Meares, Mallon combine as Ballymore heroines
Scoil Eoin Naofa B'more 7-3 Kilcleagh NS C'daly 4-3
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Scoil Eoin Naofa, Ballymore, winners of the girls football Div 4 title.Image 2 of 5
Castledaly, finalists in the girls football team Div 4 competition.Image 3 of 5
Castledaly’s Grace Pillion gets the ball away as Ballymore’s Emily Ennis Lennon arrives to challenge. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 4 of 5
Amy Kearney, Scoil Eoin Naofa, plays a pass before Emily Galvin, Kilcleagh NS, can challenge. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 5 of 5
Amy Kearney, Alice Ryan and Aoife Meares, captains of Scoil Eoin Naofa, raise the cup following victory in the girls football Div 4 final.Eliza Mallon and Aoife Meares both scored hat-tricks as Scoil Eoin Naofa, Ballymore claimed the Division 4 girls football title with victory over Kilcleagh NS, Castledaly, on day three of the Cumann na mBunscol finals at TEG Cusack Park on Wednesday.
The action was helter skelter in nature in this seven-a-side joust. A goal from Eliza Mallon gave Scoil Eoin Naofa the ideal start after two minutes; while Sophie Duffy got a point back for Castledaly, Alice Ryan’s high shot went between the uprights and Mallon struck for her second major on eight minutes. Persistence paid off for Kilcleagh NS when Georgia Donlon found the net from close range.
Alice Ryan finished with the left boot for a Ballymore goal and they then got a fourth major when Aoife Meares applied the telling finish after the ball came down off the upright. Georgia Donlon’s powerful free found the net at the other end, though, and at the break, six points separated the sides (4-1 to 2-1).
The Ballymore girls went further ahead when Aoife Meares pointed two minutes after the interval, but Georgia Donlon replied with a pointed free. Two quickfire goals at either end made for exciting viewing: Mallon had a left-footed finish for Ballymore but in a flash the ball was worked forward from the kickout for Aoibheann Quinn to race clear and find the net. Crucially, Aoife Meares got clear to boot home her side’s sixth major and that effectively ended the chances of a turnaround. Meares then beat the opposing goalie to the ball and showed composure to finish low to the net.
Aoibhinn Quinn was perfectly positioned to score Castledaly’s fourth goal when Grace Pillion’s shot came off the crossbar with three minutes remaining. The same player added a point, but it was Scoil Eoin Naofa who had the final say courtesy of Aoife Meares’ deft finish, as she shot over having momentarily lost possession of the ball.
The presentation was made by Derek Butler, chairman of Cumann na mBunscol Iarmhí, to Alice Ryan, Amy Kearney and Aoife Meares.
Scorers - Scoil Eoin Naofa: E Mallon 3-0, A Meares 3-2, A Ryan 1-1. Kilcreagh NS: G Donlon (1-1f) and A Quinn (0-1f) 2-1 each, S Duffy 0-1.
Scoil Eoin Naofa: Amelia Hannon, Emma Healy, Emily Ennis Lennon, Amy Kearney, Alice Ryan, Eliza Mallon, Aoife Meares, Moya McHugh, Ella McKnight, Elena Scott, Aoibheann Young, Emily Kelly, Jade Molloy Heffernan, Aoibhínn Blighe, Chloe Scott, Ruby Molloy Heffernan, Amber Ledwith, Sinéad Molloy, Aoife Naughton, Abbey Penrose, Kaya Cunniffe, Emily Gill, Margaret Slevin, Aoibheann Healy.
Kilcleagh NS: Rachel Pillion, Emily Galvin, Georgia Donlon, Aoibheann Quinn, Anna McCormack, Grace Pillion, Sophie Duffy, Florence Casey, Áine Dullea, Caoilfhionn Fallon, Sophie Greally, Aoibhe Barry, Mary Casey, Kate Henson, Niamh Henson, Muireann Kenneally, Sheenagh Lawlor, Gwen Brady, Ava Doyle, Anna Duffy, Avril Fox, Cara Keogh, Saoirse Larkin, Emer Murray.
Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).