Donoughmore Triumph in All-Ireland finals.

Donoughmore Senior and Gabriel Rangers Junior captured the All-Ireland Club titles at a gloriously sunny Nolan Park, In Kilkenny on Sunday. Both victories were emphatic and now with the Naomh Abán in the Intermediate Final against Parnells of London at Portarlington on Saturday at 1.30pm, a clean sweep of All-Ireland club titles is a real, possibility.

Donoughmore 2-16 Seneschalstown 1-6.

On a fine Sunday day the last of November, a day that could have been borrowed from the Summer, Donouhgmore ladies enriched the brightness with an exhilarating display of football to take the All-Ireland Senior club title. Two years ago they captured their first but on Sunday they proved they were no one title wonders, when scoring an emphatic win. The Meath girls playing in their first final came with sound credentials having defeated favourites Ballyboden/St Enda’s of Dublin in the Leinster final and then racking up 3-17 against Knockbride in the All-Ireland semi. Donoughmore on the other hand had to fight hard for their victory over holders Carnacon in their semi-Final. On Sunday with a display of precision, pride passion and panache Donoughmore cantered to their 2nd All-Ireland Senior club title. They had their only major threat when deep into injury time in the first half the Royal girls, hit a goal and point to narrow the gap to a manageable 3 points at the break, with score at 1-8 to 1-5 This was as good as it got for them.

Tense The opening exchanges as one might expect for such a huge game were tense and the first major incident, saw a ground flick with her hand when prone on the grolund, from Aisling O’Connor, elude the defence and keeper and was heading for an open goal, when the post came to the rescue. Miss O’Connor received a knee injury in the exchanges which held up the game for over 5 minutes. Things did not look good, when she limped off to the sideline. her replacement Catriona O’Connell scored Donoughmore’s first point to the delight of their huge following, Aisling returned again to torment the Seneschalsoown defence and it was her goal on the 30th minute that propelled Donoughmore to a clear 7 point lead. Earlier Mary O’Connor had fired over 3 points Juliet Murphy two from frees, as well as a point each from Louise Murphy and Stephanie Dunlea to give them a total of 1-8. The Cork girls looked to be in the driving seat as the 35th minute of the half ticked off. Donoughmore got a real wake up call, when the Meath girls breached their defence, which had stood solid up to then.

The damage was done by Fiona Mahon their most influential player, who up to then had contributed 2 points . Her stunning goal left just 3 points between the sides at the short whistle. But that was as good as it got for the Leinister Champions Donoughmore’s superb defence, with the fullback line of Emer Walsh Edel O’Sullivan and Sarah O’Connell and Vera Sheehan outstanding held them to just a point a after the break, while the black and whites tagged point after point, mainly through player of the match Mary O’Connor and Capt Julie Murphy to build up an unnassailable lead. Try as they might Seneschalstown, despite the best efforts of Grainne Nulty, Anette O’Connell Mary Sheridan Louise McKeever and Fiona Mahon could make no headway. The icing was put on the cake 5 minuets from time when Aisling O’Connor popped up, to slot home another goal, much tothe delight of her mother, Margaret, hard working secretary of the club, who was celebrating her birthday on the day. In truth long before this goal the Meath’s girls hearts were broken, from the relentless force of the Donougmmore onslaught. After some dour defensive games in recent times, like the All-Ireland final between Mayo and Dublin, it was a delight to see an open game of non stop action, with scores a plenty and the one sided nature of the scoring in the 2nd half, did not detract from the enjoyment factor of the game.

Scorers Aisling O’Connor 2-0 Mary O’Connor 0-6 Julie Murphy 0-5 – 3 from frees. Louise Murphy 0-2. Catriona O’Connell, Stephanie Dunlea and Aisling Barrett 0-1 each. Seneschalstown. Fiona Mahon 1-4 Louise McKeever 0-1 Mary Sheridan 0-1. To the delight of the big travelling contingent an her ecstatic teamates, Julie Murphy collected the cup from Nationaal President Geraldine Giles.

Full credit to Coach Mossy Barrett who has coaxed and cajoled this squad to the level they are at and every one of the 125 training sessions, they have had since the campaign began in February, with their first training session were all worthwhile. Thye will clebrates this victroy for a long time in the anchient parish of Donoughmore in the Barony of Muskerry in Mid Cork, my native heath. The Meath girls need not feel downhearted they had a great year and no doubt they will be back again. The referee Marty Duffy of Sligo did an excellent job and contribute, well to a free flowing game.

Teams
Donoughmore.Tracy Rodgers, Emer Walsh, Edel O’Sullivan, Sarah O’Connell, Vera Sheehan, Hanorah Kelleher, Orla McSweeeny, Rena Buckley. Juliet Murphy Capt. Aisling Barrett, Aisling O’Connor, Mary O’Connor, Louise Murphy, Stephanie Dunlea. Ann Brennan, Grainne Murphy, Moira Healy, Linda Barrett, Claire Barrett, Sheila Q Kiely, Fiona Buckley, Laura O’Mahony, Catriona O’Connell, Yvonne Twomey, Marguerite Murphy, Mary Buckley. Coach Mossie Barrett selector Thomas Barrett.
Seneschalstown Louise Byrne. Elaine Dillon. Philomena Sheridan, Dearbhla O’Carroll Deborah Mangan Edel McGrane, Orla Sheridan, Graine Nulty Anette O’Connell, Adelle Carolan, Fiona Mahon, Sally-Ann Carolan, Eimear O’Carroll Mary Sheridan Louise McKeever capt. Sarah Wogan Ruth Lynch Colette Finnegan, Laura Carey, Celine Quinn, Linda Quinn, Sarah Heary Geraldine Gordon, Emma-Jane Morton, Aoife Dillon, Catherine Mulvany and Catherine Coyle. Coach Damien Sheridan. Selectors Dearbhla O’Carroll, Margaret and Geraldine Sheridan