Castleisland Desmonds fail to add to their Trophy Cabinet

Munster Ladies Junior Club Football Final

West Clare Gaels 2-8 CastleIsland Desmonds 1-8

CastleIsland Desmonds just came up short as they couldn’t add
the Munster Club title to their trophy cabinet and will have to
content themselves with being just the Kerry kingpins in the Junior
grade during the Winter ahead. The Clare side were able to field
four Senior Intercounty footballers and they were simply too physically
strong for a lightweight Desmonds side in Feenagh, Co Limerick
on Saturday. Mary O’Keefe who hit nine points in their semi-final
opened her side’s account with a brace of points before the Banner
side grabbed their opening goal. Lorraine Scanlon equalised in
the 10th minute with a good point from play. It was nip and tuck
till the interval with both sides trading scores, CastleIsland’s
points coming from Mary O’Keefe, Aishling Leonard and Stephanie
Murphy as the sides retired all square at half time, 1-3 to 0-6.

The Kerrys side’s chances took a further blow when Lisa Harte
blasted goal number two for the winners who quickly opened up
a 2-6 to 0-6 lead. Desmonds were struggling for scores before
Rachel Cronin finally opened their second half tally with a point
in the 49th minute. Clodagh O’Connor had another minor for CastleIsland
before they grabbed themselves a lifeline as Cronin slotted home
a much needed goal to close the gap to three points entering the
final few frantic minutes. CastleIsland went in search of an equalizing
score but cool heads in the winners defence ment they’d be no
joy for a gallant CastleIsland outfit who should benefit from
their Final’s day experience.

Willie Reidy’s side are just an average age of 17 years of age
so better days definitely lie ahead for this talented group of
players.

Castleisland Desmonds: Ann Marie Wrenn, Geraldine Ryan, Aoife
Lyons, Marion Shine, Cathy Ann Myers, Liz Twomey, Aishling Leonard
(0-1), Lorraine Scanlon (0-1), Marie Twomey, Rachel Cronin (1-1),
Graiine Kerins, Una Kerins, Mary O’Keefe (0-3, 1f), Stephanie
Murphy (0-1), Clodagh O’Connor (0-1) Subs: Cait Lynch for Scanlon