St. Brides score 4 to claim Junior 1 title

ST BRIDES  4-05
KILKERLEY EMMETS  1-10

St Brides took the Junior 1 title at the second time of asking after overcoming neighbours Kilkerley in  the championship final replay at Lordship on Sunday evening last

In what was another excellent game of football played in front of a huge crowd, the Knockbridge girls just had the edge against an unlucky Kilkerley outfit.
It was Brides first ever Championship success and they now go forward to meet Carlow champions St. Fortcherns who beat Moynalvey(Meath) by 6-09 to 2-11 recentley which is due to go ahead on Sunday in Senagh.

Backed by the breeze, Kikerley started confidently and led by three points to no score after five minutes, all of which were well taken by Eilish Mulholland.

Brides were back level a minute later when Sharon Callan did well to win possesion and her fine pass found Edel McKeown who angled her shot into the corner of the net  to level the game.

Niamh Reilly then landed a point to put the Brides ahead for the first time and after the same player had a shot come back off the bar, Sharon Callan extended the lead from a free soon after.

However, Kilkerley responded to the challenge in style and added two further points from  impressive midfieder  Mullholland to level the game on 16 minutes.

Within three minutes the Brides were back in front when Reilly’s shot was parried by Nicole Sheerin and Callan followed up to fire the loose ball to the net.

It got even worse for Kilkerley when Aimee McNally palmed the ball to the net to put her side 3-02 to 0-05 in front.

Once again the Emmets responded in impressive fashion as a great run from Sinead Woods saw her pick out Eileen Murphy who was pulled down in the square and Eilish Mulhooland hammered the penalty to the net, for the games third goal in as many minutes.

That brought the gap to 3-02 to 1-05 and after Callan and Quigley traded scores, Eilish Mulholland added another point to leave the Emmets trailing by just 3-03 to 1-07 at the break.

Aimee McNally kicked the first point of the second half before Edel McKeown fisted a high Marie Brennan centre inches wide, but Kilkerley kept in touch with scores from Mulholland and Lizzie McNulty to make it 3-04 to 1-09.

The crucial score of the game arrived in the 44th minute when Orla McGeeney scored her side’s fourth goal with a superb lob, and two minutes later Brennan added a point from a free.

Aine Connolly then pointed from a free to keep Kilkerley’s hope’s alive but despite their best efforts they were unable to find the goal required and St Brides held out for a famous win.

Following her impressive display as sub in the drawn game, Aimee McNally was named in the starting line-up and she rewarded her management’s faith in her by taking the  Player of the Match award. They had other fine performers in defenders Ciera Rafferty, Caoimhe Hoey and Niamh Sweeney, Sarah Fagan did well at cenre field while up front Edel McKeown, Sharon Callan and Aimee McNally were a constant threat

Kilkerley had an impressive midfield duo in Sinead Woods and Eilish Mullholland with Mullholland playing a real captains role with an excellent scoring return of 1-07. Other’s to do well were Claire Lennon, Fiona O’Neill and Blainad Callan in defence while Lizzie McNulty and Martina Quigley were best in attack

 

St.Brides:

Niamh Mackin,  Ashling McKean,Ciera Rafferty, Debbie Toner, Caoimhe Hoey, Ashling Ruddy, Niamh Sweeney, Kate Wynne, Sarah Fagan,  Edel McKeown, 1-00, Marie Brennan 0-01(f)  Orla McGeeney 1-00,  Aimee McNally 1-01

Niamh Reilly 0-01, Shaaron Callan 1-02(1f)

Subs, Sarah  Kieran, Karen Gogarty,

 

Kilkerley:

Nicole Sheerin, Elaine Corbett, Blainad Callan, Pamela McConnell, Ann-Maree Kane, Fiona O’Neill, Sheila Murphy,Eilish Mulholland,1-07(1-00,pen,4f) Sinead Woods, Aoife McGeough, Lizzie McNulty 0-01, Claire Lennon, Eileen Murphy, Martina Quigley 0-01, Mary-Amanda Kieran

Sub- Aine Connolly 0-01