Moneyglass girls are the Féile Peile na nÓg Divisions 4 champions after a brilliant weekend at the the National Feile in Cavan/Monaghan.
Based at Templeport St Aidan’s in Co Cavan their first match was against Wolfe Tones of Co. Clare which they won with ease on a scoreline of 7-9 to 1-0, while in their second game the girls were even more dominant against Knockninny of Co. Fermanagh where they completely overpowered the opposition to record a 10-12 to 0-0 win. They accounted for their hosts on Saturday morning to book a quarter final place later in the day against Garda Westmanstown of Dublin and the semi-final place was secured with another powerful performance which saw them run out emphatic winners by 4-9 to 0-3.
Semi-final
Moneyglass 3-7 Carricknamond (Longford) 2-3
On Sunday morning it was off to Shercock for their semi-final against Carricknamond of Longford who were to prove their toughest opponents of the weekend. The Longford girls were formidable opponents but when they were really up against it the St Ergnett’s girls showed just what they were made of as they produced a fantastic display. A goal from Hannah Murray in first five minutes followed by a point two minutes later from by the same player gave them a 1-1 to 0-0 lead. The Longford girls hit back with a goal and a point themselves to tie the score and though a Ciara Scullin point put them back ahead in the twelfth minute Carricknamond hit back to tie the scores at half time on 1-2 to 1-2.
Moneyglass now knew they had a real battle on their hands but the second half was just started when Ciara Scullin pointed to edge them back in front. Points followed from Hannah Murray and Ciara Scullin to stretch the lead to three, but the Longford champions hit back with a point at the other end to cut the gap back to two again.
The crucial score came eleven minutes into the second half when a goal from Hannah Murray put the Antrim champions 2-5 to 1-3 ahead and at last gave them a bit of breathing space. Moneyglass were now clearly on top and a point from the ever dangerous Hannah Murray followed by a daisy cutter goal from eleven-year-old Caoimhe McErlain all but secured their place in the final. The Lonford side did come back with a goal of their own but the game was gone from them by this stage and a late point from Caoimhe McErlain put the icing on the cake.
Feile final – Moneyglass 3-7 Steelstown (Derry) 0-1
Their final opponents turned out to be much closer to home as they came up against Steelstown of Derry at Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. Not for the first time over the weekend they got off to a quick start when a goal from Hannah Murray inside the opening minute proved a great confidence boost. Ciara Scullin and Cliona Girffin put them 1-2 to 0-0 ahead after four minutes before the brilliant Hannah Murray all but wrapped things up with a goal in the eleventh minute, followed soon afterwards by a point to give her team a 2-3 to 0-0 half time lead.
The trend continued after the break when Ciara Scullin hit an early point and when Murray weighed in with a goal and two points soon afterwards. Maria O’Neill added two points near the end before Steelstown grabbed their only point of the game.
What an achievement by this great team who have created memories that will last the rest of their lives. Congratulations to Sarah McCann and her backroom staff of Anna McCann and Justin McErlain and and all the supporters who travelled down to cheer them on to victory.
