Fabulous Galway double in Limerick

Fabulous Galway double in Limerick By Fr. Liam Kelleher.

Galway ladies football received another massive shot in the arm when teams from the Co won the All-Ireland Post Primary senior titles A and B for the very first time. At Sun drenched Mungret Co Limerick on Saturday the pride of the West, Presentation College Tuam and Holy Rosary College Mountbellew scored tremendous wins against all the odds in both the Senior A and Senior B finals.

Great credit must go to the local St Pauls Club in Limerick and the Limerick Co Board for their superb organisation and for having the pitch in pristine condition for these Colleges showpieces. Both Galway victories came at the expense of Luckless Kerry schools Colaiste Na Sceilige Caherciveen who were going for their 3rd A title in a row and Intermediate School Killorglin Senior A Final Presentation College Tuam 4-10 Colaiste Na Sceilige Kerry 2-10

Tuam Girls strike early in each half.

What an advertisement for ladies football, this final had it all thrills and spills and many twists. It was the ability of the Galway girls to score early in each half that won them the game. After 3 minutes they had a goal and point on the score board courtesy of Jenny Molloy, the goal coming from a penalty. Earlier they were denied a goal with a brilliant save from Eilis O’ Connor Another point from Deirdre Haverin and a rout looked on. Slowly but surely the Colaiste girls hit back and a goal and a succession of points from Casey O’ Driscoll who hit over 6 and a goal by Deirdre Corridan saw them leading at the break by 2-06 to 1-06.

Desired effect.

Whatever was said in the Galway dressing room at the break, which they made a lengthy one, inspired them. Within 2 minutes of the start of the 2nd half they hit the stunned Kerry girls for 2 goals, courtesy of Deirdre Heverin and Jenny Molloy and suddenly they were a goal up. Try as they might the Kerry girls could never get to grips with the flying Tuam girls, another goal from Una Carroll and it was virtually all over. Colaiste were limited to 4 points in the 2nd half, all coming from frees from Miss O’ Driscoll. Theer were great scenes of rejoicing as the newly elected President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Assocaition Geraldine Giles, handed over the cup to the inspiring Tuam Capt Eimer Fraherty, later named player of the match.

Other outstanding contributors to a memorable win were keeper Tina Hughes, high fielding fullback Michelle Glynn, centre fielders, Louise Comer and Edel Concannon and Deirdre Heverin. On the day the Kerry girls were too reliant on Casey O’ Driscioll and Deirdre Corridan who were well shackled by their respective markers, while Rosaleen O’ Connell Deirdre O’ Sullivan, Deirdre Fenton and Caroline Kelly had their moments for them. They have been great champions and on the day, they could not begrudge the Galway girls their first title.

Scorers:
Tuam: Deirdre Heverin 1-02, Una Carroll 1-02, Jenny Molloy 1-03, Sheila Fitzgerald 1-01, Cora Joyce 0-1 Helen McHugh 0-01.
Colaiste Casey O’Driscoll 1-08 Deirdre Corridan 1-0 Bernie Cronin, 0-01 Marion McGill 0-01

Teams

Pres Tuam Galway. Tina Hughes, Edel Heverin Michelle Glynn, Celine Burke, Nuala Goggins, Emer Flaherty, Madeline Newell, Louis Comer, Edel Concannon, Sheila Fitzgerald, Deirdre Heverin, Cora Joyce, Jenny Molloy, Una Carroll, Helen McHugh, Louise Morris, Lisa Connolly, Sinead Hanley Marie Brennan, Emily Hughes and Sasha Derodz.

Colaiste. Ellis O’Connor, Rosaleen O’Connell, Deirdre O’Sullivan, Jacinta Kirby, Laura Donnelly, Deirdre Fenton, Aideen Martin, Bernie Cronin, Caroline Kelly, Sarah Fitzmaurice, Deirdre Corridan, Marion McGill, Tara O’Connor, Casey o’Driscoll. Elaine O’Sullivan, Linda McCarthy. Linda Cronin, Claire White, Elaine Curran, Eleanor Turner. Rebecca Nolan, Veronica O’Shea, Laoise O’ Driscoll.

B Final. Holy Rosary College Mountbellew 4-12 Intermediate school Kilorglin 3-11
Miraculous recovery by Galway girls.

How ISK contrived to lose this game will haunt them for many a day. With 5 minutes having held the Galway girls scoreless for the entire half up to then, and leading by 2-11 to 1-08, they looked a better bet than Montys Pass who had just won the Grand National. But in the last 5 minutes plus 2 minutes of injury time their dream evaporated and Mountbellew worked a minor miracle.

Credit this mainly to 2 players fullback Nora Warde later named player of the match and Midfielder Michelle Delany. When things were really going against them in defence Warde was an inspiration, she rallied her troops surged upfield on many occasions running herself to a stand still and Michelle Delaney did the rest. The midfielder finished the game with a personal tally of 2-08 with 2-04 coming in the last 7 minutes, when all appeared lost. ISK will have only themselves to blame they led 1-08 to 0-7 at the break, dominated the 2nd half for 25 minutes had 8 different scorers and yet lost, such is the cruel face of sport at times.

They had an excellent fullback in Ciara O’ Connor centre back Niamh McKenna. Louise McCarthy and Fleur Wynne Jones had their moments at midfield with Ciara Tracy Laura Buckley and Eimear Knightly, the pick of their attack.

Mountbellew apart from Warde and Delaney were well served by Maeve Mullins, Deirdre Mannion, Anne Marie Geraghty and sub Kara Mullins.

Scorers
Mountbellew Michelle Delaney 2-08 Deirdre Mannion 1-01, Ann Marie Geraghty, 1-01 Laura Hennelly 0-1 Louise Grehan 0-01.
Killorglin Laura Buckley 1-02, Fleur Wynne Jones 1-02 Eimear Knightly 1-0 Ciara Tracy 0-02 Sheila Cronin 0-02 Jenny Murphy 0-01 Ciara O’Connor 0-01 Louise McCarthy 0-01

Teams
Mountbellew: Therese Leahy, Deirdre Lohan, Nora Warde, Siobhan Delaney, Sinead Britton, Maeve Mullins, Karen O’Connell, Michelle Delaney, Anee Marie Miskell, Lisa Lohan, Deirdre Mannion, Laura Hennelly, Irene Larkin, Louise Crehan, Ann Marie Geraghty. Noreen Miskell, Katherine Donnelan, Jackie Coleman, Angela Coleman, Lisa Finnegan, Karena Rushe, Kara Mullins, Michelle Donnelan, Kate Hoare, Corina Delaney.

ISK: Gretta O’Connor, Carrie Spillane, Ciara O’Connor, Sinead Piggott, Triona O’Donoghue, Niamh Mckenna, Mary Cronin, Louise McCarthy, Fleur Wynne Morgan, Sheila cronin, Ciara Tracy, Jenny Murphy, Eimear Knightly, Sarah Jane Joy, Laura Buckley. Margaret Foley, Niamh Piggott, Emma O’Connor, Tracy Sheehan, Jade O’Connor, Helena McCarthy, Aisling O’Neill, Christine Arthurs, Catherine O’Sullivan, Michelle Long, Joanne Long, Rachel O’Sullivan, Stephanie O’Sullivan, Amy Foley, Lisa Dennehy.

Senior C Final Malahide 6-03 Sacred Heart Newry 3-09

Fr. LiamKelleher PRO 021-4886128 mob 087-8516984