Limerick News and Notes 16.09.2015

Historic First Adult County Championship Titles for Four Limerick Clubs

Ballylanders were crowned Senior A County Champions, Murroe/Boher Senior B, Feo/Castlemahon were crowned Intermediate Champions and the Junior A Title went to St Brigids.

Ballylanders Ladies Win first County Senior Football Title: Ballylanders 4-11 Mungret 1-5

Ballylanders became the first club to hold both the men’s and ladies senior football titles at the same time, when the girls captured the P.B.C. Sponsored Senior Title in Hospital on Saturday last. History was made as the girls became champions for the first time ever in the history of the club. In 2010 the junior title was captured and in 2013 the intermediate. It was the first time Ballylanders contested the senior final. Mungret their opponents, were favourites going into this game as they were far more experienced than Bally having competed at senior level for a number of years. It was evident from the throw in that the Bally girls were not in awe of their city rivals. They attacked with purpose from the throw in and they scored two goals and six points in the first fifteen minutes. During this time Mungret failed to register a single score. The half back line of Aine McGrath, Emma Kelly and player of the match Clodagh McGrath, along with midfielders Mairead Ryan and Kathy Mee dominated and ensured a plentiful supply of ball to the forwards. All the forwards got in in the scoring. Team Captain Rosemarie Rea, Caoimhe Clancy, Sinead O’Riordan , Kathleen Martin and Edwina O’Donnell all got on the score sheet . Midway through the half Sinead O’Riordan and Caoimhe Clancy found the net to leave the score 2-6 to no score in the Bally girls favour. Mungret created a few attacks after this and they registered a goal and a point but Bally responded with further points from Caoimhe Clancy and Kathleen Martin. Edwina O’Donnell added Bally’s third goal as the half drew to a close. This left the score at the break Ballylanders 3-8 Mungret 1-1.

It would be difficult to maintain the same urgency and tempo for the second half. Mungret began the second half with more determination and produced the first two points of the half as they came more into the game. But the Bally girls dug deep with the full back line of Mairead Kelly, Aoife Gallahue and Triona O’Donnell prominent. Points from Mairead Ryan, Caoimhe Clancy and Kathy Mee restored Bally’s advantage and the game ended as a contest when Kathy Mee converted a penalty with ten minutes remaining. Mungret scored the last two points of the game to leave the final score Ballylanders 4-11 Mungret 1-6. Right half forward Andrea O’Sullivan had to be substituted after she received a heavy knock in the final quarter.
There were scenes of great joy as Tom Madigan presented the Cup to Rosemarie Rea, Captain of the team. Ballylanders now play the Kerry champions on Saturday, 19 September at a venue to be decided

Ballylanders Team: Orla Moriarty, Aoife Gallahue, Mairead Kelly, Triona O’Donnell, Clodagh McGrath, Aine McGrath, Emma Kelly, Mairead Ryan (0-1), Kathy Mee (1-1), Andrea O’Sullivan, Rosemarie Rea 0-2), Caoimhe Clancy(1-4), Edwina O’Donnell (1-0), Sinead O’Riordan (1-1), Kathleen Martin (0-2). Subs used: Maria Murphy, Jackie Lynch, Kristy Carroll, Meadhbh O’Neill and Karen Bailey. Management Team: Danny Kelly, Kevin Denihan, Daithi McCarthy, Mike McGrath and Georgina O’Brien.

Mungret/St Pauls Panel: Aine Coughlan, Ailish McKenna, Karen Gibbs, Aisling Dee, Susan Fitzgerald, Martina Giltenane Captain, Aine Ryan, Yvette Moynihan, Olivia Giltenane, Margaret Lynch, Claire Coughlan, Mairead Clancy, Kate Mulqueen, Catherine Murphy, Marie Curtin, Janet O’Carroll, Triona Bannon, Lisa Garvey, Niamh Foley, Niamh Cooke, Julia Walsh, Jenny O’Malley, Fiona Mangan, Niamh O’Keeffe, Marita O’Brien and Caoimhe O’Neill. Management Team: Matt Fennell, Tom Dee, Keith Devers, Mary Murphy and Mick Timmons.

