Historic first title for Bride Rovers

East Cork Junior League (2005)Ladies Football Final Bride Rovers 3.06 Erins Own 1.04 

Bride Rovers captured their first East Cork junior league title when they overcame a young but tenacious Erins Own in Rathcormac on Sunday. In conditions that would have done justice to synchronised swimming both teams served up a thrilling match for the large attendance. Erins Own opened the brighter and were first on the score sheet after 2 minutes with a Marissa O’Callaghan point. From the kick out the ball was quickly worked down the field to the Bride Rovers captain Sinead O’Driscoll who restored parity with a well taken point.

Both defences were on top in the opening twenty minutes particularly Mary McHugh, Bridget Forde & Caroline Broderick for Bride Rvs and Sandra Dooley & Edel O’Carroll for Erins Own. Bride Rovers struck a decisive score in the 19th minute when slick interplay between Niamh Barry ,Sinead O’Driscoll & Grace Kearney saw an unmarked Sarah Barry find the Erins Own net.

However Erins Own came right back and with Caoimhe O’Callaghan pulling the strings at midfield and Niamh O’Keeffe roaming out from corner forward the ball was eventually worked in towards the Bride Rovers goal. The Bride Rvs keeper Irene Hogan was deceived as the wet conditions held the ball up and the Erins Own captain, Catriona Keohane was on hand to tap the ball into the net. Two points on the 21st and 27th minute from Sandra Barry & Colette Hogan saw Bride Rovers take the lead but a Marissa O’Callaghan free on the 29th minute left the minimum between the teams at half time. The 2nd half was barely in motion when Bride Rovers extended their lead with a well taken Sinead O’Driscoll goal.

This was quickly followed with a pointed free by Katie Kelleher. Erins Own pressed for scores and were rewarded when Marissa O’Callaghan drove over a 13 m free. Bride Rovers replied quickly with points from Sarah Barry & Grace Kearney. The latter had the proverbial ‘ blinder’ in the 2nd half when tactically moved to centre back . Edel O’Carroll drove over a point after a move initiated by Caoimhe O’Callaghan to keep Erins Own in the game but the Bride Rovers ladies had the final say on the 58th minute when Sarah Barry drove a 13 m free to the back of the net.

A Mary McHugh goal line block from Marissa O’Callaghan on the 59th minute epitomised the hunger of Bride Rovers and their desire to be crowned East Cork Junior league divisional champions.

Bride Rovers: I Hogan S Gleeson M McHugh A O’Callaghan E O’Keeffe B Forde C Broderick N Barry M McAteer K Kelleher(0.01 (f) G Kearney (0.01) C Hogan (0.01) S O’Driscoll cpt (1.01) S Barry (2.02 (1.00 f) L O’Keeffe Subs C Buckley for A O’Callaghan
Erins Own: F Smiddy M Scundon E Coughlan C Keohane(1.00) S Dooley E O’Carroll(0.01) A Barry L O’Brien C O’Callaghan S Opperman C Power C Whooley N O’Keeffe A Doolan M O’Callaghan (0.03 (0.02 f) Subs : B Whooley for C Power, M Clayton for A Doolan , L O’Halloran for M Scanlon (Inj) A Kelly for S Opperman and K Fitzgerald for J O’Flynn
Referee: G Buckley ( Grenagh)

Terry O’Brien Cork Ladies Football