Goalden LLG girls overcome Raharney challenge

Lough Lene Gaels 2-6 Raharney 0-5

A brace of goals in the first half from forwards Sionainn McCormack and Aimee O’Neill propelled Lough Lene Gaels to the Westmeath Camogie U14 Division A Cup following a hard-fought and bruising contest against Raharney under the floodlights at Coralstown-Kinnegad GAA last Monday evening. The venue was at heaving point as both sides brought incredible support for the stand and beyond in what were cold and, at times, slippery conditions in Kinnegad.

The opening minutes were a series of individual battles on both sides as the sliotar seemed to stay in play for an eternity without a free or wide. Skye McCormack of the Gaels and Saoirse Connaughton of Raharney found themselves doing much of the defensive work early on. Anyone who got on the ball demonstrated an ability beyond their age – stickwork, hooking, blocking, to name a few. McCormack got the opening score from a 45 after Raharney goalkeeper Lily Tyrrell (with a performance to remember) pulled off one of her many saves in the sixth minute. Opposite number Aoibhinn Gaughan was a constant threat with her athleticism and power, and her free just before the tenth minute was a beautiful strike. Raharney took the lead when Holly Desmond fired over from a seemingly impossible angle, much to the appreciation of all in the crowd.

Both goals were being peppered with strikes for the net, but with Tyrrell unflappable at one end and Kiera Coplen, Clodagh Gallagher, and Hannah Burke standing firm at the other, it was going to take something special to break either side. And, in the seventeenth minute, that happened as O’Neill dodged tackles before driving to the roof of the net. Less than two minutes later, an incredible pass from the sideline by Caireann Molloy teed up McCormack, who made no mistake: 2-1 to 0-2 to the Gaels. The remainder of the half was scoreless as Ellen Carey-Weir and Clodagh Gallagher played their roles as full-backs to perfection, with several key interceptions.

O’Neill landed a monster point from out wide to begin the second half, with the sliotar striking the post and landing on the roof of the net. Niamh Briody replied at the other end for the Joristown outfit with a well-struck 45 after Arwen Briody in the Gaels’ goal had kept out her namesake’s original effort. With tails up, Raharney fought back, and Briody pointed again before Muireann Lawlor added another. 2-2 to 0-5 and a puck in it.

Unfortunately for Raharney, that would be their last score as Lough Lene Gaels dominated the scoring in the final twelve minutes. McCormack hit a free from near the sideline with deadly accuracy before then pointing another 45. The Poc Fada U16 champion made it three in as many minutes, spinning from the 21. There was still time for Alesha Kennedy to add one final point as she got the better of the outstanding 11-year-old Kayleigh Meyer to score. The Gaels, on balance, were deserved victors, but both sides played their parts in one of the most intense games of any season.

Scorers – Lough Lene Gaels – S McCormack 1-4 (1f, 2 45s), A O’Neill 1-1, A Kennedy 0-1.

Raharney – N Briody 0-2 (1 45), M Lawlor, A Gaughan (f), H Desmond 0-1 each.

Lough Lene Gaels: Arwen Briody; Kiera Coplen, Clodagh Gallagher, Hannah Burke; Sophie Bartley, Skye McCormack, Seana Williams; Aideen Kavanagh, Alesha Kennedy; Caireann Molloy, Amelia McCabe, Abbie Harte; Sarah Louise Murtagh, Sionainn McCormack, Aimee O’Neill. Panel: Cliodhna Fitzpatrick, Niamh Louise Ledwith Byrne, Emily Cogan, Asia Van Boxtell, Poppy Herbert.

Raharney: Lily Tyrrell; Saibhe Quinn, Ellen Carey-Weir, Annabelle Bray; Kayleigh Meyer, Saoirse Connaughton, Maria Pohmelnih; Taylor Enright, Muireann Lawlor; Jill McDonnell, Niamh Briody, Amelie O’Gorman; Doireann O’Grady, Aoibhinn Gaughan, Holly Desmond. Panel: Aoife Quinn, Ava Ayres, Alexa O’Brien, Hannah Dunne, Zoe Cogan.

Referee: Kevin Reihill (St Munna’s)