Rockvale claim first title in maiden campaign in weekend of finals
LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL: Camida Tipperary Finals
SENIOR FINAL
Cahir 6-16
Aherlow 2-20 (AET)
After making the decision to not play the county Junior ‘A’ Camogie final on Saturday, Cahir needed every bit of the energy saved as they required extra time to see off Aherlow in a thrilling County Senior Ladies Football Final in Tipperary Town on Sunday.
SENIOR ‘B’ FINAL
Fethard 1-8
Templemore 0-6
A strong second half performance saw Fethard crowned as Senior ‘B’ champions last Thursday in Ballyporeen.
A low scoring opening half saw Fethard establish a two-point lead by the first water break with points from Muireann O’Connell and Lauren Dowling. On the resumption as has been seen throughout this season the water break is having an impact on the pattern of the game with Templemore quickly beginning to find their form and level the scores, with points from Emma Fitzpatrick and Neasa Towey. The sides swapped points at either end before the half time break to keep the scoreline level at 0-4 apiece.
Again, Fethard were first to open the scoring in the second minute of the half with a pointed free from Kate Davey. The sides exchanged wides before the scores were again brought level with a point from Elaine Fitzpatrick. Templemore then went ahead for the first time with a point from Emma Fitzpatrick but Fethard never let them out of sight and responded with a point of their own from full back Carrie Davey, keeping the scores at 0-6 apiece.
The arrival of the second water break seemed to come at the right time for Fethard and it was after this break that they began to pull away. On the resumption a poor kickout saw Leah Coen break through the defence her first shot saved but she netted the rebound to put Fethard firmly in front. They tagged on two further points from Niamh Hayes and Lucy Spillane to wrap up the game. Templemore did have late goal chance in injury time but were smothered out by the Fethard defence.
Fethard: Aoife Morrissey, Meabh Elle Ryan, Carrie Davey (0-1), Kelly Ryan, Nell Spillane, Lauren Dowling (0-1), Maggie Fitzgerald, Lucy Spillane (0-1), Alison Connolly, Kate Davey (0-3), Megan Coen, Leah Coen (1-0), Niamh Hayes (0-1), Nicole Delaney, Muireann O’Connell (0-1). Subs used: Jess Gleeson for O’Connell, Anna Prendergast for Dowling.
Templemore: Aisling O’Toole, Erin Bourke, Christina Brennan, Maria Connolly, Grainne Gleeson, Maria Curley, Grainne Hennessy, Aine Delaney, Louise Caddell, Iris Kaiser, Elaine Fitzpatrick (0-2), Kate Delaney, Neasa Towey (0-1), Kate Cashman (0-1), Emma Fitzpatrick (0-2). Subs: Kate Bourke for Delaney, R. Butler for Connolly
INTERMEDIATE
Thurles Sarsfields 1-17
Galtee Rovers 2-13
In a week when dual players and clubs were making all the headlines Thurles Sarsfields punched through the door, they had been knocking on for the past three years and claimed the Intermediate title and will join the Senior ranks in 2021.
The opening half was played at a rip-roaring pace with Galtee Rovers opening the scoring with a point from Kate Flannery. Indeed, in the opening quarter Galtee Rovers seemed to have the upper hand and by the first water break had raced into a six-point lead 1-6 to 0-4, Alison Lonergan converting a penalty.
As seems to be the case in a lot of these games the water break Sarsfields pegged that lead with points from Sarah McKevitt and Eimear McGrath (2). However it was the dying minutes of the half when the excitement reached fever pitch with two goals, one at either end; Aoife McGrath making the most of a mix up in the Galtee defence and finding the back of the net which was quickly followed another from Eimear McGrath put Sarsfields in the lead for the first time in the game.
However, Galtee Rovers were quick to respond and a link up between player of the match Edith Carroll and Alison Lonergan put them back in front with Lonergan’s second goal leaving the half time score Galtee Rovers 2-7 Thurles Sarsfields 1-8.
