LGFA Ladies U16 B Final
Lamh Dhearg 7-10 Glenavy 1-9
An Aoife Fitzsimmons inspired, Lamh Dhearg proved too strong for a battling St. Joseph’s Glenavy in this LGFA U16B final with the Hannastown number 11 proving unmarkable as she led her side to a decisive victory.
The Chapel Hill side got off to a good start through points from Lydia Grant and a long range beauty from Anna Rice but it would be the only time they would lead in the contest.
Lamh Dhearg responded decisively with two quick fire goals from Aoibh O’Hare and Aoife Fitzsimmons with her first of the afternoon in the 9th minute before Katie Grant in the St. Joseph’s defence pulled of a great block to deny the Hannastown girls a third major.
It only postponed the inevitable as the superb Fitzsimmons fired home a great individual effort in the 11th minute and followed quickly with a point before Lila McCann got through for her side’s fourth major at the end of the opening quarter.
Aoibheann Monaghan replied with Glenavy’s third point, their first score for 16 minutes and Catriona Doran and Anna Rice exchanged further points and two late points from Fitzsimmons and another from Sophie Morris left Lamh Dhearg 4-5 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
Glenavy’s final point coming from Anna Rice in injury time.
HT 4-5 TO 0-5
Any hopes of a St. Joseph’s comeback were quickly extinguished when the excellent Aoife Fitzsimmons set up Aoiobh O’Hare for an early Lamh Dhearg goal and Lila McCann, Fitzsimmons, O’Hare and Sophie Morris followed with points to put the game out5 of reach at the end of the third quarter.
Glenavy were still giving it everything but were fighting against impossible odds as Aoibheann Monaghan opened their second half account with a point from a converted free.
Aoife Fitzsimmons replied with a point before Tara Boyd scored her side’s 7th goal but Glenavy were still fighting hard and Monaghan fired to the net for her side’s opening goal, much to the delight of the Glenavy faithful who had continued to encourage their side all the way.
It was well and truly over at this stage with Tara Boyd kicking Lamh Dhearg’s final point and the excellent Aoibheann Monaghan replied with a consolation point for the Chapel Hill girls.
An excellent win for Lamh Dhearg who dictated matters from early in the game and in Aoife Fitzsimmons had the outstanding player on view. The Hannastown number 11 was at the heart of everything her side produced.
She had strong allies in Lila McCann, Sophie Morris, Aoibh O’Hare and Tara Boyd in a very good all round Lamh Dhearg side.
St. Joseph’s fought hard throughout but on the day were unable to contain the threat caused by Fitzsimmons and Co. but had good performers in Katie Grant, Caoimhe McCartan, Aoibheann Monaghan and Anna Rice.
Lamh Dhearg: 1 Sarah O’Neill, 2 Aimee McGreevey, 3 Laoise Stone, 4 Riona McKenna, 5 Cara Lynch, 6 Katie Flynn, 7 Holly Black, 8 Amelie Annett, 9 Lila McCann, 10 Sophie Morris, 11 Aoife Fitzsimmons, 12 Catriona Doran, 13 Aoibh O’Hare, 14 Charlotte Coleman, 16 Grace Brankin, 18 Orlagh Scannell, 19 Tara Boyd, 20 Grace Kearney, 21 Sarah Bellew
Glenavy: 1 Olivia Mulholland, 2 Aoife McCrory, 3 Maebh Culliton, Katie Grant, 5 Jessica Hotchkiss, 6 Caoimhe McCartan, 7 Katie Cassidy, 8 Anna Rice, 9 Tiama Paton, 10 Aoibh Sloan, 11 Aoibheann Monaghan, 12 Sian McNama, 13 Emma Rice, 14 Lydia Grant, 15 Caimhe McCaffrey, 17 Aoife Mooney, 18 Orla Nelson, 19 Ella Suffern, 20 Maeve Murphy, 21 Martha Denny, 22 Erin McManus
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