Galway deny Waterford 3 in a row

All Ireland U14B Final        Waterford 5-8    Galway 6-12

Waterford’s quest for a record breaking three All Ireland U14B Titles in a row, was thwarted by Galway in the dying minutes of a very competitive match, in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Sunday last. A player of the match display by the Waterford captain, Kaeisha Tobin, and an outstanding performance by Waterford goalkeeper, Rosie Landers, wasn’t enough to prevent Galway winning on a score line of Galway 6-12 Waterford 5-8.

Galway opened the scoring after 30 seconds with a point from their impressive midfielder, Amy Coen. Waterford’s response was immediate, as Kaeisha Tobin pointed after a swift passing move by the Waterford players. Galway regained the lead on 5 minutes when corner forward Rebecca Conway was first to react to a ball rebounding off the cross-bar.

Waterford hit a purple patch on 9 minutes when Kaeisha Tobin found the back of the net for Waterford’s opening goal and the same player was on hand a minute later to convert her own penalty after she had been fouled in the small square.

Galway responded with a goal of their own, as full forward, Ailish Morrissey, gave Landers no chance in the Waterford goal as she finished off some excellent Galway inter-play between Coen and Miskell. Waterford responded again and from the kick-out  the ball was moved quickly downfield for Aishling Baumann to point and extend Waterford’s lead to 3 points.

As the play moved up and down the pitch at tremendous speed, Galway leveled the game again on 15 minutes through a Rebecca Conway goal, only to see Waterford move the ball back up the pitch for Abbie Dunphy to claim Waterford’s third goal. Indeed Galway could have been back on level terms a minute later, except for a last ditch tackle by Margaret Anne Boylan when she disposed the Galway forward as she was about to shoot from inside the small square.

Waterford increased their lead to 6 points on 23 minutes through Aishling Baumann (1-1) and Annie Fitzgerald (0-1). Some excellent defending by the Waterford backs kept Galway scoreless for the final 10 minutes of the half, as the first half finished on a score line of Waterford 4-4 Galway 2-4.

Waterford brought on two players, Katie Duggan Sullivan and Faye Curley at the half time break. Playing with the aid of the breeze in the second half Galway immediately went on the attack only for Landers to produce another excellent save to kept Galway at bay.

Waterford’s fifth goal came as the result of a great run by Tobin through the Galway defence with a final pass to Abbie Dunphy  who found the net with coolness for her second goal of the game. Galway responded with points from  Coleman and  Mikell, before Conway got her second and Galway’s third goal of the match on 35 minutes.

With Waterford defending strongly against a persistent Galway attack, a superb solo effort by Galway’s Lynsey Noone on 43 minutes followed by another Miskell point for Galway leveled the scores. Galway then edged in front from a soft free which Coleman converted easily.

An awesome display at full forward by the Waterford captain, Kaiesha Tobin saw her put Waterford back into the lead with three points in as many minutes. With 54 minutes on the clock Rebecca Conway edged Galway back in front with a well taken opportunistic goal.

As the clock ran down, Waterford couldn’t break out of their own half to get that elusive score that was badly needed. Three Galway points in injury time and a goal with the last kick of the game broke Waterford hearts and gave Galway their second All Ireland win at this age level.

Uachtaráin Cumann Peil Gael na mBan , Pat Quill, commended both teams, and their management, for the exceptionally skillful and entertaining  match, before presenting the Waterford Captain, Kaiesha Tobin, with a well deserved Player of the Match award.

Waterford Team: R Landers, L Dunford, A-M O’Brien,, M Curran, M-A Boylan, M-K Curran, J Devereux,  A Dalton, K Corbett Barry,  A Fitzgerald (0-1), M Boyce, K Lynch, A Dunphy (2-1), K Tobin (2-5) (C), A Baumann (1-1) Subs used : Faye Curley, Katie Duggan Sullivan, Sarah Lacey, Aine Flynn, Niamh Kennedy. Subs unused: M Foran, E Frisby, C Murphy, H White, E Flynn, N McCombe, R Behan, K Cliffe, A Walsh, C Ryan

Management: Pat Sullivan (Manager), Johnny Troy, Margaret Foley, Ciara Dunphy, Philly Curley, Mary Fahey.