FCJ Win Local Derby
By Peadar O’Connor
FCJ Bunclody and Presentation School Wexford met last Friday in a rain and wind swept Ballymurn to see who would progress to the Leinster Senior C championship final and it was the girls from the foot of the Blackstairs who won through on a score line of 6-14 to 5-11 in an exhilarating game of football. This was a right ding dong battle where forwards were generally on top and this led to a very high scoring game in tough conditions.
FCJ had first use of the elements but it was Rebecca Foley from the Pres who kicked the first point, though Claire O’Rourke soon replied with a similar score. Niamh Butler then converted a free for the Pres before the FCJ girls went ahead with a goal and point from Hayley Nolan, soon followed with two points from Michaela Gethings Farrell and another from Catherine Kelly. The Presentation hit back with three points, two from Rebecca Foley and the third from Cliodhna Flynn from a narrow angle as they strived to take control but they had a set back when FCJ broke up field and Clonee’s Claire O’Rourke goaled. This was soon followed by a Sophie Lenehan point before the Pres finished with a flourish with points from the influential Niamh Butler and two from Sarah Berry to leave the score at the break 2-6 to 0-8.
The Pres now had use of the elements and in the first two minutes of the new half they blitzed FCJ with three goals and a point. The first goal was scored by Rebecca Foley after thirty seconds and followed immediately with a Geraldine Doolan point. Two goals in the next minute from Crossabeg’s Rianna Cullen then put them six points up and it looked like the north county girls were in trouble, but to be fair to them they regrouped and a second goal from Claire O’Rourke and points from Katie Byrne and Katherine Kelly revitalised them. The Pres responded with a Rebecca Foley point and then Geraldine Doolan goaled and their was only seven minutes gone in the half. From here on though FCJ took a stranglehold of the game and with Michaela Gethings Farrell putting the shackles on Niamh Butler they slowly but surely took control. Points from Katie Byrne, Róisín Kelly and Claire O’Rourke (2) and a goal from Sophie Lenehan put them two points up only for half time substitute Ailish Sinnott to pull one back a few minutes later for the Wexford town girls. A further three goals in a couple of minutes kept everyone guessing as both sides tried to put the other away, Niamh Butler’s goal was sandwiched between goals from Katherine Kelly and Claire O’Rourke’s to put FCJ four points ahead, and two further points from FCJ’s Katie Byrne finished the scoring to this pulsating game.
FCJ Bunclody: Sinéad Ryan, Catherine O’Mahoney, Gillian Kavanagh, Orlaith Hickey, Charlene Hayden, Rachel Kelly, Gemma Gainford, Catherine Kelly 1-2, Róisín Fitzgerald, Hayley Nolan 1-1, Róisín Kelly 0-1, Michaela Gethings Farrell 0-2, Katie Byrne 0-4, Claire O’Rourke 3-3, Sophie Lenehan 1-1. Subs: Aoife Gorman for O’Mahoney, Nicola Kinsella, Emma Kidd, Katie Nolan, Fiona Ryan, Lisa Bolger, Caoimhe Redmond, Aisling O’Rourke, Orla Murphy, Michaela McDonald
Presentation Wexford: Sara Byrne, Shauna Hogan, Trudy Downey, Zi O’Neill, Eadaoin Fitzgerald, Chloe Thomas, Jessie Doyle, Leanne Brennan, Geraldine Doolan 1-1, Niamh Butler 1-2, Rebecca Foley 1-4, Sadhbh Dearle, Cliodhna Flynn 0-1, Rianna Cullen 2-0, Sarah Berry 0-2. Subs: Kasey Maher for Thomas, Ailish Sinnott 0-1 for Downey, Hayley Roche, Katherine O’Rourke, Katie Banville, Amy Doyle, Niamh Berry, Mary Ann Sheehan, Becca Lynch.
Referee: Sean Whelan St Martins