On the resumption it was Galtee Rovers who opened the scoring with a point from Roisin Finnane. However, Sarsfields narrowed that gap to the minimum with points from Laura Loughnane and Eimear McGrath. Kate Flannery and corner back Aoife Flynn put three points back between sides, however, Sarsfields were working hard and never let Galtee out of sight pulling back that lead again levelling the scores in the 54th minute with a Laura Loughnane point.
Sarah McKevitt with a crucial point in the 58th minute put Sarsfields in the lead for only second time in the game. Eimear McGrath followed it up with another to put two between the sides. A dangerous lead it gave way to a heart-stopping injury time. Galtee Rovers never gave up and with the clock ticking down Fiona Touhy put just the minimum between the sides. However, it wasn’t to be for Galtee and Sarsfields took home the crown.
Thurles Sarsfields: Saoirse Teer; Katelyn Ruddy, Sadhbh Leahy, Joan Harty; Chloe Slattery, Clodagh Quirke, Clodagh Irwin; Marie Creedon, Nicola Loughnane; Jenny Irwin, Eimear McGrath (0-8), Sarah McKevitt (0-2); Andrea Loughnane, Aoife McGrath (1-4), Laura Loughnane (0-2). Subs used: Aoife Dwyer and Roisin Bambrick.
Galtee Rovers: Megan Tynan; Aoife Flynn (0-1), Megan Heffernan, Eimear Gleeson, Sinead Hayes, Katie Quirke, Sally Ann O’Dwyer, Aoibhe Gayson Molloy, Edith Carroll (0-2), Kate Flannery (0-3), Emer McCarthy(0-1), Ciara Halpin (0-1), Roisin Finnane, Alison Lonergan (2-3), Sarah Finnane. Sub used: Fiona Touhy.
JUNIOR ‘A’ FINAL
Ardfinnan 1-12
Moyne/Templetuohy 2-6
Ardfinnan claimed the Junior ‘A’ Championship with a three-point victory over Moyne/Templetouhy in Sean Treacy Park on Sunday.
Ardfinnan stormed out of the blocks racing into 1-2 to no score lead after just five minutes. Moyne Templetuohy battled back scoring two goals to lead by a point at half time, 2-4 to 1-6.
However, Ardfinnan redoubled their efforts on the restart and notched up five points without reply and never allowing their lead to slip from there until the end. Moyne-Templetuohy never gave and came close to forcing the game to extra time but the clock ran out. Ardfinnan were deserving winners and will join the Intermediate ranks in the coming season.
Ardfinnan: Rachel Doyle; Jane O’Mahoney, Sarah English, Yvonne Clancy; Eimear O’Connor, Samantha Lambert, Ciara Nagle; Laura Dillion (0-8), Laura Nagle; Clara O’Brien, Aoife O’Shaughnessy (0-1), Alice Tobin; Cathy Ryan (0-1), Clara English (0-2), Yvonne Keating (1-0).
Moyne/Templetuohy: Muireann Lloyd; Laura Daly, Mairead Eviston (0-1), Marie Bourke; Ellen Moore, Louise Butler, Niamh Butler; Roisin Daly (1-5), Cathy Hogan; Aoife Shelly, Niamh Ryan, Niamh Dunne; Grainne Gorman, Rachel Moore (1-0), Ciara Gorman. Subs used: Jane Dunne for L Butler, Elaine Ryan for R Moore, Ann Eviston for N Butler; Rebecca Fox for C Gorman.
JUNIOR ‘C’ PLATE FINAL
Rockvale Rovers 4-3
Templemore 1-6
A historic day for the newly formed Rockvale Rovers Ladies Football Club based in the Newport/Ballinahinch area when the junior team won the County Junior ‘C’ Plate final on Saturday against an experienced Templemore team in Littleton.
Templemore started the brightest with Shona McBride causing a lot of problems for the Rockvale rear-guard with her direct running. McBride score another point on the run and this was followed by a Templemore goal when the same player went for goal that took a deflection off a Rockvale defender. Sarah Finn and Blathnaid Ryan worked very hard in the Rockvale defence throughout the first half. At the end of the first water break Templemore led 1-1 to 0-0.
