Murray’s goal decisive in hard-earned win for Coralstown/Kinnegad

Coralstown/Kinnegad 1-6 Loughnavalley 1-5

It was a case of third time lucky for the intermediate lady footballers from Coralstown/Kinnegad in TEG Cusack Park last Saturday afternoon when they put consecutive final losses behind them to edge past first-time finalists Loughnavalley in a decider which never reached any great heights.

The girls in red had only two scorers on the day and registered just two points from play throughout. However, a soft goal from Therese Murray less than six minutes into the second half was the catalyst for a hard-earned win against a gallant ‘Valley side who were left to rue some missed opportunities when wind-assisted in the first moiety.

Loughnavalley showed no signs of big match nerves by racing into a two-point lead in the opening threes minutes courtesy of Eabha Cassidy (a great score when picked out by Pip Ruane) and Ashley Ruane (after she had produced a great piece of fielding from the resultant kick-out). Therese Murray was wide from a brace of frees for the winners – one from either side of the target – before Caoimhe Clarke MacMahon increased the lead for the girls in white, green and gold at the end of a delightful move in the tenth minute.

Kiara Giles had by now taken over free-taking duties for Coralstown/Kinnegad and she opened her side’s account from a placed ball with exactly 15 minutes elapsed. A minute later, Clarke MacMahon doubled her account when a goal beckoned – Ashley Ruane’s direct play was again instrumental in setting up the chance. Murray kicked a fine point from play at the other end, moments after a harsh free was awarded against Loughnavalley by the inconsistent referee. The gap was soon down to the bare minimum via a Giles free.

In the 26th minute, Ashley Ruane saw her shot rebound off the crossbar, but Lilly Quinn’s follow-up effort was weak. Wides ensued at both ends, ahead of a strange ending to the first half when Cassidy opted to pass the ball from what looked like a routine free near the winners’ goalmouth. Momentary confusion followed before the half-time whistle sounded with Loughnavalley ahead by 0-4 to 0-3.

Pip Ruane doubled the losers’ lead in great style less than five minutes after play resumed, but a game-turning – and fortuitous – goal followed quickly at the other end when Murray’s shot squirmed into the net to put Coralstown/Kinnegad into a lead they would never relinquish. Another successful Giles free had her side ahead by 1-4 to 0-5 at the end of the third quarter.

A large element of pulling and dragging had by now crept into the contest – much of it unpunished – as Coralstown/Kinnegad began to defend in large numbers. Accordingly, scores were at a premium but when one did arrive it was a thing of beauty, Giles dissecting the posts with aplomb in the 56th minute. The same player tagged on a point from a free some two minutes later.

Rebecca Monaghan was then yellow-carded – there could easily have been other entrants into the sin-bin earlier in the match. Loughnavalley were now forced to go all-out in search of a goal. Remarkably, they achieved this ambition in the second minute of added-time when Ashley Ruane’s piledriver from a 14-metre free in front of the target flew into the roof of the net. However, time had run out on the ‘Valley ladies and it was delight all round for Coralstown/Kinnegad players, mentors and supporters when the final whistle sounded.

After the match, Geraldine Giles, chairperson of the Westmeath Ladies Board, presented the cup to Shannon Lyons, and the official player of the match statuette to her colleague Tori Coyne.

Scorers – Coralstown/Kinnegad: K Giles 0-5 (4f), T Murray 1-1.

Loughnavalley: A Ruane 1-1 (1-0f), C Clarke MacMahon 0-2, P Ruane, E Cassidy 0-1 each.

Coralstown/Kinnegad: Emma Kiernan; Áine Brannock, Amie Giles, Maeve Walsh; Laura Lyons, Tori Coyne, Aileen Murtagh; Marie Cooney, Shannon Lyons; Sarah O’Sullivan, Mia McDonald, Emer Fogarty; Claire Taaffe, Therese Murray, Kiara Giles. Subs used: Lucy Cassidy for Cooney (50), Ella Cooney for McDonald (60).

Loughnavalley: Amy Donlon; Róisín Curneen, Ciara Gately, Emily McCabe; Becca Ruane, Maisie Currams, Rebecca Monaghan; Niamh Mullarkey, Adele Geoghegan; Ashley Ruane, Morgan Corcoran, Pip Ruane; Eabha Cassidy, Lilly Quinn, Caoimhe Clarke MacMahon. Subs used: Shannon Dalton for Cassidy (50), Eleanor Murphy for Quinn (57), Avril Corbett for Curneen (60), Leah Geoghegan for Clarke MacMahon (60+5), Ellen Daly for B Ruane (inj., 60+6).

Ref: Paul McCaughey (Milltown).