Meath Ladies Intermediate Championship Round 2

SIMONSTOWN LADIES Meath Ladies Intermediate Championship Round 2

Simonstown v Dunsany
Dunsany
Sunday 20th April, 2008
Throw In: 6.30pm

Half-Time: Simonstown 1-05 v Dunsany 2-05
Full-Time: Simonstown 3-07 v Dunsany 2-10

Simonstown were thrilled to escape Dunsany with a point after a very tough physical encounter at Dunsany on Sunday. Having been beaten by Walterstown by just two points in the opening round a fortnight ago, Simonstown were eager to get some championship points on the table. They met a determined Dunsany side who weren’t going to be defeated on home soil too easily.

In a change to normal procedure, Dunsany were given home advantage in the tie and they seemed to use it to their advantage by opening the scoring with a point before the substitutes had sat in the dug-out! Four minutes later Simonstown’s Grainne Harrington levelled matters with a point of her own. Dunsany then burst forward and scored 1-02 in two minutes. This may have shook other teams but Simonstown were in a defiant mood. On the 12th minute Harrington pointed again with Miriam Dungan following up with a point of her own a minute later. Harrington pointed again on 15 minutes much to the delight of the Simonstown mentors. A well worked pass found Rachel Flynn on the edge of the box who promptly found the net after dispute by the goalkeeper who believed she had saved it and the two umpires. After debate, the goal was given, Simonstown were ahead for the first time in the match 1-04 to Dunsany’s 1-03. Simonstown’s lead didn’t last long as Dunsany’s midfielder Francis Lynch pointed to draw the match. Thirty seconds later Simonstown went ahead again thanks to the right boot of centre half forward Emma Flynn. Despite some tough tackles Dunsany scored a further 1-01 to end the half a goal to the good 2-05 to 1-05.

Simonstown started the second half a player up as Dunsany had a player sin binned for a very high challenge at the end of the first half. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Dunsany continued in the second half as they had in the first, with two fine points from either wing forward. As if from nowhere, Rachel Flynn got her second goal of the afternoon, this time making no mistake blasting it into the back of the net, to leave Simonstown only two points adrift. Dunsany added another score to give them a three point lead heading into the last quarter of the game. The rest of the half was interrupted by several injuries which halted momentum on both teams.
The 30th minute saw Rachel Flynn add a point to add to her tally for the afternoon and reduce the deficit to two points. In quick succession, Dunsany scored two points to make them four points to the good. Simonstown’s motto (If it’s not broken it still works) certainly rang true as Collette O’Connor rejoined the game after a blow to the nose. This seemed to lift Simonstown and the ball quickly made its way back into the Dunsany half. Substitute Emily McAteer got some space and pointed with her left boot to reduce the game to three points in favour of Dunsany. Despite a wide by Dunsany, Simonstown got the ball to the forwards once again and centre half forward Emma Flynn took on a superb run from the Dunsany 45′ to bury the ball in the back of the net, much to the delight of the Simonstown mentors, who literally jumped for joy when the final whistle went. The game finished a draw Simonstown 3-07 to Dunsany 2-10.

Simonstown were certainly the happier team leaving the pitch and will hopefully take it on to their next championship match against Moylough. Simply superb for Simonstown was goalkeeper Celestine Keaveney who made four fabulous saves and kept Simonstown in the game for the sixty minutes. Grainne Harrington, Eve Wardick, Emma Flynn, Ailibhe McHugh and Rachel Flynn were best for Simonstown.

Simonstown Team & Scorers: Celestine Keaveney, Sarah Conlon, Colette O’Connor,
Kirsty Thornton, Niamh Kane, Sinead Dooley, Niamh Murray, Eve Wardick,
Grainne Harrington (0-03), Miriam Dungan (0-01), Emma Flynn (1-01), Ailibhe McHugh, Rachael Garvey, Marion Sheehy, Rachel Flynn (2-01).
Subs: Emily McAteer (0-01) for Sheehy, Emer Brennan for O’Connor, O’Connor for Brennan.

Referee: Patsy Burke (Blackhall Gaels)