St. Joseph"s overcome by Moyne CS team

St. Joseph"s, Rochfortbridge made a losing start in the Ladies Gaelic Football under-16 (Junior) North Leinster Colleges G.A.A. League at a cold, but sunny Kinnegad last Friday November 28th, when going under to a very capable and well organised Moyne C.S. team.The fact that Moyne C.S. were held up en-route from North Longford to this match because of a motoring accident on the N4 did not seem to have any effect on them.The visitors, who are based in North Longford not far from the border with counties Leitrim and Cavan, made major strides toward eventual victory in the first half of this contest.It was in that same first half of this contest. It was in that same first half that Moyne C.S. struck for four goals, putting themselves in a commanding position at half time. It has to be stated though that St. Joseph"s did not play badly in the first half. In fact they played quite well.But Moyne C.S. were sublime in everything they done in the first half, hence their commanding lead at half time.However, much to their credit, St. Joseph"s did not buckle, and were an improved team in the second half. The Rochfortbridge based school took the contest very much to Moyne C.S. in the second half. But Moyne C.S. kept up their concentration levels in the second half, maintaining their match lead right up to the final whistle to run out merited winners over a gallant St. Joseph"s team.Moyne C.S. made a flying start to this match, Karen Gill firing over a point with less than twenty seconds of play elapsed. Less than a minute of play had passed before Moyne C.S. doubled their lead, Karen Gill again firing over a point. The North Longford school then hit a wide before St. Joseph"s notched their opening score of the contest, Cliodhna Gallagher notching a point from a free.In the minutes of play that followed St. Joseph"s kept the Moyne C.S. defence on the backfoot but were unable to add to their score tally during the phase of play in question.After Moyne C.S. had doubled their total of wides, they doubled their lead with a point from Anne Heslin. Moments later, the North Longford school struck for their first goal, Michelle Farrell rifling the ball to the St. Joseph"s net from close range. Moyne C.S. then had a wide from Karen Gill, the same player going on to make amends shortly afterwards, driving the ball low to the St. Joseph"s net from close range. The opportunity to score that goal had come about after Louise Mollaghan had played the ball into the St. Joseph"s goalmouth.St. Joseph"s then set in motion a very good attacking move, Cliodhna Gallagher laying off a superb well timed pass to Niamh McDermott. The superbly struck low and netbound parting shot from the St. Joseph"s number eleven brought a great save from the Moyne C.S. number one Amy Faughnan who managed to divert the ball away. In the follow up action that followed the Moyne C.S. defence cleared away the ball. From that particular clearance the ball came to the St. Joseph"s number fourteen Leanne Quinn. However, she was unlucky with her point scoring attempt, the ball going just wide of the Moyne C.S. uprights.The next score of the contest went to Moyne C.S. who increased their lead with a fine point from Niamh Halton. St. Joseph"s then attacked and finished a very good attacking move with a point from Lisa Darby. Moyne C.S. though were determined not to relent their strong grip on the contest, Michelle Farrell kicking over two points in quick succession. Aine Heslin then fired wide for Moyne C.S. who did however add further to their lead with a point from Louise Mollaghan.St. Joseph"s then placed the Moyne C.S. under pressure winning a free within scoring range of the Moyne C.S. uprights. However, Leanne Quinn was unlucky with her attempts to score a point from the said free, the ball drifting wide of the Moyne C.S. uprights. To compound matters for St. Joseph"s they immediately conceded a third goal to Moyne C.S., Doireannn Mimnagh sending the ball to the St. Joseph"s net, via a dipping angled shot. A point was then added to the Moyne C.S. total by Karen Gill before her team finished first half scoring when Michelle Farrell sent the ball all the way to the St. Joseph"s net from a 30m free. Half time score: Moyne Community School 4-8 St. Joseph"s, Rochfortbridge 0-2.It was a case of upwards and upwards for St. Joseph"s from the beginning of the second half and until the final whistle if they were to do themselves any justice in this fixture. The Westmeath school did open second half scoring, Lisa Darby hitting over a point from a free. But Moyne C.S. were quick to reply in terms of the match scoreline, the impressive Karen Gill kicking over a point. The Longford school then added to their wides total before their defence came under a sustained spell of pressure from a St. Joseph"s team that needed a run of scores very quickly if they were to come back into contention.However, despite great efforts by St. Joseph"s to obtain scores during the phase of play in question, they were in main thwarted by good defending by Moyne C.S. The only reward, in terms of scores for St. Joseph"s in the said period of play was a point from Megan Brick. The pointscorer had availed of the opportunity thanks to a good pass from Lisa Darby. The North Longford school then quickly moved into attack, subsequently adding to their already impressive score tally with a Aideen Gregg point.Michelle Farrell and Karen Gill then each kicked a wide for Moyne C.S. who did however continue to look menacing in attack. St. Joseph"s then had a point from Lisa Darby before notching a goal which their efforts merited, Leanne Quinn sending the ball all the way to the Moyne C.S. net with a lobbing shot. St. Joseph"s then hit two wides in quick succession as they kept the Moyne C.S. defence under pressure. Moyne C.S. then pressed in attack yet again, increasing their lead with a point, Karen Gill the pointscorer.Moyne C.S. continued to look for further scores as the contest drew towards a close. Michelle Farrell and Karen Gill played a couple of passing one-two"s in attack which the latter finished by kicking over a point. Shaunagh Fitzpatrick then fired wide for Moyne C.S. before St. Joseph"s had a point from Lisa Darby, who availed of a good pass from Drew Doyle in the lead up to that particular score. Match action finished with Karen Gill shooting wide for Moyne C.S. Final score: Moyne Community School 4-12 St. Joseph"s, Rochfortbridge 1-6.St. Joseph"s, Rochfortbridge: Joanne Fox, Niamh Moran, Shannon Russell, Ciara Brannock, Rachel Hannon, Aoife Brady, Rachel Cully, Megan Brick 0-1, Lisa Darby 0-4, Aisling Mulready, Niamh McDermott, Frances Fallon, Cliodhna Gallagher 0-1 (free), Leanne Quinn 1-0 (free) and Drew Doyle. Substitutes used: Niamh O"Reilly and Eimear Tracey.Moyne Community School: Amy Faughnan, Jessica Healy, Grace Flynn, Niamh McEntee, Aine O"Reilly, Leah Donnelly, Linda Duffy, Louise Mollaghan 0-1, Michelle Heslin, Niamh Halton 0-1, Doireann Mimnagh 1-0, Aine Heslin 0-1, Aideen Gregg 0-1, Michelle Farrell 2-2 (1-0 free) and Karen Gill 1-6. Substitutes used: Shaunagh Fitzpatrick and Niamh Cooke.Referee: Jimmy Weldon.