Inch Rovers too strong for Bride Rovers

19th March 2006 Cork Ladies Football
East Cork 2005 Ladies Minor Final
Inch Rovers 3.16 Bride Rovers 2.05

Inch Rovers had a comprehensive win over a never say die Bride
Rovers in the 2005 East Cork Minor final played at Lisgoold on
Sunday. Inch were dominant in all quarters of the pitch despite
the efforts of midfielder and Bride Rovers captain, Laura O’Keeffe
and full forward Sarah Barry.

In truth Bride Rovers simply had no answer to the running game
adopted by Inch who were prompted forward by centre back Rhona
Guerin and midfielder Sandra Smiddy. The Inch forwards saw plenty
ball in the first half and could have registered a bigger points
tally if they had not pursued a policy of going for goals. They
were first on the scoreboard with an opportunist goal from corner
forward Jessica Power who caused problems for the Bride Rvs back
division.

Full forward Caoimhe Harnedy tapped over to give the Inch Rvs
girls a four point lead and it looked like Bride Rvs were in for
a long afternoon. However they got their game together and with
goalkeeper Elaine Dee urging her team forward Sarah Barry brought
Bride Rvs into the game with two very well taken points. Inch
came right back when a speculative shot by wing forward Una Fitzgerald
was palmed into the path of Jessica Power by goalkeeper Elaine
Dee and the Inch Rvs player coolly slotted the ball to the back
of the net. The Bride Rvs keeper redeemed herself in spectacular
fashion minutes later when she saved superbly from corner forward
Elizabeth Kelly.

But Inch were simply irresistible and in a move that began with
full back Niamh Loughlan the ball was transferred quickly through
midfielder Leah Dorrian to her midfield partner Sandra Smiddy.
With the Bride Rvs half back line back peddling the Inch Rovers
player sent a ball towards the Bride Rvs goal. It appeared as
if the goalie was deceived by the flight of the ball and Inch
found themselves in a commanding lead. The half time score read
Inch Rvs 3.04 Bride Rvs 0.03 Inch took up where they left off
in the first half with points from Caoimhe Harnedy, Elizabeth
Kelly and substitute Claire Keohane who tapped over five points
from play.

The Bride Rovers girls never let their heads drop and a terrific
goal from full forward Sarah Barry signalled a mini revival. The
same player put over a fine point minutes later and followed it
with a goal from a 13 m free. Inch were not to be outdone and
found themselves deservedly crowned East Cork minor champions
2005.

Inch Rovers C Walsh M Keohane N Loughlan Y Coleman D Fitzgerald
R Guerin S Fitzgerald L Dorrian S Smiddy (1.00) U Fitzgerald (0.02)
K Walsh (0.02) (cpt) A Fitzgerald E Kelly C Harnedy (0.02) J Power
(2.05 (0.01 f) Subs : C Keohane (0.05 ) for U Fitzgerald
Bride Rovers E Dee A Crowley D Leahy A Finnegan M Lynch M O’Keeffe
M Boyce E O’Keeffe L O’Keeffe K O’Leary E Ahern
S Walsh E Keane S Barry(2.04) C Butler Subs: G Kearney (0.01)
for E Keane
Referee : C McAllister (Aghada)

Terry O’Brien PRO Cork Ladies Football