Kildare Under 15 Autumn League Division 1 Final

In Kilcullen Saturday 30 Oct 2010 @ 4 pm

St Laurence’s 9 – 9 Balyna 5 – 9

Score at half time, St. Laurences 3-6 Balyna 2-6.

The Kildare Ladies Football Under 15 Division 1 Final featured Balyna and St. Laurences for the first time at this level. The game was played in front of a large crowd in Kilcullen and it was the Lady Larries who took the honours on a scoreline of 9-9 to 5-9.
The Balyna ladies were first to settle and after 5 minutes had established a lead of 1-1 with a goal from full forward Ruth Bergin and a point from Troy Ward.
For the next 15 minutes it was the Lady Larries who took control of the game. 2 superb goals from Elaine Marron, 1-3 from Jean Miley and points from Emma Wheeler, Aoife Nolan and Brid Farrell put the daylight between the teams. However, Balyna reorganised their players and finished the half strongest with a 1-1 from Erica Burke and a point from Rachel Cribbin. This left only a goal between the teams at half time, St. Laurences 3-6, Balyna 2-6.

The half time team talk seemed to have served the Lady Larries well. For the 3rd quarter they outscored Balyna 5-1 to 1-1 with some superb passing and forward interplay. Goals from Aoife Nolan, Emma Wheeler (2), Niamh O’Connor & Jean Miley (1-1) while the midfield and back line held firm to allow only a point from Rachel Cribbin. At this point it looked like St. Laurences had the game in complete control and began to introduce players from the bench. This was suddenly halted when two of the St. Laurences players were sin binned within a minute to leave the leaders short staffed and quickly revising their formation to defend a healthy lead.

With 12 minutes to go and two players up, Balyna set about clawing back the 6 goal deficit. 2 goals and two points from one of the games best players, Erica burke, and a goal from Troy Ward had the lady Larries rattled, but the girls from the south showed how much they have matured in the last year with s determined display of holding possession and good passing to work a fantastic team goal scored by corner back Yvonne Phelan and points from Jean Miley and Brid Farrell (the other player of the game) to leave Laurences with a 4 goal winning margin.

Credit must go to the coaches & mentors of the two teams who played end to end football with some fantastic scores. County Chairman and Balyna mentor, Joe O Donoghue presented the cup to Sinead Miley on behalf of the St. Laurences club. Thanks
& congratulations must go to Tom O Haloran, League coordinator, and his division coordinators Joe Barry, Maire Lawler, Tracey Scully, Jackie Deering & Sharon Mackey for all their work and a competition well run.

Balyna :
Orna Lowry, Noelle Kelly, Ellen Morgan, Ciara O Donoghue, Effithea Byrne, Rachel Ward, Erica Burke (3-3), Eleana Burke, Rachel McNally, Rachel Cribbin (0-3), Ruth Bergin (1-1) & Troy Ward (1-2)

St. Laurences :
Sinead Miley, Yvonne Phelan (1-0), Ciara Dunne, Sarah O Neill, Niamh O Connor (1-0), Brid Farrell (0-2), Emma Wheeler (2-1), Aoife Nolan (1-1), Jean Miley (2-5, 3 frees), Elaine Marron (2-2), Maria O Dwyer, Rebecca O Keefe, Clodagh Glynn, Niamh
Lawler, Myra O Reilly, Jenny Downey, Sarah Henry, Rachelle Kane, Louise Farrell, Vanessa Dempsey, Rebecca Loughman, Aoife Flynn, Rachel Doyle & Derbhaile Byrne (injured).
Referee: Chris O’Grady
Match Report by: Des Henry