Munna’s come out on top in battle of the saints

St Munna's 2-9, St Brigid's 0-6

In a sweltering TEG Cusack Park on Sunday morning last, St Munna's claimed the honours in a very entertaining Division 2 final in front of a large and vociferous attendance.

This was a game that really came to life in the second half with Munna's taking the bull by the horns when the game was in the melting pot scoring 2-5 after the break and Brigid's, despite some excellent rear-guard action, simply could not put enough on the scoreboard to stop the Reds from adding to their All-Ireland B title of 2023. In the end Munna's won handsomely with a bit to spare as well and in truth were good value for it.

The first half was a very tight affair with scores at a premium and defences very much on top but the play ebbed and flowed from end to end. Sheila McGrath opened the scoring for Munna’s in the opening minute but 2 excellent points from Dawn Wallace had Brigid’s back ahead by the 5th minute. Munna’s drew level with a Sandra McGrath free but it would be 10 more minutes before she put Munna’s ahead with another placed ball on 19 minutes.

Amy Cully from a 45 drew Brigid’s back level but Munna’s still went in at the break leading when Sandra McGrath pointed another free and indeed the last six minutes of the half petered out painlessly and event-less as Munna’s led 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time

McGrath added another free on the resumption before a superb solo goal from Catriona Egan put clear daylight between the sides. St Brigid’s were not about to lie down though and a Cully free narrowed the gap but Munna’s had upped a gear at this stage and McGrath added another placed ball before Egan found Rebecca O’Neill with a defence splitting pass and the full forward caught and struck to the net for a wonderful goal that as good as decided the outcome.

Nicola Judge reduced the deficit with a superb solo point but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide and after McGrath added another placed ball, Alice Galvin was rewarded for an excellent performance with a well taken point as the game headed for its finale. Brigid’s thought they had a grandstand finish in line when they were awarded a penalty but Amy Cully saw her effort go over rather than under the bar and it was as good as a white flag as there was no coming back now.

McGrath added her seventh free to seal the win in added time and seconds later John Dermody blew the final whistle and she then accepted the League shield from Caroline Carton shortly afterward to the delight of the Munna’s faithful.

Scorers - St Munna's: Sandra McGrath 0-7 (all frees), Catriona Egan and Rebecca O’Neill 1-0 each, Alice Galvin and Sheila McGrath 0-1 each.

St Brigid's; Amy Cully 0-3 (2 frees; 1 45’), Dawn Wallace 0-2, Nicola Judge 0-1.

St Munna's: Shauna McGrath, Andrea Glynn, Fiona Glynn, Clara McHale, Annabel Hynes, Sandra Carey, Niamh Quinn, Catriona Egan, Alice Galvin, Sandra McGrath, Caitlín Aughey, Olivia Glynn, Kayla Smyth, Rebecca O’Neill, Sheila McGrath. Subs: Emma Lawlor for Aughey (13 mins).

St Brigid's: Emma Flood, Lisa Flanagan, Eleanor O’Connor, Marguerite O’Connor, Eimear Hanlon, Cliona Gallagher, Niamh Carey, Aoife Brady, Nicola Judge, Mary Deegan, Amy Cully, Karen McDermott. Subs: Elizabeth Carey for Hanlon (39 mins), Laoise Byrne for Judge and Jane McCormack for Marguerite O’Connor (52 mins).

Referee: John Dermody (Lough Lene Gaels).