ALLIANZ / INTO RACKARD LEAGUE MINI SEVENS FINALS
(Submitted by Seamus Kavanagh, Rackard League PRO)
CAMOGIE
MONAGEER 1-1 CURRACLOE 0-0
A powerful Monageer team had too much for a tenacious Curracloe outfit in the first of the evenings finals at a blustery St. Patrick’s Park on Monday last. Despite the low scoring ,this was a gripping encounter and both teams strove hard to claim the title.
Curracloe had the advantage of a strong wind in the first half and made a bright start applying early pressure on the Monageer rearguard. A feature of their play was crisp ground striking. However, the Monageer backs were equal to the challenge with Katie Fenlon and Katie Breen clearing the danger again and again. On Monageer’s first attack Aoife Kehoe brought the best out of Ailis Neville in the Curracloe goal but it was a sign of what was to come . On five minutes Aoife Kehoe gathered the ball ,made good ground before cracking home a fine goal off her right to send the Enniscorthy District girls into the lead. Jessica Harding, who worked tirelessly throughout, tested the Monageer keeper Gráinne McCabe who produced a fine double save to keep Curracloe at bay. Both defences were well on top and space and scoring opportunities were at a premium. The half time score remained 1-0 to 0-0 in favour of Monageer.
On the resumption Curracloe again drove hard at the Monageer defence led by Sarah Harding –Kenny and Siobhán Doolan but with the skillful Emma O’Dowd becoming increasingly prominent, they were continually frustrated. A feature of the second half was the long striking of the Monageer girls and these relieving clearances increased the pressure on the Curracloe defence. Both teams were totally committed and this was epitomised by Mikeala Lanigan who was injured trying to flick the ball to the Monageer net. However, it was to be Monageer’s day and an Emma O’Dowd point on the run off her left sealed a famous win.
Afterwards a delighted Katie Fenlon received the Allianz/INTO Cup from Rackard League secretary Jim Dempsey.
Monageer: Gráinne McCabe, Katie Fenlon, Katie Breen, Emma O’Dowd, Sarah Figgis, Ailbhe Nolan, Charlotte Bruce, Chloe Rooney.
Curracloe: Ailis Neville, Jessica Harding, Larah Campbell, Jennifer Murphy, Siobhán Doolan, Mikeala Lanigan,Jean Dwyer, Tara Da Silva.
Girls Football
Rathangan 3-3 Bree 1-5
Three goals from the fleet footed Katie Hannigan was the inspiration that saw Rathangan claim the Allianz/INTO Cup in the second of the finals at St.Patrick’s Park. This was a fantastic game full of pace, skill and committed play from both sides and was a real advertisement for the game.
Rathangan played with the advantage of a gusting wind in the first half and quickly settled to the task. The Rathangan full forward line of Katie Hannigan and Caroline Kavanagh had a terrific understanding and combined brilliantly throughout. After two minutes Caroline Kavanagh threaded through an inch perfect pass and Katie Hannigan dispatched the ball to the net. Bree had a skilful forward division also and Louise Butler went close early on. Caroline Kavanagh and Clara Rochford added a brace of fine points before Hannigan struck again stealing in to finish from the edge of the square. Bree to their credit rallied and produced some wonderful football . Casey Doyle, who worked hard throughout, forced a brilliant save from Rachel Bennett. Louise Butler then had the misfortune to see her thunderbolt shot crack off the crossbar and away to safety. Katie Hannigan clipped over a neat minor before Rachel Bennett was again called on to make a stunning save tipping over a Casey Doyle piledriver to register Bree’s first score making it 2-3 to 0-1 at half time.
The second half was again end to end and Casey Doyle added to her account squeezing over a point from the tightest of angles. However the Kavanagh/Hannigan axis again struck with Katie bagging her third major. Bree responded immediately and it was well deserved with Casey Doyle getting the slightest of touches to find the net from close range. This score inspired Bree and they rallied again and reeled off three points in quick succession from Sophie McCabe and a brace from Louise Butler to narrow the to four. However time ran out and Rathangan held on for a trilling victory.
Rathangan: Rachel Bennett, Victoria Jackson, Rachel Dalton, Clara Rochford, Chloe Roche, Katie Hannigan, Caroline Kavanagh, Ruth Rochford, Cora Keary, Ciara Cole.
Bree: Shannon Carr, Aoife Cloke Rochford, Moya Neary, Niamh Sinnott, Sophie McCabe, Louise Butler, Casey Doyle, Aoife Codd, Carrie Power, Sinead Kinsella.
