary’s lead to two points. However, SKK rallied with four unanswered points (Alison Lyons, Carol O’Donnell, Connaughton and Amy Dunne), ensuring an 0-8 to 1-3 interval lead.
Mary’s rallied with two points inside 90 seconds of the restart, with Ella O’Keeffe and O’Mahoney on target.
Two SKK goals inside three-minutes put Mary’s on the back-foot, with Richardson combining with Connaughton for each score.
From the 39th minute on SKK registered just one point, as St. Mary’s battled back with two points from O’Mahony, but SKK’s defence held firm.
St Kevin’s/Killian’s ultimately secured a hard-earned victory, with Carol O’Donnell, a former All-Ireland winner with Thomas Davis, receiving the Cup and the Player of the Match award from Dublin LGFA Secretary Mary O’Connor after the game.
ST KEVINS/KILLIANS: Katie Long, Feinne Condron, Louise Leonard, Kate Petit; Roz McCashin, Chloe Conroy, Aoife Carroll (0-2); Evie Donegan, Alison Lyons (0-1); Amy Dunne (0-2), Ciara Richardson (0-1), Becky Cunningham; Leanne McCarton (0-1), Amy Connaughton (2-1), Carol O’Donnell (0-1, 1f).
ST MARYS SAGGART: Lauren Healy; Caoimhe Healy, Alex Butler, Megan Reilly; Orla Keane, Sinead Murray, Aoife Goodwin (0-1); Aoife Dungan, Ella O’Keeffe (0-2); Sophie Strumble, Caoimhe Healy (0-1), Amy O’Connell; Niamh Reilly (0-1, 1f), Bronagh O’Mahoney (1-3), Ava Kenny. Subs used: Ruby Treacy for Reilly (40); Majella Murray for Strumble (44).
REFEREE: Bridín McDermott (Fingallians)