Lily Spence Shield final
St Benedict’s Randalstown 4-5 St Paul’s Bessbrook 4-2
A SCORING burst in the first six minutes and then another in the last six in Corrigan Park yesterday saw St Benedict’s Randalstown lift the new Lily Spence Shield at the expense of St Paul’s Bessbrook at the end of this exciting final.St Benedict’s had the perfect start.
Brenna Bonnes fired home a goal in the first minute and added three points over the next three minutes.
By this point Bessbrook had not got the sliotar out of their own half and Shauna McCann raced through to hit the net for a second time in the sixth minute. St Paul’s looked to be in real bother.
However Ella Louise Fearon began to take control at centre-back and their midfielders started to forge forward putting pressure on Brónagh McGuckin and the Randalstown defence. Goals from Gráinne Coyle and Niamh Keenan put them right back in the frame coming into half-time.
However just as Brendan Toland was putting his whistle to his mouth to blow for the break, Caoimhe Carey latched on to Shauna McCann’s side-line and smashed home a third Bessbrook goal.
During the third quarter the south Armagh girls again brought themselves back into the game. Although Clodagh McLarnon saved well from Keenan, Orlaith Shannon followed through for a goal after two minutes and Annabelle McKevitt and Maggie Boden tagged on points to bring the gap down to a single point. A repeat of their semi-final comeback win over St Columba’s Portaferry looked on the cards.
St Benedict’s needed to push forward and get a score and it was diminutive wing-forward Erin Neeson along with the strong running Shauna McCann that put St Paul’s on the defensive once again.
Eventually Brenna Bonnes added a point, Randalstown’s first score of the half. But there was danger at the other end when Maggie Boden broke clear and had a clear run on their goals. However she pulled her a shot across Clodagh McLarnon and wide and St Benedict’s took advantage.
They broke up the pitch and Shauna McCannn flashed over a point from an acute angle. From the poc out Brenna Bonnes gathered possession and returned a high shot that bounced into the roof of the net – a six points’ lead with just three minutes left.
Bessbrook could only manage another score, a goal from Gráinne Coyle, and St Benedict’s held out to win their first title and match the hurling title won by the boys a few weeks ago.
St Benedict’s: B Bonnes (2-4, 0-1 free), S McCann (1-1), C Carey (1-0).
St Paul’s: G Coyle (2-0), O Shannon (1-0), N Keenan (1-0), A McKevitt (0-1), M Boden (0-1)
St Benedict’s: Clodagh McLarnon, Tanisha McCann, Caoimhe Carey, Brogan McKay, Brogan McGuckian, Brogan Graham, Shauna McCann, Caoimhe McCann, Brenna Bonnes, Erin Neeson, Annie Rankin, Ciara McCann
Subs: Katie Hughes, Erin Rose McNeilly, Amy Moss, Isla Smith, Eva Agnew, Cora McAuley, Clare McStocker, Chloe McKay
St Paul’s: Grainne McVerry. Niamh Keenan, Caitlin O’Grady, Ella Louise Fearon, Tailté O’Callaghan, Aisling Coyle, Gráinne Coyle, Aiveen O’Brien, Courtney Toal, Annabelle McKevitt, Orlaith Shannon, Suzie Quinn
Referee: B Toland (Lámh Dhearg)
