Finn Ladies
Make History
Aughlisnafin
ladies team made history on Sunday
by capturing their first ever championship
title at a windswept Pairc Esler ,
Newry. Formed just three years ago
they belied their inexperience with
a comprehensive and deserving victory
over former Junior Champions , Tullylish.
The
Finn were full value for their victory
playing as a team throughout, defending
in numbers and varying their game
to suit the atrocious conditions.
Tullylish
were first to attack when a probing
Irene Moore shot was well held in
the goalmouth by Emma Joyce and cleared.
In the first Finn attack they were
awarded a 13 metre free which they
failed to convert. Playing with a
strong breeze the Finn kept pressing
forward and were awarded a 20 metre
free which Nina Cairns converted.
Tullylish came straight back and after
good work by Cassie Halliday and Louise
O’ Hare , BernieMc Crory scored
an excellent equalising point.
Play
ebbed and flowed from end to end with
both defences on top and it was not
until the 15th minute that the next
score came. A long clearance by Gillian
Mc Veigh found Shauneen Brennan out
on the left. She passed to Laura Mc
Evoy who sent over the bar from 20
metres to give the Finn a lead which
they never lost.
Laura Mc Cavana and Jane Mc Kivergan
were soaking up a lot of Finn pressure
as Grainne Mc Cann and Nina Cairns
drove forward relentlessly. After
a wide by Grainne Mc Cann, Michaela
Doherty raced through to blaze the
ball over the bar with the goal at
her mercy.
In
the 20th minute a superb move involving,
Shauneen Brennan, Nuala O’ Hare,
Ciara Gibney , Laura Mc Evoy and Michaela
Doherty ended with the latter crashing
the ball to the net from 10 yards
to sent the Finn supporters into ecstacy.
Tullylish
came straight up the field and after
a fine move involving Laura Finnegan,
Irene Moore and Cassie Halliday they
forced a free which was brilliantly
held in the goal by keeper Emma Joyce.
The
Finn responded immediately and another
excellent move involving Nina Cairns,
Laura Mc Evoy and Grainne Mc Cann
opend the way for Michaela Doherty
to fire over a superb point from 30
metres.
The
Finn half back line of Justine Clarke
, Gillian Mc Veigh and Grainne Walsh
were giving great supply to the forwards
and Grainne Mc Cann from a free and
also from play scored two points.
The half ended with Nuala O’
Hare scoring an excellent point after
a 45 by Gillian Mc Veigh.
Half
time score Aughlisnafin 1-7 Tullylish
0-1
Tullylish
were now assisted by the strong breeze
and drove forward from the throw in.
Catherine Murphy sent wide from a
scoring position. At the other end
after a long solo run by Grainne Mc
Cann, Laura Mc Evoy sent wide.
For the next ten minutes Tullylish
played their best football. Tina Doran
, Cassie Halliday and Mary Ellen O’
H all tested the Finn defence to the
limit.
In
the 37th minute Tullylish were denied
the goal they needed when Mary Flanagan,
Jolene Flanagan Emma Joyce and Angela
Flanagan combined to block a tremendous
shot from Ellen O’ Hare and
relieve the pressure for the Finn.
Tullylish were not to be denied and
forced another tremendous save from
Emma Joyce. After ten minutes Irene
Moore, who was playing well at this
stage, sent Tina Doran in for an excellent
Tullylish point.
In
the 41st minute Tullylish again broke
through and the Finn were relieved
to see a Cassie Halliday shot hit
the side netting. In the 42nd minute
Tina Doran stormed through for another
great point to leave the score 1-7
to 0-3 .
Back came the Finn and almost had
another goal after excellent work
by Nina Cairns.
Claire
Mc Shane pointed a 13 metre free to
extend the Finn lead. Tullylish replied
with a point from a free by Cassie
Halliday.
From here to the end the Finn stepped
up the pace and the Tullylish defence
were forced to concede frees to a
now rampant Finn attack. Gillian Mc
Veigh , Nina Cairns and Grainne Mc
Cann were winning anything which came
their way and Claire McShane pointed
another free after 22 minutes of the
second half after good work by Sileen
Mc Donald who had come on for the
Finn.
In
the 26th minute Michaela Doherty seized
on a broken ball and crashed in her
second goal. She was unlucky not to
score her third when she thudded another
shot off the crossbar. The ball broke
to Maria Flanagan who slipped it to
Ciara Gibney and Ciara sent over the
bar for the final score of the game
to leave the Finn victorious on a
score of 2-11 to 0-4.
This
momentous victory was based on all
round teamwork. Emma Joyce was safe
in the goals and inspired confidence
.The full back line of Mary Flanagan.
Jolene Flanagan and Angela Flanagan
dealt competently with anything that
came their way. Justine Clarke, Gillian
Mc Veigh and Grainne Walsh formed
an exceptional half back line. The
midfield of Nina Cairns and Grainne
Mc Cann was outstanding and worked
tirelessly. The forward sextet of
Ciara Gibney, Laura Mc Evoy, Shauneen
Brennan, Nuala O’ Hare , Claire
Mc Shane and Michaela Doherty tormented
the Tullylish defence through out.
For
Tullylish Laura Mc Cavanagh, Jane
Mc Kervigan and Laura Finnegan played
soundly. Louise O’ Hare and
Irene Moore worked hard at midfield
and up front Tina Doran and Mary Ellen
O’ Hare posed most threat.
Team
manager Gerry Flanagan can be very
proud of this young team who have
made outstanding progress in their
short existence as they move into
the unchartered waters of the forthcoming
Ulster Junior Club Championship as
very worthy representatives of Down.
