AIB Leinster Intermediate ladies club championship final By Eamonn Byrne
Bennekery/Tinryland 3-11 Dee Rangers (Meath) 0-12
There was unbridled joy among Tinryland and Carlow supporters in Kinnegad on Saturday last 9th November when the ladies of Bennekerry/Tinryland lifted the AIB Leinster Intermediate title against highly fancied Dee Rangers from Meath. Going into this game the dual Carlow champions had defeated the Co. champions from Wicklow, Westmeath and Louth but they knew that a major step up would be required if they were to win this title for Carlow for the first time since 2007 when St. Fortcherns triumphed against Eadestown.
When the ball was thrown in on Saturday it was the Meath champions who were first out of the blocks and the Royal Co. ladies practically owned the ball for the opening 2 minutes tagging on points from Meena and Eva McConnell. BT eventually settled down and when Carlow inter Co. star Cliodhna Ni She was fouled in the square Laois referee Kevin Phelan had no hesitation in awarding a penalty which Cliodhna clinically despatched past Dee Rangers goalkeeper Sinead Carolan.
This score was the catalyst for BT to up the ante and Cliodhna quickly tagged on a point which looked to be heading for the net only to take a dramatic bounce over the crossbar.
Sinead Hayden for BT and Dee Rangers full forward Briona Rowe then traded points before the Carlow champions moved 5 points ahead with further well taken points from the lively Sinead Hayden and the influential Cliodhna Ni She. The closing stages of the opening half saw Dee Rangers bombard the BT defence and they were rewarded with points from Eva McConnell, Briona Rowe and Grace Durnin while BT slotted over another point via their top scorer Cliodhna Ni She which left the half time scoreboard reading Bennekerry/Tinryland 1-6 Dee Rangers 0-6 when referee Kevin Phelan sounded the half time whistle.
When the teams emerged from the dressing rooms for the second half the Bennekerry/Tinryland backroom team introduced Lauren Dwyer into the fray and anticipation was high among the BT supporters that this could be a match winning move.
It was Dee Rangers however who were first to strike and led by double All Ireland winner for Meath Orlaith Duff they tagged on 2 quickfire points via full forward Briona Rowe from dead balls which left only the minimum separating the teams and all to play for. As the game entered the third-quarter Bennekerry/Tinryland dealt with the immense pressure that was being applied by the Royal girls limiting them to a single point from centre forward Lisa Young and gaining another point from the hard- working Ni She. Cliodhna then continued to decorate the scoreboard with 2 further points before Lauren Dwyer produced a moment of magic in the 44th minute when she crashed the ball to the bottom left- hand corner of the Meath champion’s net. This score was a major boost for BT and a shock to the system for the favourites Dee Rangers who initially did not give up the fight as they drove forward in droves in search of a major score to rescue the situation they found themselves in. Due to brilliant defending from the BT defence, they limited their opponents to two points from Meena McConnell and Lisa Young and the icing was put on the cake when another super sub. Maeve O’Neill rattled the Dee net to finally put daylight between the sides which added to two more points from Lauren Dwyer.
All 18 players were heroes on Saturday with a brilliant defence of Leah Mullins (player of the match), Leanne Corcoran, Nuala Mohan Marie Cranny, Ruth Bermingham and Clodagh Mahon being well marshalled by outstanding goalkeeper and captain Shannen Cotter. At midfield Elaine Ware and her cousin Liz Lowry turned in a trojan shift while up front Cliodhna Ni She and her excellent forward line of Aoibhin Webb, Orla Woods, Katie Bullen, Sinead Hayden, and Sarah Nolan proved that they are a match for any team. The introduction of super subs Lauren Dwyer and Maeve O’Neill were magical strokes by the backroom team of Chris Townsend (manager), Niall Barrett, Conor Byrne and Alisson Miller. There was a lovely touch in the closing stages when one of BT’s greatest ever servants Deirdre Tomlinson was introduced to sustained applause from the BT supporters.
On the way back from Kinnegad the team visited the grave in Bennekerry of their late playing colleague Amanda Kinsella whos initials were embroidered on their jerseys for Saturday’s game.
Bennekerry Tinryland will now advance to the All- Ireland semi-final at the end of November against the winners of the Ulster final between Carrickmacross of Monaghan and Mullahoran of Cavan which takes place on Sunday next 17th November.
Over 200 BT supporters gave the victorious team a guard of honour when the team bus arrived back in Rathcrogue around 7 pm on Saturday evening.
Bennekerry-Tinryland: Shannen Cotter, Clodagh Mahon, Leanne Corcoran, Leah Mullins, Ruth Bermingham, Nuala Mohan, Marie Cranny, Liz Lowry, Elaine Ware, Aoibhin Webb, Cliodhna Ni She 1-6, Katie Bullen, Orla Woods, Sarah Nolan, Sinead Hayden 0-3. Subs: Lauren Dwyer 1-2, Maeve O’Neill 1-0, Deirdre Tomlinson.
