ARKLOW GERALDINES TRIUMPH IN NEW YORK

ARKLOW GERALDINES TRIUMPH IN NEW YORK NEW YORK LADIES INVITATIONAL BLITZ

Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney have followed on from their wonderful year in Ireland to now win the New York Ladies Invititational blitz at U14 and U17 level.

Both teams travelled to New York on Friday 24th October and started their trip with a visit that evening to the Consolute Residence in Manhattan, The Irish Consular Niall and Marie Burcgess welcomed the players and parents to New York and wished them well in the tournament. The tourament commenced the following day in Gaelic Park, the Bronx New York, under the shadow of the sky scrapers and the New York subway. Theweather was mainly good with some terrential downpours and stormy winds on Saturday evening. Three teams from Ireland participated, Ballylanders from Limerick, Cahir from Tipperary, and Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney. Two New York teams were represented- St Brigids and Rocklands.

The U17 girls won their three matches over the course of the day and the U14s were shocked by a 1 point defeat by St Bridigs, this being their first loss in 18 months. However, the U14 came back with a strong display against Rocklands and succeeded in qualifying for the final. The U17s had one more pool match to play on Sunday.

The results for Saturday are as follows :

U17
AGB 2 – 4, Cahir 1 – 4
AGB 7 – 8 ,Ballylanders 0 – 0
AGB 5 – 6, Rocklands 1 – 2

U14
AGB 1 – 5, St Brigids 1 – 6
AGB 6 – 6, Rocklands 1 – 2

On Sunday AGB travelled to The Bronx, for the finals. The U17s had one remaining pool match which they easily won with a score line of 2 – 9 and St Brigids 2 – 2. This was followed by the U14 final, in which AGB were playing St Brigids, the only team that had beaten them the previous day. This was a much anticipated match as both teams had succeeded in reaching the Feile finals in 2008, Arklow in division 3 and New York in division 4. AGB rose to the occasion and with great skill and determination succeeded in winning with a scoreline of 3-7 to 0-2. All credit must go to the New York team for a great display of competitive football. The team showed great courage and the crowd were impressed with the level of skill displayed by this New York team.

The U17s had to face Cahir in the final. Cahir have a very strong recond in Ladies Football and have suceeded in reaching 3 Feile finals in the last couple of years. The match was an outstanding exhibition of ladies football. Both teams showed tremendous determination to win and the match was very tough and competitive. AGB had a great start with Kayleigh Crammond scoring a goal within the first 20 secomds. This was followed by 2 points from Erinne Murphy and a further one from Kayleigh Crammond. Cahir struggled to find their composure and it was 15 minutes before they put a point on the score board. However, this was followed by a further 2 points from frees. AGB went in at half time leading by 1 – 3 to 0 – 3. The second half was an outstanding display of football. Cahir had a great start and buried the ball in the back of the net, however AGB quickly responded with a point from Kayleigh Crammond and a free from Aife Kavanagh. Cahir drew level with AGB and managed to pull ahead with a well taken point. However AGB fought back and succeeded in regaining the lead with 2 points from Kayleigh Crammond and Aife Kavanagh. The final score was 2 – 7 to 2 – 5. This was a incredible acheivement for the AGB team as a number of the Cahir team played on the Tipperary Intermediate All Ireland Ladies winning team.

The evening finished in Kelly Ryans in the Bronx. Erinne Murphy got player of the tourament sponsored by Brian Brennan of the Arklow Bay Hotel. Nicky Kelly Mayor of Arklow was present to hand over a plaque to the organisers of the New York tournament.

AGB wish to thank the New York Cmmittee for a wonderful weekend of Football, special thanks to Nollaig Cleary and Eugene Brophy.

The players for the U14 team are as follows :
Shauna Devereux, Michelle Forde, Vivienne Walsh, Beth Murphy, Saranna Kavanagh, Emma Marshall, Calvin Swart, Naomi Roche, Katie Kindlon, Gemma Doyle, Aine O’Reilly, Clionadh Byrne, Georgina Canavan, Erinne Murphy(C), Megan Swart, Isabelle Geoghegan, Whitney Roche, Holly O’Brien, Aife Kavanagh, Shauna Fleming, Hannah Tew, Kayleigh Crammond

The players for the U17 team were as follows:-
Rebecca Condren, Amy Devereux, Melissa Keane, Hannah Tew, Nicole Kavanagh, Erinne Murphy, Naomi Roche, Calvin Swart, Niamh Arthur, Sam Kelly, Rachel Byrne, Claire Kavanagh(C), Orla Byrne, Jessica McElheron,Shauna Fleming, Danny Brauders, Sophie Kennedy, Aife Kavanagh, Kayleigh Crammond, Emma Marshall