Kildare Under 15 Division 2 Autumn League Final

Date: Saturday 30 October 2010, Time 3 pm

Celbridge 2 – 9 Suncroft 2 – 7

Score at Half Time: Celbridge 0 – 7 Suncroft 0 – 3

Once again Celbridge and Suncroft provided a great final of the Under 15 Autumn League Division. Last year 4 points separated the sides and while Celbridge again won, by a narrow 2 point margin, the last minutes of this absorbing contest were nail-biting not least for the very excited Celbridge boss, Shay Cummins. Leading by 8 points after 44 minutes Celbridge looked in control but the point from Emma Barry that gave them that margin proved to be their last score as Suncroft upped the tempo. Their defence took charge as Amy Dunne and Triona Duggan got stuck in at midfield and after Rebecca Coogan had pointed she lashed in a goal. Ellen Dowling, who had left the field injured just before half time having received on-field treatment a few times, found her form. She laid off to Amy Reid for a point and scored one herself when other might have been tempted to shoot lower. Now with 2 minutes on the watch there were only 2 points in it and the Celbridge goals lived dangerously. A brave block by full back Roisin Nolan and some great defending by Niamh Egan foiled the Suncroft efforts to get a winning goal while a late Celbridge surge was foiled at the other end by Kayleigh Durkin who took a heavy knock in the process and had to be replaced for the final seconds.
It had all started so well for Celbridge with a strong half back k line of Team Captain Aisling Naughton, Niamh Egan and Robyn Murray dominating and allowing Orla Gowran and Aimee Bolger feed the attack. Four players pointed in the first quarter as Suncroft struggled and even when chances came from frees they were not taken. The second quarter was even as Ellen
Dowling opened the Suncroft account the sides shared 6 points to leave Celbridge 4 points clear at the break.

Sarah McNiffe pointed on the resumption and Chanice Corcoran extended the Celbridge lead even further when she raced through the retreating Suncroft defence and fired low to the corner of the net. Ellen Dowling was then foiled as her low shot seem to have Celbridge keeper Rebecca Connolly wrong-footed but the keeper stuck out the left boot and deflected the shot up and over the bar while when play went down the other end Sarah McNiffe saw Suncroft keeper go full length to divert her well place effort out for a 45 and when that arrived Sarah caught it, turned instantly and shot only to see Rebecca McGuirke not only block but hold onto the point blank effort. Suncroft did get a goal when Ellen Dowling, after being fouled, took the free quickly and Triona Duggan took her goal with aplomb. However, Celbridge retaliated in kind with Chanice setting up the chance for Sarah McNiffe and this time she fairly buried it. Seven points in front Celbridge soon made it 8 but the fun was only starting as Suncroft dominated the last quarter only to come up just short.

Scorers,

Celbridge

Sarah McNiffe 1 – 4 (0-1 Fr),
Chanice Corcoran 1 – 2,
Orla Gowran 0 – 1,
Gemma Kilduff 0 – 1,
Emma Barry 0 – 1.

Suncroft:

Rebecca Coogan 1 – 2,
Triona Duggan 1 – 1,
Ellen Dowling 0 – 3,
Amy Reid 0 – 1.

Teams

Celbridge

Rebecca Connolly,
Shannon Gannon,
Roisin Nolan,
Helen Fitzsimons,
Robyn Murray,
Niamh Egan,
Aisling Naughton (Capt.),
Orla Gowran (0-1),
Aimee Bolger,
Emma Barry (0-1),
Chanice Corcoran (1-1),
Emily O’Rourke (0-1),
Gemma Kilduff (0-1),
Sarah McNiff (1-4),
Fiona White.

Subs:
Niamh O’Halloran G Kilduff for (50 min).
Mya Butler,
Alex Keating,
Ciara McElroy,
Aiche Belhout.

Suncroft

Rebecca McGuirke,
Niamh Bolger,
Amy Dunne,
Kayleigh Durkin,
Rebecca Johnson,
Niamh Crowley,
Orla Fennelly,
Triona Duggan (1-1),
Ellen Dowling (0-3),
Rebecca Coogan (1-2),
Aisling Lawler,
Kirsten McGuirke,
Amy Reid (0-1),
Kelly Hughes,
Jenny Hall.

Subs:

Allanah Finn for E Dowling (inj 27 min),
E Dowling for J Hall (HT),
J Hall for K Durkin (inj 59 min).

Referee: Jody Callan.
Report by: Tom Ryan