Masterful Marino deliver Gourmet Food Parlour Division 5 title in Cavan

Gourmet Food Parlour Ladies HEC Division 5 League Final

Marino Institute of Education 5-4
Ulster University Magee 3-5

By Cóilín Duffy, Ladies HEC PRO

Marino Institute of Education held their Ulster University Magee counterparts scoreless from the 38th minute, as they dug in to deliver Gourmet Food Parlour Ladies HEC Division 5 League success at the 3G pitch in Kingspan Breffni Park on Tuesday night.

 

The North Dublin teacher training college led by two points at half-time, but a strong display by Magee early in the second half ensured that the girls in maroon trailed by five points eight minutes after the restart.

 

However, Suzy Macken’s charges battled bravely with Kate Fitzgibbon playing a starring role, ahead of another big game with her club Clontarf in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club final on December 8.

 

It was Marino’s excellent use of their panel which also went a long way to winning this match, with Donegal’s Áine Ward sprung from the bench in the 35th minute, and the Glenfin club player scored a vital 46th minute goal which handed her side a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

 

Earlier, Marino dominated the opening 20 minutes, but despite all their efforts, there wasn’t too much to show for it on the scoreboard.

 

Fitzgibbon showed a taste of things to come just 20 seconds after the throw-in, when her dipping effort handed Marino an early goal.

 

Magee fought back with two points from the excellent Niamh Murray, but the Clann Éireann (Armagh) player had a lot of work to do, with Magee’s attacks pretty limited over the following 15 minutes.

 

Scores from Orlaith Durcan and Anna Murphy quickly cancelled out Murray’s efforts, before Marino were awarded their first penalty of the match in the ninth minute, following a foul on Leanne Sheridan.

 

Claire Kirwan slotted the ball to the net, but she was forced to retake it, and subsequently sent the next effort wide of the target.

 

Marino were guilty of a number of missed chances over the next 10 minutes, including some efforts coming off the posts, but they made amends in the 20th minute when Durcan dispatched a penalty to hand Marino a 2-2 to 0-2 lead.

 

Amazingly Marino wouldn’t score again until the 37th minute, as Magee fought hard to make a comeback.

 

Danielle McManus, Murray and Michaela Doyle were among those working hard upfront, with a good move started in defence ending with Murray claiming their first goal in the 26th minute.

 

Murray followed up with a pointed free to cut the gap to two points at the interval on a 2-2 to 1-3 score-line.

 

Magee were hungry on the restart and right from the throw-in they pressed hard.

Niamh Fitzpatrick fired wide, before a Michaela Doyle point cut the gap to the minimum.

 

Murray continued to look good and added 2-1 out of the next 2-2 scored, with the other point coming from Marino’s Kate Fitzgibbon to leave the score at 3-5 to 2-3 in Magee’s favour after 38 minutes.

 

Murray had a chance to extend this lead further, but sent an effort wide of the posts.

 

Marino began to find their form again, with substitute Shaunagh Maher finishing to the net just two minutes after her introduction after good work also by Claire Kirwan.

 

Little over three minutes later Marino got in for another goal, with Áine Ward on target, and as Marino kept up the pressure, Magee were struggling to cope.

 

However, their goalkeeper Shannon Hurson pulled off a fine save from a Maher shot in the 54th minute, but Kirwan found the net on the rebound.

 

With almost six minutes of injury-time to follow there was still a chance for Magee to salvage this game, but they failed to add to their tally.

Fitzgibbon was strong at the back in those vital closing minutes, while a late score for Marino perhaps fittingly came from their captain Eilish O’Dowd as they held out for a seven-point win.

After the game, Marino Institute of Education skipper Eilish O’Dowd collected the silverware, with Kate Fitzgibbon named as Gourmet Food Parlour Player of the Match.

Other players in contention for the award included Raheny’s Anna Murphy and Glenfin, Donegal’s Áine Ward; while for Ulster University Magee Armagh duo Niamh Murray and Michaela Doyle were impressive.

 

Scorers for Marino Institute of Education: Kate Fitzgibbon, Orlaith Durcan (1-0 pen) 1-1 each; Shaunagh Maher, Áine Ward, Claire Kirwan 1-0 each; Anna Murphy, Eilish O’Dowd 0-1 each.

 

Scorers for Ulster University Magee: Niamh Murray (2f) 3-4; Michaela Doyle 0-1.

 

MARINO INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION: Erica O’Reilly (Meath); Sorcha Walsh (Meath), Louise Lawlor (Cavan), Éimhin Quinn (Leitrim); Aoife Dwyer (Dublin), Neasa Byrd (Cavan), Aileen Brannock (Westmeath); Eilish O’Dowd (Leitrim), Claire Kirwan (Dublin); Abaigeal O’Connor (Louth), Orlaith Durcan (Dublin), Aoife Gogan (Dublin); Kate Fitzgibbon (Dublin), Anna Murphy (Dublin), Leanne Sheridan (Cavan). Subs: Laura Quinn (Meath) for Gogan (23); Áine Ward (Donegal) for Sheridan (35); Shaunagh Maher (Westmeath) for Sorcha Walsh (40); Roisin O’Doherty (Meath) for O’Connor (55); Sinead Walsh (Waterford) for A Murphy (59).

 

ULSTER UNIVERSITY MAGEE: Shannon Hurson (Tyrone); Grace Conway (Tyrone), Katie Rafferty (Down), Chloe McElhinney (Cavan); Ciara Rice (Down), Caoimhe Magee (Tyrone), Realtín McElihinney (Donegal); Niamh Fitzpatrick (Fermanagh), Nicole Catney (Down); Caiti Boyle (Fermanagh), Danielle McManus (Fermanagh), Michaela Doyle (Armagh); Niamh McDonald (Down), Roisin Murphy (Armagh), Niamh Murray (Armagh). Subs: Megan Kelly (Armagh) for R Murphy (20); Caitlin Carolan (Monaghan) for Conway (53); Collete Cassidy (Fermanagh) for Fitzpatrick (53).

 

REFEREE: Yvonne Duffy (Cavan)