Under 14 Ladies Championship Final:
St Lomans Mullingar 6-10 Garrycastle 1-06
St Lomans Mullingar faced Garrycastle last Saturday morning in TEG Cusack Park. The brisk September morning brought tremendous excitement as the blues had the chance to win more silverware after winning the under 16 Championship two weeks previous. Much like that final, the saints were out of the traps the quickest and caught their opponents cold. Midfielder, Shannon Breslin, began the scoring with a point shortly after throw in. The Mullingar side extended their lead with a brilliant goal from Katie Kilmurray who fired into the roof of the net. The girls weren’t done there as they added another point courtesy of Evie Kilmurray, before Katie Kilmurray had her second goal after running at the heart of the Garrycastle defence. Further points from the two Kilmurrays saw the Blues race into a double-digit lead after ten minutes.
Garrycastle regrouped after the initial onslaught and settled well in the second quarter. Hannah Murray got the Shannon siders first score from a placed ball, but it was cancelled out when Katie Kilmurray added to her tally. For all their possession Garrycastle couldn’t make their pressure count on the scoreboard with them just registering two points, the second coming through Mandisa Ní Chluaid. Katie Kilmurray completed her hat-trick to rub salt in the wounds for Garrycastle and the saints went in at half time with a twelve-point advantage.
Katie Kilmurray started the second period as she finished the first, raising another white flag to push out the lead to thirteen. Garrycastle raised an early green flag through Amelie Henson which could have led for a nervy half, but the Blues cancelled it out immediately when Grainne Cleary found the net from the very next play. Additional points from Shannon Breslin and Katie Kilmurray ruined any hopes of a comeback. Cleary netted again with a brilliant finish before a point from Maddie Mulderry increased the gap with a well-taken score. The Shannon siders had a purple patch before the final whistle with three excellent scores from Amelie Henson, Mandisa Ní Chluaid and Aislinn Kelly respectively. Grainne Cleary replied with her first point, followed by a sixth Lomans goal to complete a well-deserved hat-trick. Sallyann Joyce had the last word with a pointed free for Garrycastle as referee Mick Gordon blew the final whistle and the blues ran out convincing winners.
This game was closer than the score line suggests as Garrycastle where competitive for all the game apart from the opening ten minutes which was to be their downfall. However, the Lomans Ladies were worthy winners and were superb all over the park. The blues were strong at the back and defended well as a unit, with Chloe Cahill and skipper Eimear Doonan superb throughout. The Midfield pair of Jayne Charles and Shannon Breslin were fantastic. Eleanor Corcoran got through a tremendous amount of work in the half forward line. In the forwards a pair of hat-tricks from Grainne Cleary and player of the Match Katie Kilmurray made the difference on the scoreboard. Well done to all the players who were fantastic. Finally, a big thanks to the management team of Domhnall Kilmurray, Alan Quinn and Ted Cronin for their hard work and devotion the girls throughout the year. Similar thanks should be given to selectors Benji Norris, Ciaran McDonald and Female Liaison officer Charmaine Corcoran.
Team; Katie McGrath, Erin Murray, Eimear Doonan, Sarah Davitt, Chloe Cahill, Cliona McGinley, Norah Garry, Shannon Breslin (0.02), Jayne Charles, Kate McDonell, Katie Kilmurray (3.04, 0.01f), Elaeanor Corcoran, Maddie Mulderry (0.01), Grainne Cleary (3.01), Evie Kilmurray (0.02). Subs; Brooke Darby, Isobel McCormack, Bailey Casey, Muireann Galvin, Rhianna Norris, Katie McDonald, Rachel Gouldsbury, Aoibhe Gillic, Aishling Kevlihan, Daniela Sluinskaite, Asha McCormack, Lana McDermott, Lucy Kilmurray, Isobel McDonald, Eibhlin Casey, Mia Lambden, Emily McSweeney, Tegan Charles, Megan Charles, Maisie Daly.