Hurling
PIERCESTOWN 0-5 GOREY CBS 0-2
Piercestown overcame their great rivals Gorey in a tense encounter in the third of the Allianz Finals. It was very unfortunate that the weather broke for this final making it extremely difficult for the players as the wind and rain howled around them. In fairness to both teams they still produced some fine hurling and were totally committed in their play.
Piercestown played with the wind in the first half but such were the conditions they took time to settle. A feature of the first half was the fine stickwork and handling of Gorey keeper Jack Cullen. However, as the half progressed, Piercestown became more dominant and this was rewarded on six minutes with a fine point from the right wing from Eoin O’Leary. Despite the increasing pressure, Gorey’s defence remained strong and were well marshalled by Eoin Molloy. Michael Codd extended Piercestown’s lead with a fine pointed free but this was quickly cancelled out by a Tiernan Doyle free to leave the scores 0-2 to 0-1 at half time.
The wintery conditions continued for the second half but Gorey’s Eddie O’Brien Murphy made light of this with a fine point on the run to tie the sides. The exchanges were very tight at this stage with both teams displaying their skills of hooking , blocking and pressurising the ball carrier. Michael Codd landed a good free against the wind to edge Piercestown back into the lead. Gorey piled on the pressure but they couldn’t get past a stubborn Piercestown defence anchored by goalie Stephen Doyle. Piercestown raised the siege and broke upfield and a further brace of pointed frees from ace marksman Michael Codd sealed a determined victory.
A delighted Stephen Doyle accepted the Allianz/INTO Cup from Jim Dempsey of the Rackard League.
Piercestown: Stephen Doyle, Ciarán Dunne, Eoin O’Leary, Philip Walsh, Philip Dempsey, Jack Devereux, David Corcoran, Michael Codd, Adam Cantwell,Ben Stafford.
Gorey CBS: Jack Cullen, Ben O’Connor, Eoin Molloy, Maurice Cousins, Tiernan Doyle, Eddie O’Brien Murphy, Charlie McGuckian, Michael Molloy, Calleum Travers, Evan O’Dwyer.
Boys Football
Ballyhack/Duncannon 2-3 St.Aidan’s Enniscorthy 1-3
Ballyhack/Duncannon edged out a gallant St.Aidan’s team in this epic Allianz Final. The blustery wintery conditions of the hurling final cleared and the teams responded producing a game of high quality and intelligent play.
St. Aidan’s opened the scoring with a fine Jack Doyle point . It was end to end stuff throughout with barely a kick of the ball between the sides at any stage. Edward Wall had to be at his best to prevent the lively Dylan McVeigh from goaling early on. Evan Dwyer opened Duncannon’s account with a neat point before Wall had to produce another top notch save to deny McVeigh again. St.Aidan’s captain Cian Larkin fired over a long range effort to put them back into the lead. This spurred Ballyhack into action and they dominated the final minutes of the half. Jamie Myler, who impressed throughout, ran onto a fine Daragh Lyons pass and goaled from close range. Myler was again to the fore in their next attack but he saw his shot canon off the post to safety to leave the score at 1-1 to 0-2 for the Ross District boys.
Duncannon extended their lead with a towering effort from the right boot of Daragh Lyons. Again the skill and commitment of both teams was admirable as the pace of the game increased again. Ballyhack struck again as Morgan White ran onto the breaking ball and coolly slotted the ball to the net to give them a six point lead. Aaron Dobbs, who worked tirelessly throughout, blasted over to narrow the lead but he made no mistake moments later when his piledriver hit the net to leave two in it with minutes remaining. However Duncannon had the final say as the powerful Andrew Walsh broke upfield and fired over a superb point which sealed a first ever Allianz title for the boys from Ballyhack/Duncannon.
Afterwards a thrilled Daragh Lyons accepted the Allianz/INTO Cup from Jim Dempsey.
Duncannon/Ballyhack: Edward Wall, Cuan Burke, Andrew Walshe, Jamie Myler, Darragh Lyons, Morgan White, Shane Walshe, Devin Wall Walshe, Evan Dwyer, Rory Cooke.
St.Aidan’s: Ciarán Shiel, Cian Larkin, Jack Doyle, Aaron Dobbs, Sam Murphy, Dylan McVeigh, Diarmuid Doyle, Nathan O’Connor, Evan O’Leary, Martin Ryan.
Ref Ger Reilly