Goals drive Kinnegad ladies to fine victory over Athlone

Coralstown/Kinnegad 2-13, Athlone 0-8

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Goals proved decisive as Coralstown/Kinnegad continued their winning ways with an impressive victory over Athlone at Páirc Chiaráin last Friday evening.

Coralstown/Kinnegad set the tone in the first half with a goal from Kiara Giles, while a second green flag from the excellent Therese Murray helped them to see off the hosts.

Athlone, junior champions last year, defeated Caulry in their opening championship game. But having lost to Loughnavalley in their previous outing, this clash against the 2023 intermediate finalists promised to be another tough assignment and so it proved.

Coralstown/Kinnegad's win, their second in succession, puts them very much in the hunt for the intermediate title. It was far too easy for them in the third quarter when they did most damage on the scoreboard.

They laid the platform against the breeze in the first half. A goal by Giles set the tone and Mia McDonald, Emer Fogarty, Sarah O’Sullivan (with a brace) and Murray all added points. Claire Taaffe and Shannon Lyons kicked scores before the break to extend their lead.

Credit to Athlone, though, they never gave up at any stage of the game, despite conceding those killer blow goals in each half. They battled to the end and substitutes like Keeva Reid and Ellen O’Connell seemed to strengthen them in the last quarter.

Yet the momentum of the game never really changed shifted in Athlone's direction. Besides an Athlone rally towards the end when it was too late, Coralstown/Kinnegad always held the momentum. They finished each half as they started and always had the edge in proceedings.

Athlone were very much in the game in the first half. Brionna Geoghegan contributed three points, while Ava Martin and Ciara Murphy also kicked good scores. The game was quite even, until Giles struck for her goal and that was decisive. That goal gave Coralstown/Kinnegad a platform to work off and they would have the wind at their backs for the second half.

Athlone didn’t use the wind to their advantage in the first half. Conceding that goal, scored by Giles, and not making the best use of the elements were both crucial factors in the game. At half-time, it was Coralstown/Kinnegad 1-7 Athlone 0-6.

After the turnaround, Coralstown/Kinnegad took over and a goal by Therese Murray was critical and it knocked the energy out of Athlone. Further scores from Murray, Taaffe and O’Sullivan had the Kinnegad based side 2-11 to 0-8 by the 50th minute.

Athlone’s two scores in the second half were kicked by Leah Nugent and Gemma Mannion.

The Shannonsiders did bombard the C/K goalmouth in the last ten minutes but they became erratic with their shooting and kicked a number of wides, from both play and frees.

They could have cut the arrears going into added time but it wasn’t to be for them.

Luck was not on their side and they lost Brionna Geoghegan, who had an excellent game, to injury late on. Geoghegan’s bravery in going for a loose ball is also worth nothing, sustaining an injury in the process, and there was a free given against the Athlone player. It was a sign that things just weren't running for Athlone on the night.

In between Athlone’s numerous wides, Coralstown/Kinnegad were able to raid down the other end and late scores from O’Sullivan, Tori Coyne – who was very much involved from centre half-back - and again Murray (from a free) ended the scoring before the final whistle was sounded.

Scorers – Coralstown/Kinnegad: T Murray 1-3 (0-2f), S O’Sullivan 0-4, K Giles 1-0, M McDonald and C Taaffe 0-2 each, S Lyons and E Fogarty 0-1 each. Athlone: B Geoghegan 0-3, L Nugent 0-2, C Murphy, A Martin and G Mannion 0-1 each.

Coralstown/Kinnegad: Emma Kiernan, Aine Brannock, Donna Kiernan, Maeve Walsh, Laura Lyons, Tori Coyne, Aileen Murtagh, Shannon Lyons, Sarah O’Sullivan, Claire Taaffe, Mia McDonald, Emer Fogarty, Theresa Walsh, Therese Murray, Kiara Giles. Subs used: Lucy Cassidy for T Walsh (48), Niamh Farrell for Lyons (54), Eva Gullane for Fogarty (54).

Athlone: Aoife Temple, Jilly Begley, Kate Henshaw, Anna Redmond, Alannah Reynolds Duignan, Eimear O’Rourke, Eimear Galvin, Tara Khan, Kasey O’Neill, Leah Nugent, Brionna Geoghegan, Gemma Mannion, Ava Martin, Niamh Byrne, Ciara Murphy. Subs used: Keeva Reid for O’Neill (half-time), Ellen O’Connell for Murphy (h-t), Lucy Allen for Nugent (47), Aine Martin for Mannion (56), Eva Gregg for Geoghegan (injured, 55).

Referee: John Gallagher.