Stabannon Ladies overcome Cooley Kickhams

Stabannon 4-6 Cooley 1-2

Stabannon Ladies, captained by Mary Maloney continued
their winning ways when they beat Cooley Ladies
in Stabannon on Sunday last. This gives the mid-louth
girls their third successive win in the Special
League. It was Cooley who got off to a great start
in the first half and Stabannon found themselves
trailing by a goal after a 50 taken by Cooley
ended up in the back of the Stabannon net. Stabannon
found it difficult to win possession in the middle
of the field and Cooley won possession from kick
outs from the Stabannon net. Cooley then notched
up another score with a point putting them four
points ahead to no score from Stabannon. However,
Kim Lynch got Stabannon off to a scoring start
with a great point from play. Stabannon then regrouped
and full forward Claire Lynch showed her strength
by scoring another point towards the end of the
first half. However Cooley responded with a point,
but it wasn’t long before Stabannon captain Mary
Maloney popped the ball over the bar. As the half
time whistle blew, Stabannon trailed by two points
and Cooley failed to capitalise on the possession
they held in the first half.

Again it was Cooley who won possession from the
throw in at the start of the second half. However
close defending by the Stabannon backs ensured
that the Cooley forwards were kept at bay. Just
into the second half, Roseanne Campbell was replaced
by Grace Lynch who, back from college in Aberdeen
for a week, scored a point almost as soon as she
came on to the pitch. It was clear that Grace
had an immediate impact and influence on the Stabannon
side as their play stepped up a gear in the second
half. This left Stabannon trailing by a point.
Jenny McGuinness then responded with a point leaving
the sides level. A great ball into the Stabannon
forwards saw Teresa Hanratty pass the ball to
full forward Claire Lynch who was fouled on the
square and a penalty was awarded to the green
and gold. Jenny McGuinness stepped up to take
the penalty and Jenny made no mistake as she sent
the ball to the back of the Cooley net. Stabannon
were now three points ahead.

With Grace and Tara Lynch and Mary Maloney now
playing in mid field for Stabannon, Cooley possession
was minimised and the Stabannon forwards began
a scoring frenzy, with Tara Lynch, coming through
the middle of the field to find the back of the
Cooley net. Stabannon retained possession from
kick outs and a great catch by Grace Lynch saw
her pass the ball to Deirdre Lynch, who again
made no mistake in finding the back of the Cooley
net. While Cooley made several attempts to move
the ball up the field, possession was denied as
Stabannons Ann Marie Lynch and Andrea Carney were
in top form in the Stabannon defence. Jenny McGuinness
again found a scoring angle and sent over a great
score to put Stabannon ten points ahead with ten
minutes to go. Stabannon were on top form and
with a home crowd edging them on, possession was
retained at all angles on the pitch and towards
the end of the game, it was again, Tara Lynch
who beat Lynn Savage to the Cooley net to give
Stabannon a thirteen point victory over the peninsula
side.

Stabannon will relish in this victory as it is
their first victory over Cooley at senior level
in three years. This win places Stabannon at the
top of this League with a total of six points
from three games. Best for Stabannon were Ann-Marie
Lynch, Andrea Carney, Anne Reynolds and Jenny
McGuinness.

Scorers: Tara Lynch 2-0 Claire Lynch 0-1
Deirdre Lynch 1-0 Jenny McGuinness 1-2 Mary Maloney
0-1 Grace Lynch 0-1
Stabannon: 1. Catriona McKeown, 2. Ciara
Gorman, 3. Andrea Carney, 4. Anne Reynolds, 5.
Michelle McArdle, 6. Ann Marie Lynch, 7. Bronagh
McGrane, 8. Mary Maloney, 9. Tara Lynch, 10. Jenny
McGuinness, 11. Kim Lynch, 12. Deirdre Lynch,
13. Teresa Hanratty, 14. Claire Lynch, 15. Roseanne
Campbell, 16. Ruth McGuinness, 17. Michele Sweeney,
18. Fiona Sweeney, 19. Aoife Sweeeney, 20. Rebecca
Woods, 21. Siobhan Giggins, 22. Una Giggins, 23.
Rebecca Brennan 24. Kate Greene 25. Grace Lynch