Kennedy Centre Girls U14 A Football Final
Moneyglass 3-14 St. Enda’s 4-4
This U14 A final was a repeat of the County Feile final and produced another win for St. Ergnat’s Moneyglass but not before they were given a mighty scare by a spirited St. Enda’s side who gave as good as they got for three quarters of the game and in fact led by three points as the game entered its final quarter.
It was during this period that St. Ergnat’s stepped up their game, powered by the impressive Maria O’Neill at mid-field they dominated the final quarter and they outscored the opposition by 1-9 to 0-1 during this period to run out convincing winners.
It was Glengormley side St. Enda’s who were first off the mark with Caoilinn McCarthy pointing them ahead in the second minute and they might have been further ahead but were wide of the target on a number of occasions as they dominated the opening exchanges
Moneyglass took a while to get going but levelled the contest in the 8th minute and then Hannah Murray gave them the lead when she fired to the net in response to a point from Cara Bowes. Bowes was causing quite a few problems during the early part of the game as she added her second point and then the towering full-forward hit a fine goal to give the Hightown side the lead after 18 minutes.
Hanna Murray pulled one back for the South West girls but Bowes continued to cause problems with her pace and intelligent movement as she set up Cliodhna McTaggart for a second goal to edge St. Enda’s four ahead and an upset looked on the cards at this stage of the game.
The contest was certainly warming up as play swung from end to end and there was an intriguing battle going on between Caoimhe Finucane for St. Enda’s and Maria O’Neill for Moneyglass at mid-field with neither girl giving an inch and each in turn driving their side forward.
A point from Ciara Scullion and a Nicole Cassidy goal brought Moneyglass back on level terms and suggested that the Feile Champions had weathered the early storm but again St. Enda’s responded and when Cara Bowes and Molly McCoy challenged for a high ball it broke to Ailbhe Kane and she sent a dipping left foot shot to the Moneyglass net.
A goal behind, Moneyglass needed to respond as the second half action got under way and Sianeese Maybin got them off the mark with a point in the 6th minute. Hanna Murray added another to level the contest once more and at this stage it was St. Ergnat’s who were on top.
They were hit again on the break however and a swift St. Enda’s attack placed Cara Bowes in the clear but as she raced for the ball she was clattered by keeper, Emily McCoy with referee Chris Scannell pointing to the penalty spot.
Bowes picked herself up, dusted herself down and tucked the resulting penalty in the corner of the net to put her side three ahead once more and it could have been worse when Ailbhe Kane’s shot came off the crossbar but this was the wakeup call the Feile Champions needed.
They upped their game considerably at this stage with Maria O’Neill and Sianeese Maybin getting on top at mid-field and Ciara Scullion assisting with some strong runs from the ‘40’. Hanna Murray, Ciara Scullion and Maria O’Neill fired over points to level matters again and when the excellent O’Neill set up Hannah Murray for an 18th minute goal they looked to be heading for victory. St. Enda’s did have an opportunity to get back on terms but this time Cara Bowes was denied by St. Ergnat’s keeper Emily McCoy.
They did pull one back when substitute Alex Walsh split the posts in the 19th minute but this was to be their last score with Moneyglass turning on the style in the closing stages. Points from Maria O’Neill, Ciara Scullion (0-2) and Alicia Boyd (0-3), saw them run out fairly convincing winners in the end.
They knew they were in a game however and St. Enda’s deserve tremendous credit for the way they battled throughout in what was an excellent game of football and a credit to both sides and their management teams.
Moneyglass: Emily McCoy: Erin Duffin, Molly McCoy, Aimee Quinn: Sarah O’Neill, Saoirse McErlain, Aoife Kelly: Maria O’Neill, Sianeese Maybin: Cliona Graffin, Ciara Scullion, Alicia Boyd:: Caoimhe McErlain, Hannah Murray, Nicole Cassidy.
St. Enda’s: Molly Connolly: Ciara McDonnell, Rose Sherlock, Ciara Lappin: Maria Mckenna, Fi Morgan, Ailbhe McRuagoin: Caoimhe Finucane, Suibhne Gibney: Ailbhe Kane, Aoibhan Gormley, Eille Murphy: Caoilinn McCarthy, Cara Bowes, Cliodhna McTaggart. Subs: Brianna McRuagain and Alex Walsh
Referee: Chris Scannell (Gort na Mona)
