LGFA U16A Football Final.
Moneyglass 2-11 St. John’s 2-2
On Tuesday night past, the St Ergnat’s Moneyglass girls made history as they claimed the club’s third U-16 championship in a row. Moneyglass right half forward Ruby McErlain got her side off to a flying start with a brace of well struck points from the left hand side.
This was quickly followed up by her team mate Aoife Madden smashing the ball to the net after a long testing ball was kicked into the square. Further points by JoJo Darragh, Leah Stewart and Mia McLarnon were preceded by a fine team goal finished to the net by Aoife Griffin.
As it approached halftime and the Johnnies yet to score it was looking increasingly likely that the St.Ergnat’s girls would romp home without getting out of third gear.
Half-time score Moneyglass 2-6 St John’s 0-0.
The notion that St. John’s had already folded was soon put to bed as they started the second half at a blistering pace. Live wire full-forward Anna Adams got them off the mark with a point from a tight angle. She quickly followed this up with a goal that was countered by scores at the other end by Ruby McErlain and Leah Stewart.
Just when that big gap looked to be reappearing again, the Johnnies got a second goal, again from the boot of Anna Adams and it looked very much like game on. But these Moneyglass girls are no strangers to dealing with pressure as they stepped up their defensive game to another gear thwarting their opponents time and time again with strong defensive play.
Amidst the St John’s pressure the coolest head on the pitch was the Moneyglass goalkeeper Olivia Marron as she found a team mate time and time again from her kick-outs. As the clock ran down, the final score of the game was a fine long range effort from the boot of Aoibheann McKeefrey.
In the end this was a superb team performance from the Moneyglass girls. In the full back line the O’Boyles, Cerys, Aibhle and Katie gave little away. At half back, Aoife McGrogan, Caitlin Graffin and Mia McLarnon were always driving their side forward and defending like demons.
At midfield the relentless Leah Stewart and Aoife Leahy were the engine room with boundless bundles of energy going both ways. The half forward line of Ruby McErlain, JoJo Darragh and Aoife Madden were always an outlet which provided a constant scoring threat. Up top Molly McGinty, Aoife Griffin and Aoibheann McKeefrey were always a menace also playing a big part in their team’s victory.
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