Feohanagh/Castlemahon Ladies Clinch Intermediate Final in Tenacious Fashion!

All roads lead to Kilmallock last Sunday for the meeting of Feohanagh/Castlemahon and St. Brigids in the O’Donovan & Associates sponsored Intermediate County Championship Final. These two teams are no strangers to each other having met on three occasions already this year, St. Brigids having won two out of the three contests. Both teams contested the League Final last Spring where it was the team from the east that emerged victorious by a margin of 12 points. However, the ladies from the west have contested the Intermediate final for the past two years so they were no strangers to the proceedings that last Sunday brought. The heartbreak of having lost two finals in a row was evident in the Feoh/Castlemahon Ladies as they brought a determination and hunger for success to Sunday’s game that ultimately saw them secure the Intermediate Title. The teams lined out in torrential conditions yet this did not deter from the powerful displays of football and the workrate of the players on both sides. Kilmallock GAA must be congratulated on their pitch and the facilities.

It was the Feoh/Castlemahon ladies that opened the scoring within minutes of referee Jason Mullins blowing his whistle. A foul inside the box was awarded a penalty which was neatly struck down the centre by Aisling O’Brien. A few minutes later Feohanagh Captain Kristine Reidy shook the roof of the net with a powerful kick. A dream start for the girls in white and blue. St Brigids settled and got two points on the board but excellent defensive work by the Feohanagh defenders made it hard for the St Brigids girls to score. The defenders together with the midfield worked the ball well into the Feoh/Castlemahon forwards who used possession well racking up 5 more points from the boots of Aisling O’Brien, Kristine Reidy, Tara Hurley and Maura Flanagan. However, the team from the east got a vital goal before half time that showed that they weren’t willing to give up the title too easy. Half time score was 2-5 to 1-2 in favour of Feoh/Castlemahon.

The second half began and again it was the Feoh/Castlemahon girls that got the first scores, Tara Fitzgibbon getting her name on the scorers list with a fine point worked from midfield. The Feoh/Castlemahon forwards performed like a block defence from the St. Brigid’s kick-out not allowing any attack. When St Brigids had a player sin binned after 10 minutes it was the ideal opportunity for the girls from the west to seal their win. Two goals came from the boots of Rebecca Delee and Tara Fitzgibbon gave the Feoh/Castlemahon team an unassailable lead.
The final whistle was welcomed with an uplifting cheer from the Feoh/Castlemahon team, mentors and the large number of supporters in the crowd. It signalled the end of a 3 year long wait for Senior football. The final score line read Feoh/Castlemahon 4-12 St. Brigid’s 1-6.

Feoh/Castlemahon Panel: Elizabeth Lynch De Freitas, Sarah Walsh, Sandra O’ Connor, Siobhan McMahon, Geraldine O’Connor, Loretta Hanley, Ashling Collum, Tara Hurley, Maire Flanagan, Kristine Reidy, Rebecca Delee, Tara Fitzgibbon, Brid Flanagan, Katie Mcguire, Aisling O’Brien, Suzanne Sheehy, Abby Butler, Nicole O’ Connor, Niamh O’Brien, Megan Nolan and Aideen O’Flynn. Mentors: Richard Browne, Donal Cremin and Pat O’Brien.

St Brigids Panel:. Lea O’Dwyer, Meabh McCarthy, Sarah O’Sullivan Capt, Anna Bonar, Michelle Donovan, Margaret Ryan, Grainne Kennedy, Louise Ryan, Kate Kennedy, Orlaith O’Donoghue, Niamh Holland, Niamh Larkin, Fiona Garvey, Laura Delaney, Eimear Daly, Megan O’Shea, Emma Condon, Chloe Boyle, Lucy Ryan, Keely Baggott, Leonie O’Donnell and Laura Kennedy.
Management Team: Mike Kennedy, Kevin Boyle, John Holland, Dermot Breen, Seamus Donovan and Breda Kennedy.

