Ladies Minor A 2010 Final

By Arthur Corrigan

Despite the score line this was a closely fought game, Celbridge playing in their first A final acquitted themselves well but it was the more experienced Sarsfields who won the day. Celbridge started brightly with a burst through the middle from Orla Gowran
which was stopped by Oonagh Confrey whose clearance found Pamela Martin who was fouled. Roisin Byrne opened the scoring with the resulting free. Two minutes later as Sarsfields were running at Celbridge they drew another free which Clare Fox added their second point. Celbridge began to settle and it was Orla Gowran and Leah Earley who combined to put a ball into the danger area where Chanice Corcoran’s quick thinking boxed the ball to the net. The same player then made an excellent run and finished with a point to put the blues ahead by two after 10 minutes. Sarsfields were in no humour to lie down and began to dominate around the middle with Sarah Sheridan and Pamela Martin pulling the strings. Sadbh McDonnell showed a clean pair of heels as she ran through the Celbridge defence to reduce the deficit to one. The sides were level a minute later with another Roisin Byrne point from a free. Celbridge came back again and a great save from Caoimhe McConnell was cleared quickly and found its way to full forward to Laura Houlihan who shot to the net, Laura quickly added a point to stretch the Newbridge girls
lead. The Sash were on top now and were rewarded with another Sadbh McDonnell point and a free from Roisin Byrne. It was Celbridge ill discipline that saw them reduced to 14 when Aisling O’Halloran was yellow carded for a wild pull on the ball. Celbridge fought hard not to concede too many scores but two more Roisin Byrne frees left Sarsfields 1-9 to 1-1 up at the break.

The second half saw Sarsfields use their experience close out the game effectively and with three minutes gone in the second half Roisin Byrne put over her first point from play. Celbridge responded with a point of their own from an Orla Gowran free. Then possibly the move of the game saw Sarah Sheridan pick up a ball and a good pass to Pamela Martin who freed up Clare Fox to run and shoot low to the Celbridge net.
Celbridge responded yet again with a point from play from Nicole McDonagh. Sarsfields confidence was growing and when Becky Houlihan got in behind the Celbridge defence she saw her shot for goal turned over the bar for a point by Shannon Gannon in the Celbridge goal. Sarsfields cemented their dominance with Roisin Byrne and Pamela Martin shooting points from play. Again Celbridge went down the field and were rewarded with another point from Chanice Corcoran. Play moved to the other end of the field as Sarsfields added three unanswered points from Rebecca Houlihan and two more from Roisin Byrne. As both teams made the changes it was Celbridge who reaped the rewards with the hard working Sarah McNiffe adding a point followed by another from Asling O’Halloran. Lisa Marie Gaynor then got in for a goal with five minutes remaining to reduce the deficit further. Sarsfields withstood the Celbridge attack and when the ball was worked up the field Sadbh McDonnell was fouled. Pamela Martin saw her free deceive the Celbridge keeper to drop under the bar to settle the Sarsfields worries.

To their credit Celbridge never gave up and went looking for the next score and were rewarded with a point from Leah Earley from a free at the death.
Scorers:
Sarsfields: – Roisin Byrne 0-9 (5 Frees); Laura Houlihan 1-2; Pamela Martin 1-1 (1-0 Free); Clare Fox 1-1 (0-1 Free); Becky Houlihan 0-1; Sadbh McDonnell 0-2 Celbridge: – Chanice Corcoran 1-2; Lisa Marie Gaynor 1-0; Orla Gowan 0-1; Nicole
McDonagh 0-1; Sarah McNiffe 0-1; Leah Earley 0-1(free)

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