Templemore again started the second quarter the livelier team and Shona McBride scored another point following a good pass from Deirdre Kirwan. Rockvale made a breakaway out of defence and Emma Coleman found Aideen McGlinchey with a pass 65 yards from goal. McGlinchey ran at the Templemore defence and found Ciara Floyd with a pass 14 yards out and she swivelled and hit a screamer to the net with a stunning left footed drive.
It was game on now and Carragh Flynn was a threat inside and was unlucky with some shots, but Templemore responded with a free from Leanne Delaney and another McBride score to have Templemore 1-4 to 1-0 ahead at half time.
The second half saw Rockvale defence under pressure again however with Nadine Stokes now on the field and Edel & Eimear O’Brien grew in confidence but could not convert scores. Caoimhe McGrath was getting to grips with Shona McBride and Allanah Mullaney was outstanding in the half back line. Templemore added two further points to put them in a commanding six-point lead at the second water break.
With fifteen minutes to go it was clear to see that Rockvale needed to up their game considerably to have any chance. Rockvale made some more substitutions and with positional changes the North team thundered into the game. Aideen McGlinchey was now at centre forward and following sterling work from captain Caroline Mullaney who gained possession in midfield she was put through and soloed from 40 yards to blast the ball to the net. It was game on now with three points between the teams.
Tipp senior camog Grace O’Toole, now at midfield, came into the game winning vital possession and she set up the industrious Emma Coleman for a super point. Coleman followed this up with a point from a long range free.
Rockvale were now in the ascendancy and Aideen McGlinchey soloed through again only to be denied by Templemore net-minder Katie Lynagh who had a brilliant game throughout. It was all Rockvale and their persistence paid off and super sub Chelsea King won a ball from 30 yards out and went on a blistering run and shot produced another super save from Lynagh but Emma Coleman was quickest to react and roofed the net from the rebound.
A six-point deficit was now a two-point lead for Rockvale, and they stretched it to five after an error by Templemore was punished by Chelsea King who scored a sensational goal. A further point by Emma Coleman with five minutes to go now saw Rockvale Rover ahead by six points and this was lead they would not relinquish.
Templemore still had chance in the last few attacks but Marie O’Brien in goal was not to be beaten and Thea Curtin used all her experience to prevent any comeback. Centre back Roisin Power was as solid as a rock throughout and did a great job on Templemore danger woman Leanne Gleeson. Orlagh Treacy, Ellen Delaney and Orlaith Maher played very well for Templemore throughout but the comeback by Rockvale Rovers was sensational.
Templemore were understandably devastated at the end however the display of Rockvale Rovers in the final 15 minutes was breath-taking and they ran out worthy winners. This was a heart-warming victory for the newly formed Rockvale Rovers club and hopefully they will go from strength to strength following this victory with the U14 teams and U16 team also in the knockout stages of their respective competitions.
Rockvale Rovers: Marie O’Brien; Edel O’Brien, Eimear O’Brien, Blathnaid Ryan; Caoimhe McGrath, Roisin Power, Sarah Finn; Caroline Mullaney (Capt), Saoirse McGrath; Emma Coleman (1-3, 0-1f), Grace O’Toole, Aideen McGlinchey (1-0), Allanah Mullaney, Ciara Floyd (1-0), Carragh Flynn. Subs used: Nadine Stokes for Finn (HT); Chelsea King (2-0) for Flynn (38), Roisin Allen for Floyd (45); Thea Curtin for Ryan (45).
Templemore: Kattie Lynagh; Emma Holly, Abbie Stapleton, Mai Maxwell; Emma Curley, Deirdre Kirwan, Anna Dunne; Ellen Delaney, Orlaith Treacy; Orlaith Maher, Leanne Gleeson (0-1), Sarah Bergin; Grace O’Connell, Sarah Buckley, Shona McBride (1-4). Sub used: Erica Mullen (0-1).