Murroe Capture Senior B Title: Murroe Boher 2-11 Athea 2-09

On a terrible night for football last Friday, Murroe Boher and Athea turned in a fantastic game of football that belied that heavy rain and wind that persisted throughout. Murroe Boher played against the elements in the 1st half but quickly got into their stride. Grainne Regan opened the scoring with a pointed free before Claire Keating finished a fine passing move with a well-placed goal. Athea scored their 1st point in reply before Niamh Richardson added 1-01 to extend the lead to 7 points after 15 minutes. At this stage Murroe Boher were well on top and 2 further goal scoring opportunities were spurned that may have left Athea with too big a mountain to climb. Athea took confidence from this and added 3 points to narrow the gap to 4 before Grainne Regan and Shauna Ryan with a great point extended the lead again. Then Athea hit a purple patch and scored 2 goals in 3 minutes to put just a single point between the sides despite Murroe Boher having played the bulk of the football. Grainne Regan scored another point but Athea responded and it took a spectacular long range effort by Claire Keating to ensure Murroe Boher led by a single point at the short whistle, 2-06 to 2-05.The second half was an extremely even contest with every ball fought for as the lightning erupted in the skies over Croagh. Points were exchanged. Grainne Regan scored but Athea responded in kind. Shauna and Grainne scored 2 quick points to extend the lead to 3 but again the never say die Athea notched a superb long range free. Niamh Richardson and Grainne Regan linked up superbly for Niamh to blast over a great score but back came Athea again. With 5 minutes left Athea narrowed the gap to 2 and then to 1 with another long range free to now leave the minimum between the sides with 3 minutes on the clock. Anyone’s game now. Murroe Boher attacked and tried a long range effort which was saved by the keeper who was fouled as she tried to leave the square. Then fortune favoured Murroe Boher. The keeper took a short free, too short, and the referee gave a free in as the player receiving the ball was not back 10 yards. A simple tap over free followed for Grainne Regan and the gap was 2. Only a goal would save Athea and they went looking for it with a vengeance. A length of the field move was disrupted initially by Saoirse Barry and then a fantastic interception on the 40 by Aoife Meaney lifted the siege. Aoife burst up the field, played a 1-2 with Louise Crowley before offloading to Jane Clohessy. Jane transferred to Grainne whose shot was blocked out for a 45. The 45 was the final play of the game and Murroe Boher had triumphed by 2 points in a great game. Peter Sheehan presented the trophy to Louise Crowley Captain to mark Murroe Bohers first ever senior trophy. A great game where all the girls played well on a terrible night for players and supporters alike. Jason Mullins refereed the game fairly and allowed for the bad conditions throughout and contributed to a fine free flowing game.

Murroe/Boher Panel: Aoife Barry, Anna Ryan, Aoife Meaney, Siobhan O’Connor, Claire Tierney, Louise Crowley Captain, Saoirse Barry, Shauna Ryan, Niamh Richardson, Aisling Regan, Grainne Regan, Jane Clohessy, Alannagh Russell, Claire Keating, Aimee O’Brien, Mary O’Reilly, Niamh Holmes, Roisin O’Malley, Aoife O’Malley, Keely Lenihan, Siobhan Dempsey, Lisa Leonard, Mary O’Donovan, Megan O’Meara, Aine Cooke, Anna Madigan, Orla Regan and Kathryn Fahey. Management Team: Noel Regan, Donal Ryan, Helen Regan and DJ Collins.

Athea Panel: Lilan Quirke, Erica Fealey, Rebeccsa Daly, Katie Collins, Meadbh Carmody, Lisa O’Connor, Carla Sheehy, Sandra Larkin, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Norma Browne Captain, Maeadbh Nash, Megan Carroll, Aoife O’Connor, Aoife Curtin, Gina Browne, Katie Stapleton, Joanne O’Gorman, Jackie Stackpoole and Sinead McCourt. Management Team: Colm Hassett, Mary Ita Casey, Liz O’Sullivan and Mike Nash