Carlow ladies Senior Football championship
Bennekerry-Tinryland 3-19 Fenagh 1-3
Bennekerry/Tinryland ladies began the defence of their Carlow S.F.C. title with a comfortable win over a determined Fenagh in Rathcrogue on Monday 1st August. Despite the final score Fenagh remained competitive throughout and if they had converted their 10 wides throughout the hour the scoreline could have been a little closer. BT opened the scoring in the 2nd minute with a Niamh Kelly point and further white flags were raised by Sinead Hayden (2) Niamh Kelly (2), Elaine Ware (3) Nuala Mohan and Marie Cranny to leave the half time scoreboard reading BT 0-10 Fenagh 0-0.
During that first half BT kicked 9 wides with Fenagh missing the target on 9 occassions also.
With wind advantage Bennekerry/Tinryland began the 2nd half on a positive note and the ball was in the Fenagh net after 2 minutes with a superb strike from Niamh Kelly who finished with a personal tally of 2-3 with her second goal coming in the 47th minute. Sinead Hayden who had a tremendous game throughout slotted over 6 further points in that second half with BTs 3rd goal scored by Leah Mullins in the 42nd minute. Fenagh finally got on the scoresheet mid-way through the 2nd half with scores from sub–Molly Doyle Niamh Canavan, Catherine Treacy and Teresa Doyle.
This was an all-round good display by the champions built on a sound defence well marshalled by goalie Shannen Cotter. The entire backline of Ruth Bermingham, Leanne Corcoran and the evergreen Dee Tomlinson kept the many Fenagh attacks at bay while the half back line of Liz Lowry, Nuala Mohan and young Marie Cranny linked very well with the midfielders Elaine Ware and Audrey Murphy. Up front as stated Niamh (Minnie) Kelly and Sinead Hayden had their shooting boots on accounting for 2-11 between them and they were well supported by Katie Bullen, Lilly O’Neill, Leah Mullins and Ellie Dowling. BT manager Niall Barrett who introduced substitutes Orla Delaney and Jane Bullen in the 2nd half can be well pleased with this display from his charges, but greater tests await from the likes of St Annes and Old Leighlin in the league stages of the championship.
Bennekerry-Tinryland: Shannen Cotter, Ruth Bermingham, Leanne Corcoran, Deirdre Tomlinson, Liz Lowry, Nuala Mohan 0-1, Marie Cranny 0-1, Elaine Ware 0-6, Audrey Murphy, Katie Bullen, Leah Mullins 1-0, Ellie Dowling, Lilly O’Neill, Niamh Kelly 2-3, Sinead Hayden 0-8. Subs: Orla Delaney, Jane Bullen.
