Match Report Naomh Mearnog vs St Margarets
- Aug 31,2024
Go Ahead Ireland Dublin LGFA Junior D Club Championship Final
Naomh Mearnóg 7-11 St. Margaret’s 6-5
By Cóilín Duffy
Ciara Holland, Fran Mifsud and Ciara Mullin all found the net twice as Naomh Mearnóg secured the Go Ahead Ireland Dublin LGFA Junior D Club Championship with a nine-point victory over St. Margarets in sunny conditions at Innisfalls GAA Club on Saturday.
Naomh Mearnóg edged St. Margarets by just a point on homesoil in the group stages, and while the margin in the final was larger, St. Margarets provided a stern challenge.
Margarets started strongly with Beth McKenna scoring after just 19 seconds. McKenna's goal and all her team's points came from play, while Naomh Mearnóg also impressed with the bulk of their scores from play.
Mearnóg quickly responded, with Mifsud scoring their first goal within three minutes. Mifsud, a former goalkeeper, was later named Go Ahead Ireland Player of the Match. Although McKenna responded with a goal, Mearnóg's Ciara Holland and Ellie Reen added goals to give their team a 3-1 to 1-2 lead.
St. Margarets fought back, with Kate Dwyer and Rebecca McGuinness both finding the net. However, Mearnóg responded with 1-3 unanswered, including Mifsud's second goal, to lead 4-4 to 2-2. Despite a strong rally from St. Margarets, which saw them score 2-2 in a five-minute spell, Mearnóg led 5-5 to 5-4 at half-time, with Dwyer contributing significantly for St. Margarets.
Both sides made a number of changes on the restart, but one thing that didn’t change was Mearnóg’s hunger for goals. Much like the departing planes from Dublin Airport flying overhead, they took the direct route, and were rewarded just 30 seconds after the restart, with Ciara Mullin netting her second goal.
Margaret’s keeper Antoinette Cogley was again called into action on countless occasions in the second half, with Indie Cummiskey and Sophie McQuillan Clarke among those also battling hard. Beth McKenna and Dwyer also tried hard upfront, with the latter grabbing Margaret’s sixth goal to cut the gap to two points in the 40th minute.
However they wouldn’t score again until the stroke of injury-time, as Mearnóg added 1-5 without reply, including a 53rd minute penalty goal from Ciara Holland, after Ashling Gilligan fouled Megan Connolly.
After the game Naomh Mearnóg captain Alex Daly received the Cup from Dublin LGFA Chairman Joe Keane.
NAOMH MEARNÓG: Niamh Browne; Ellen Morgan, Laura Walsh, Sarah Kennedy; Rebecca Treacy, Carla Brogan, Sophie McDonnell (0-1); Alex Daly, Megan Connolly; Ellie Reen (1-1), Ciara Mullin (2-1), Naoise Wilson; Fran Mifsud (2-1), Ciara Holland (2-6, 1-0pen, 3f), Lauren Waters.
Subs used: Izzy Harrell for Kennedy (HT); Naomi Crilly (0-1) for Wilson (HT); Abbie Gogarty for Waters (35); Patricia (Polly) Marmion for Mifsud (62). Panel: Maebh O'Sullivan, Aisling Kiernan, Naomi Andreucetti, Ruby Bedford, Ava Reynolds, Alanna Farrelly, Jodie Wynne, Ciara McCabe, Amy Gleeson, Orlaith McGarry.
ST MARGARET’S: Antoinette Cogley; Sarah Stritch, Ashling Gilligan, Hannah Lumley; Cara Hand, Sophie McQuillan Clarke, Kaylah Clarke; Charmaine Doyle, Mia Tighe; Rebecca McGuinness (1-0), Lauren McDonnell, Beth McKenna (1-2); Kate Dwyer (4-3), Shauna Martin, Emma Fox.
Subs used: Indie Cummiskey for K Clarke (22); Nessa Madigan for Martin (HT); Skye Healy for McGuinness (43); Ellie Clarke for Fox (49); Rebecca McGuinness for Cogley (54); Panel: Erica Milling, Leah Burke, Chloe Kennedy, Tara Murphy.
REFEREE: Richie Judge (Raheny)