Na Déise take Under 16 ‘B’ Ladies Football Title

The first final of the 2016 calendar took place in the last week. First up was the B final which was played in the Blackwater Community School pitch in Lismore between Na Déise and Ballyduff. This was a very good game of football with Na Deise settling to the task from the word go against a younger and somewhat nervous Ballyduff side. Leading at half time by 2-8 to 2-2 Na Deise were in control but credit to the Ballyduff girls they never gave up and produced many anxious moments for the Na Deise defence. The Na Deise defence well marshalled by Anne Marie O Brien ably aided in midfield by Mary Kate Curran and Emily O Mahoney up front tacked on scores at vital times in the game to keep Na Deise in front and in control and despite the efforts of a hard-working Ballyduff backline and excellent goalkeeping from Rosie Landers ran out deserving winners in the end on a score line of Na Déise 3-16 Ballyduff 2- 5

‘C’ Title for Erin’s Own

Erin’s Own clinched their first under 16 county title in Kilgobnet GAA grounds on Sunday morning last with a hard earned win over Ballysaggart. Erin’s Own were quickly out of the blocks and got two goals in quick succession but to give Ballysaggart credit they refused to let these goals rattle them and were trailing at half time  on the score line Erin’s Own 2-3 Ballysaggart 0-3.

In the second half scores were at a premium and Ballysaggart were back in the game with a well worked goal. The game ebbed and flowed from end to end and a well taken goal late on by Erin’s Own Abbie Flynn ended the game as a contest with the city team winning on a final score Erin’s Own 3-6 Ballysaggart 1-4.

This was a very entertaining game with many outstanding performances on both sides Abbie Flynn excelled on the Erin’s Own team with some wonderful scores including a free off the ground from 35 meters and was well assisted by her colleagues captain Katie O Keeffe, Aisling Madigan, Eva Daniels, Lucy Hogan, Patricia Farrell and Cathy Hartnett.Ballysaggart played well but were hampered by two injuries at vital times in the game and had many outstanding players on view including Katie Meagher at centre back ,Eva O Donoghue in goals who made a string of wonderful saves and Sophie Landers and Emily Coughlan.

Gaultier and Stradbally serve up ‘A’ Final Thriller

In the A final Gaultier and Stradbally served up an exciting game of football, the result of which was in doubt until the final whistle. Stradbally opened the scoring with a point but the Gaultier girls hit back playing some excellent possession football with four points on the trot to take a commanding lead but any notion that this was going to be an easy win was quickly dispelled with a well finished goal by Maggie Boylan to rock Gaultier. The girls from the East powered back into the game with a goal and a point from Annie Fitzgerald but the reply was swift and decisive from the Stradbally girls with a second goal to leave the bare minimum between the sides at half-time Gaultier 1-5 Stradbally 2-1.

The second half, produced football of the highest order, with the Gaultier girls picking off their points.  Stradbally not to be outdone answered in the best possible fashion with a brilliant goal and the game was in the melting pot when Maggie Boylan coolly slotted home a penalty to put Stradbally back in front.Gaultier though rocked by this goal showed great heart and determination and were rewarded with a goal of their own and a brace of points to go back in front by two points with time running out. Stradbally laid siege to the Gaultier goal in the final stages in an effort to get the all important winning score and it took two great interceptions by Gaultier full back and captain Emma Flynn to ensure that the cup was on its way to the far east of the county as they held out in a welter of excitement on a final score Gaultier 2-12 Stradbally 4-4.

There were some excellent performances on both sides who served up a cracker of a game. Maggie Boylan, Sheena Mc Guckian, Sarah Mullaney, Megan Foran, Róisín Dunphy, Hayley Keane and Ellen Boylan all impressed for Stradbally. For the winners Annie Fitzgerald, Aoife Fitzgerald, Leah Maher, Shauna Fitzgerald and Emma Flynn shone on a day when the real winner was Ladies Football played at a very high level of skill.

Our thanks to the Kilgobnet GAA club for the use of their wonderful facilities and to Mary Fahey who had everything in pristine order for the matches.