VHI Leinster Junior club championship semi-final

VHI Leinster Junior club championship semi-final H.W.H Bunclody (Wexford) 1-19 Eire Og (Wicklow) 2-9

H.W.H Bunclody have taken one step closer to their first ever appearance in the VHI Leinster junior championship final, after they dispatched Eire Og of Wicklow, with a faultless and excellent team performance on Sunday afternoon last.
Bunclodys top scorer Claire Finn was in unstoppable form notching up a total of one goal and six points, while their number fifteen Tracy Nolan tagged on six points.
Although Bunclody were only a point ahead at the break (0-10 to1-6 ), they stepped up a couple of gears in the second quarter, notching up a goal and nine points, while their opponents from the Garden county could only manage a goal from a penalty and three points from play.
Eire Og reeled in the home side twice in the first half to draw the sides level, with scores from Caoilfhionn Deeney, Siobhan Riordan, Kellie Ryder and a well struck goal from Laurie Ahern, but they were unable to over take a very determined model county side, and the gap could have been greater but for a penalty save by Aine McCarty in the Eire Og goals.
Bunclodys midfield duo of Eileen Handrick and Orla Donohoe were in total control, and at times it seemed that they were in two places at the one time, covering every blade of grass to keep the Eire Og side at bay.
Bunclody piled on the pressure in the second half and were out of sight going in to the final quarter, with a ten point cushion going into the last ten minutes.
Eire Ogs Caoilfhionn Deeney was very unlucky in the final minutes of the game as her goal bound shot struck the under side of Eimear Nolans cross bar, and after a scrum in the Bunclody square Referee Tony McConnell awarded the second penalty of the game, which was despatched to the back of Nolans net by Laurie Ahern to notch up her second goal of the game, however as the final whistle was about to be blown, it was too little to late for the Garden county side, and while it’s the end of the season for the Wicklow side, Bunclodys mentors John Hassett, Avril Breen and Eilish Kearns must now keep the girls totally focused as they prepare to take on Maynooth in their first VHI Leinster junior final, which will take place in Athy on Sunday next in, throwin at 1.30.
H.W.H Bunclody scorers: Claire Finn 1-6, Tracey Nolan 0-6, Fiona Kavanagh 0-2, Maura Kenny 0-2, Lauren Atkinson 0-1, Eileen Handick 0-1, Kelly Anne Murphy 0-1.
Eire Og scorers: Caoilfhionn Deeney 0-4, Siobhan Riordan 0-3, Laurie Ahern 2-1, Kellie Ryder 0-1.
H.W.H Bunclody: Eimear Nolan, Joanne Kearns, Suzie Kehoe, Lisa O’Neill, Elizabeth Kelly, Denise Kearns, Ann Marie Tallon, Eileen Handrick, Orla Donohoe, Leanne Kehoe, Fiona Kavanagh, Maura Kenny, Kelly Anne Murphy, Claire Finn, Tracey Nolan. Subs: Lauren Atkinson for Kelly Anne Murphy.
Eire Og: Aine McCarthy, Deirdre Walsh, Niamh Sherlock, Marie O’Neill, Becca Fusciardi, Louise Young, Janet Nolan, Lorna Fusciardi, Niamh Kelly, Sophie Nolan, Caoilfhionn Deeney, Laurie Ahern, Kellie Ryder, Les Long, Siobhan Riordan. Subs: Aisling Leonard for Marie O’Neill, Veronica O’Toole for Les Long, Orla Kelly for Niamh Sherlock, Lisa Murphy for Kellie Ryder, Helen Coleman for Lorna Fusciardi.

Referee: Tony McConnell (Sarsfields, Newbridge).

(Mick Forde, Leinster PRO. 087-6422658)