Stabannon Ladies go top of table

Stabannon 1-13 Cooley 2-8

Stabannon Ladies earned themselves another two points
in the senior league yesterday as they beat Cooley in
Father Murray Park by two points. This win comes on the
back on their win over Naomh Malachi the previous week.
Stabannon Ladies, captained by Mary Maloney were slow
to get off the scoring blocks against Cooley and were
four points down in the first few minutes of the game
starting. It looked like history was to repeat itself
for the mid-louth team. However, once the team settled
into the game and Grace Lynch found Danielle Sharkey in
the corner, Danielle made no mistake when putting the
ball over the bar. Two points then followed from Grace
Lynch and at the other end Lyn Savage and Catherine McGee
were ensuring their side remained ahead as the interval
approached. Nicola Barry put one over for Stabannon just
before half time but at the half time interval it was
Cooley who were ahead by four points.

Stabannon opened the second half with a great point from
Tara Lynch and the game turned into a real contest with
both teams giving it their all in the sunshine in Cooley.
Points were exchanged over the course of the next fifteen
minutes from Tara Lynch, Jenny McGuinnes and Grace Lynch
for Stabannon and at the other end by Lyn Savage for Cooley.
Stabannon still trailed by two points, but Kim Lynch showed
great determination as she put the ball over the bar to
leave a point between the sides. Cooley then gathered
momentum and moved the ball swiftly up the pitch and made
no mistake when hitting the back of the Stabannon net
putting them right back in control of this game. However,
Stabannon showed resilience and determination and a great
ball in by Grace Lynch found Danielle Sharkey in the corner
who, in her first senior game, cleverly judged the high
ball and made no mistake when she sent the ball past the
Cooley keeper to put a point between the sides. Stabannon
lifted their game and great defence by the forwards saw
Melissa Kearney put the ball over the bar to draw the
game.

In extra time it was Stabannon who emerged the stronger
team, with defence determined not to let the game slip
away and the forwards determined to ensure a win for the
mid-louth team. Two of the stalwarts for Stabannon Ladies,
Tara Lynch and Grace Lynch stepped up to the mark as this
stage and showed great conviction in taking two points
that ensured a two point victory for Stabannon.

This win now puts Stabannon at the top of the league as
they beat Naomh Malachi last week by seven points. Whilst
this win gives Stabannon a great start to their league
campaign, both the team and management team acknowledge
that there is still a lot of work to do to keep this momentum
going during the season which has only started. Overall
this was a great team performance by Stabannon Ladies
with excellent play from Grace Lynch, Danielle Sharkey,
Tara Lynch, Siobhan Giggins and Mary Maloney.

Stabannon 1. Mary Maloney, 2. Siobhan Giggins, 3. Andrea
Carney, 4. Teresa Hanratty, 5, Michelle McArdle, 6. Anne
Marie Lynch, 7. Bronagh McGrane, 8. Grace Lynch, 9. Tara
Lynch, 10. Jenny McGuinness, 11. Kim Lynch, 12.Melissa
Kearney, 13. Kelly Lynch, 14. Nicola Barry, 15. Danielle
Sharkey, 17. Roseanne Campbell, 18. Anne Reynolds, 19.
Rebecca Brennan