Mourneabbey Master the elements and Vals

Mourneabbey Master the elements and Vals. By Fr Liam Kelleher Mourneabbey 2-7 St Vals 0-1.

Cruelly denied the opportunity of taking
the Cork Minor crown in 2005, Mourneabbey made no mistake when given
the opportunity of taking the 2006 title, at a windswept and rain
lashed Moureabbey on Saturday. Despite the driving wind and torrential
rain the home side coped admirably to snuff out the spirited challenge
of St Vals. Vals playing against the gale opened in impressive fashion
and when their towering centre forward Ellen Healy, fired over the
opening point in the 2nd minute and they continued to

dominate play for the next 10, it looked as if they could shock the
raging hot favourites who had 12 players with Cork experience in their
squad.

Slowly but surely after soaking up the pressure the home girls got
to grips with the task on hand to gain the upperhand. The decisive
score of the opening half came when Kathleen O’brien rattled the net
after 10 minutes, atoning for a few missed free opportunities earlier,
she was unlucky to see another shot come off the cross bar close to
the break. The interval lead of 1-5 to 0-1 looked anything but secure
facing into the very increasing intensity of the elements Posession
style.

In truth the elements had not much bearing on the proceedings in the
2nd half. Mourneabbey are renowned as a possession team and they displayed
all that was good in their trademark style in the 2nd period. They
ran and ran and scored the decisive scores that shut out Vals and
ensured victory. The decisive scores of the 2nd half came from a Jenny
Luddy goal and point, Aisling Thompson and Laura Harrington after
a long lay off added a point. It is hard to imagine that with the
elements in their favour that St Vals, failed to add to their first
half tally despite some promising attacks, but they found the teak
tough Mourneabbey backs in no mood to capitulate, Keeper Emma Forde
did not put a foot wrong, Cathy Ann Stack was a tower of strength
at fullback. The entire halfback line dominated, Patricia Murphy,
Sandra Conroy and particularly Kathryn Coakley, who has matured into
a great

defender with her strength skill and good judgement. The Centre field
of Eimear Harrington and Roisin O’Sullivan held their own and again
Roisin’s penetrating runs caused a lot of problems for Vals who had
an excellent performers in Louise Coholan, Vera Foley, Eva Dunne and
Claire Ambrose who did an awful of grafting for the visitors but their
forwards could make very little headway. Their Mourneabbey counterparts
looked far more threatening and while they missed a lot of chances
they did take some

excellent scores from those already mentioned and Ciara O’Sullian
and Jenny Luddy capt. Indeed the presentation provided a unique and
historic occasion, with new Co Chairman Tom Luddy, elected to the
post the night before presenting the cup to his daughter. The refreshments
provided by the host club were a welcome respite after the horrendous
weather endured by all. 

Mourneabbey: Emma Forde, Leona Behan, Cathy Ann Stack, Rebecca
Larkin, Kathryn Coakley, Patricia Murphy, Sandra Conroy, Roisin
O’Sulivan. Eimear Harrington, Jenny Luddy capt, 1-2 Paula Stack,
Siobhan Forde, 0-2 Ciara O’Sullivan, 0-1 Kathleen O’Brien 1-0 Aisling
Thompson, 0-1 Ciara Harrington, Laura Harrington 0-1, Doireann O’Sullivan,
Niamh O’Regan, Aoife Daly

St Vals: Philomena O’Mahony, Eva, Dunne, Claire Ambrose, Kelly
Coakley, Vera Foley, Brid Twomey, Aideen Scannell, Louise Coholan,
Karen Cotter, Ursula Murphy Ellen Healy 0-1, Katie Buttimer, Shelly
Shine, Emma Coomey, Aoife McCarthy, Ciara Lucey, Siobhan Scanlon,
Triona McSweeny, Triona Buckley