Garrycastle withstand Mary’s comeback to claim ‘B’ title

Garrycastle withstood a spirited comeback from St Mary's, Rochfortbridge to win the Westmeath LGFA Senior 'B' Championship final in Moate last Sunday afternoon.

Aoife Dolan and Hazel Donegan scored two goals each for Garrycastle, who led by a whopping 18 points at half-time. But two green flags from Nicola Judge reignited the Rochfortbridge side's hopes when they were assisted by the stiff breeze in the second half. Ultimately, they left themselves with too much to do as Garrycastle claimed a deserved victory.

The strong wind at Hogan Park ordained that this was likely to be something of a game of two halves, and so it proved. Aided by the wind in the first half, Garrycastle led by 4-11 to 1-2 at the interval and normally such a lead would be regarded as unassailable. On this occasion, however, the Garrycastle camp surely expected to be put under pressure on the change of ends.

Both teams fielded a combination of rising young stars and experienced campaigners and the contest was entertaining, particularly when the excitement levels rose in the second period.

Despite playing into the teeth of the wind, St Mary's made a bright start with a point from Nicola Judge and a goal from Emma Collins either side of Garrycastle points from Roisin Murphy and Stephanie O'Neill (free). The St Mary's goal came when Jennifer Judge's shot came back off the upright and Collins finished the rebound to the net (seventh minute). Indeed, Greg Balfe's side was unlucky not to find the net sooner, with influential midfielder Caitriona Dunne firing a low shot across the goal.

However, the slick Garrycastle attack soon clicked into gear and after a point from team captain Sarah Dolan, Aoife Dolan netted two goals in quick succession. The first came after a neat exchange of passes involving Clodagh McCahey and Elaine McGovern. Dolan’s second was an ambitious effort which found the corner of the net, taking St Mary's goalie Jean Kelly by surprise.

McCahey was driving forward for Garrycastle from centre-back at every opportunity and she blasted a goal chance wide, in between two points from the threatening Aoife Dolan.

The impressive Hazel Donegan caused St Mary’s major problems in the first half and, as the Garrycastle onslaught continued, the 15-year-old attacker grabbed two goals. Donegan’s second (18th minute) punished a St Mary’s kickout that went awry. With the dynamic O’Neill adding a point, Garrycastle led 4-7 to 1-1 by the 18th minute.

A point by Elizabeth Carey gave the ‘Bridge ladies some brief respite, before McCahey, O’Neill (two frees, the second from a decent distance) and McGovern added to Garrycastle’s tally.

Jennifer Judge and McCahey exchanged points early in the second half, before Garrycastle struck for their fifth goal which proved vital in the end. McGovern set up the chance with an incisive run and O'Neill applied a clinical finish (44th minute).

Yet Garrycastle wouldn't score again until added time as St Mary's launched a stirring comeback. A point from Eva McQuaid (which could have been a goal) was followed by a quick-fire 1-1 from Nicola Judge, the goal a lobbed effort over Garrycastle keeper Cliodhna Murtagh following a kickout.

Colin Clyne's charges thought they had a sixth goal when Aoife Dolan finished a rebound to the net after McGovern's shot came off the crossbar. But it was disallowed for a square ball after referee Mick Gordon consulted with his umpires.

The ladies in green and red were dealt a blow on 46 minutes as Stephanie O'Neill was shown a yellow card and therefore sin-binned. With an extra player for ten minutes, St Mary's comeback mission was given renewed impetus.

Garrycastle were defending in big numbers but Nicola Judge, Collins and Carey (a fine score) still managed to clip over three points in the space of a couple of minutes. Better was to come when Nicola Judge pounced for virtually a carbon copy of her first goal (52nd minute).

Still down a player and under huge pressure on their own kickouts, Garrycastle needed strong defending from Aimee Duncan, while midfielder Treasa McGuire (a former Offaly and Tipperary player) was also aiding her defence.

Four more points followed from St Mary's, courtesy of substitute Sorcha Forde, Jennifer Judge (two frees) and Carey, with the Garrycastle camp relieved to side the latter's effort bounce over the bar. The Rochfortbridge ladies seemed to get the rub of the green with a couple of frees in the closing stages, but their spirited efforts to salvage the game fell short.

Garrycastle relieved the pressure in added time when a brilliant run by Hazel Donegan was finished off by Roisin Murphy for a point to put seven between them. Even two goals would not be enough for St Mary's at this late stage.

Afterwards, Garrycastle captain Sarah Dolan was presented with the trophy by Westmeath LGFA chairperson Geraldine Giles.

Scorers - Garrycastle: A Dolan 2-2; H Donegan 2-1; S O'Neill 1-4 (0-3f); R Murphy and C McCahey 0-2 each; S Dolan and E McGovern 0-1 each. St Mary's: N Judge 2-3 (0-1f); E Collins 1-1; E Carey and J Judge (3f) 0-3 each; E McQuaid and S Forde 0-1 each.

Garrycastle: Cliodhna Murtagh; Sarah Carter, Aimee Duncan, Ailish Mannion; Jessica Frawley, Clodagh McCahey, Kacey Mulvihill; Treasa McGuire, Stephanie O'Neill; Roisin Murphy, Tegan Foley, Elaine McGovern; Aoife Dolan, Hazel Donegan, Sarah Dolan (captain). Subs used: Donnahay Molloy for Mulvihill (h-t); Arlene Devery for McCahey (58 mins); Kaleigh Clyne and Amy McGovern for Carter and E McGovern.

St Mary's, Rochfortbridge: Jean Kelly; Karen Treacy, Emer Kelly, Lucy Brogan; Niamh Carey, Jennifer Whelehan, Eimear Hanlon; Caitriona Dunne, Emma Treacy; Eva McQuaid, Emma Collins, Jennifer Judge (captain); Elizabeth Carey, Nicola Judge, Caitlin Mangan. Subs used: Roisin Lyster for K Treacy (16 mins); Sorcha Forde for Mangan (h-t); Laura O'Sullivan for Hanlon (35); Sophie Collins for McQuaid (49).

Referee: Mick Gordon (Shandonagh).