Under 16 Div 1B championship final
Brídíní Óga Glenravel 4-4 Creggan 2-12
By Seamus McAleenan
Creggan had defeated Brídíní Óga quite comfortably in the opening game offthe league in mid July, but the Glenravel girls exacted revenge by leading from pillar to post in the return game in Fr Maginn Park.
Those defeats were the only blots on either team’s copy-book going into Monday’s Div 1B championship final in Ahoghill. Again the Glenravel girls set the pace and led throughout until three late points saw the Joanne McConville Shield return to the lough shore.
It was a pulsating game with Glenravel using the breeze to go 2-1 to 0-1 ahead by the first water break. Amy McIlhatton scored both goals from close range after good approach work from Clodagh McPeake. In between Emily Sharpe (free) and the superb Eavanne Martin exchanged points.
Caitlin McKeown brought off two good saves as Creggan moved up a gear before half-time, spurred on by a goal from Cerys O’Neill, which McKeown actually turned on to a post before it crept in.
By the break however Glenravel were still ahead 2-4 to 1-4 with a couple of excellent points from McPeake and Sarah Fyfe, while Roseanne Mulholland and Cara McCann bagged excellent scores in reply.
With the wind behind them, Creggan again upped the pace at the start of the second half with two fine scores from Player of the Match Eavanne Martin. But the Glenravel defence dug in and weathered the storm.
Eventually a free from Emily Sharpe fell for Clodagh McPeake and she buried it in the net. Despite a brilliant long range free in response from Martin, Eibhlin Gould picked up a loose clearance just outside the Creggan 20 metre line, ran around the outside and fired to the net for a 4-4 to 1-7 lead which was lowered by a point from Roseanne Mulholland going into the second water break.
Evanne Martin narrowed the gap further with a point on the restart, but Glenravel looked like weathering the storm until seven minutes from time when Ella McAteer’s left-hander eventually beat Caitlin McKeown. Mary Murray then popped over the equaliser.
Creggan didn’t take the lead until the 58th minute when Eavanne Martin pointed again from distance and Cerys O’Neill added another soon after. Before each of those scores Glenravel had chances of first a point and then a goal. Had either gone a few feet to the other side of the post, Creggan might not have taken home the spoils.
It was an excellent game from start to finish and both teams had stars such as Caitlin McKeown in the Glenravel goals, the pace and tackling of the Law twins, Aisling Donnelly, Aisling Mulholland, Sarah Fyfe, Eibhlin Gould and the constant scoring threat of Clodagh McPeake. Then for Creggan, Rose Carey-Small and Maria Gately were sound at the back while Aine Colgan, Roseanne Mulholland and Cerys O’Neill all probed with menace.
However in the end it was the long-range scoring accuracy and overall performance of Eavanne Martin that left the biggest impression on the game.
So one final down then with victory to the Kickham’s – but the teams have to meet again in the League play-off to decide the resting place of another trophy next week.
Creggan : Trea Donnelly, Hannah Gately, Rose Carey-Small, Helen McIlwee, Tara Hamill, Maria Gately, Neva Chauhan, Aine Colgan, Eavanne Martin (0-7, 0-2 frees), Ella McAteer (1-0), Roseanne Mulholland (0-2), Megan Darragh, Cara McCann (0-1), Mary Murray (0-1), Cerys O’Neill (1-1)
Subs : Ashley Larkin, Onagh McAllister, Niamh McBride, Caoimhe Hampsey, Cora Duffin, Alannah Hampsey
Brídíní Óga Glenravel : Caitlin McKeown, Roisin Mullholland, Megan Law, Jessica McIllhatton, Aisling Donnelly, Aisling Mulholland, Toni Kerr, Caitlin Law, Erin Coulter, Eibhlin Gould (1-0), Sarah Fyfe (0-1), Emily Sharpe (0-2 frees), Eimear Butler, Amy McIllhatton (2-0), Clodagh McPeake (1-2).
Subs : Annie Higgins, Niamh Small, Aoibhin McKenna, Caoimhe Higgins, Dearbhail Kerr, Clodagh McCusker.
