Kearney and co rule the roost

St Joseph’s got their Leinster ladies’ club JFC championship campaign off to a flying start with a comprehensive 6-18 to 0-1 victory over Wicklow’s Coolkenno in Shillelagh on Saturday afternoon.

Managed by Anselm Conlon and Brendan Nannery, St Joseph's came into this game after a three-week break from their county final, while Coolkenno were coming off a tough decider with Kilcoole only seven days before.

St Joseph’s are now preparing to face Naomh Fionnbarra of Louth in their Leinster quarter-final on Saturday, October 22 in Ballymore (2pm).

The Westmeath side stated their intent from the start against Coolkenno by winning the throw-in and sending in a great ball to Síle Kearney, who sent a sweet strike over the bar for the first score of the game.

The visitors continued to push up on Lisa Doyle’s kick-outs and picked up two more points in the second and third minutes, from centre-forward Caoilinn Elliffe and the other wing forward Lauryn McDonnell.

The Coolkenno defence were starting to regain control after this whirlwind start from the visitors, led by Lorraine Tompkins who made a great block on Síle Kearney, putting the ball out for a ’45’ with the resultant kick going wide.

Unfortunately for the home side, St Joseph’s then struck their first hammer blow with a very well-taken goal by Elliffe, who was proving to be a real thorn in the side for Coolkenno.

This was followed up by two more points, from midfielder Karen Keegan and Lauryn McDonnell, in the fifth and sixth minutes.

The move of the half followed, starting with another Coolkenno attack in the 12th minute that resulted in the ball dropping short into goalie Áine Maxwell’s hands. She gave a great pass outfield and after two more passes, midfielder Aoife Keegan got off the mark with a great point.

A fine fisted point followed a minute later by Síle Kearney to leave it 1-7 to no score at the first quarter mark.

St Joseph’s were dominating everywhere, with their half-back line coming forward at every opportunity, a trend demonstrated well by wing back and county minor Joyce Conway who made a brilliant overhead catch, starting another attack which resulted in Síle Kearney slotting another great point.

Another wide for Coolkenno by Ruby Keogh was followed by a Keegan point as she dominated in midfield.

In the 24th minute we got an example of how nothing could go right on the day for Coolkenno when Áine Donoghue bravely won a ball in her defence. She passed up field to the hard-working Eimear Murphy, who worked a one-two with Rebecca Bowes with the move unfortunately breaking down in the full-forward line and being cleared by Joyce Conway. Two passes later, Síle Kearney popped over for her fourth point of the day.

Things got worse for the home side in the 28th minute when a high ball wasn’t dealt with by the full-back line and the ball squirted out to a thankful Kearney who slotted to the net.

Another point followed for St Joseph’s a minute later, and then another killer blow when Kearney this time turned provider with a well-placed ball to the onrushing Caoilinn Elliffe, who buried the ball in the net.

Two further points by Robbins, one from McDonnell and a cracking goal by Karen Keegan finished out the half to leave it 4-14 to no score at the break.

While this game was over as a contest for Coolkenno, they were still playing for pride and as they have shown in the past, they have that attribute in spades.

With the rain falling again, Coolkenno started with purpose, winning the throw-in and sending in a high ball on top of goalie Áine Maxwell who made her only mistake of the day dropping the ball but quickly regained her composure gathering the ball off the ground. She cleared it up the field, resulting in another point for county U16 player Sile Kearney.

Six minutes into the second half, St Joseph’s substitute Ciara Daly, another county U16 player, finished to the net after great work out the field.

Erika Dagge finally got the Coolkenno ladies off the mark with a point after a great pass in by Ruby Keogh to leave it 5-15 to 0-1.

Points from Niamh Kearney and substitutes Emer Killian and Molly Russell followed, and another goal from Robbins with a sweet strike off her left emphasised the superiority of the St Joseph’s outfit, as they ran out convincing winners and progress to face Louth’s St Finbars in the quarter-finals.

Player of the match: Síle Kearney (St Joseph’s).

St Joseph’s: Áine Maxwell; Cliona McCormack, Orla Robbins, Eleanor Conway; Joyce Conway, Róisín Killian, Kayla McDonnell; Karen Keegan (1-0), Aoife Keegan (0-1); Lauryn McDonnell (0-2), Caoilinn Elliffe (2-1), Claire Conlon (0-1); Síle Kearney (1-8), Sinead Robbins (1-2), Niamh Kearney. Subs: Keelin Robbins for C Elliffe (h-t), Emer Killian for C McCormack (h-t), Ciara Daly (1-1) for A Keegan (h-t), Molly Russell (0-1) for E Conway (53), Sarah McCormack (0-1) for S Kearney (53).

Coolkenno: Lisa Doyle; Niamh Harris, Carol Tompkins, Lorraine Tompkins; Áine Donoghue, Emma Nolan, Amey Bermingham; Ciara Tompkins, Anna Doyle; Eimear Murphy, Erica Dagge (0-1), Elaine Keogh; Rebecca Bowes, Ruby Keogh, Katie O’Neill. Subs: Róisín Dolan for C Tompkins (h-t), Margaret Byrne for K O’Neill (h-t), Emily McCarthy for E Keogh (50).

Ref: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).