Tyrrellspass girls survive as Shamrocks’ recovery fails
Tyrrellspass 3-2, Mullingar Shamrocks 1-7
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Tyrrellspass captain Kate Mohan raises the cup following her side’s win in the Division 3 minor football final on Sunday.Image 2 of 10
Paula Finan, Westmeath LGFA secretary, presents the cup to Tyrrellspass captain Kate Mohan, following Sunday’s Div 3 minor football final in Rochfortbridge.Image 3 of 10
Tyrrellspass’ Ella O’Donnell tries to get away from Caoimhe Farrell of Mullingar Shamrocks, in the Division 3 ladies football final on Sunday. Pics J McCauley. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 4 of 10
Tyrrellspass’ Mollie Daly attempts to make a challenge as Alexa Gavigan, Mullingar Shamrocks, solos clear. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 5 of 10
Katie Hogg of Tyrrellspass and Zara Corroon, Mullingar Shamrocks, in a race for the ball. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 6 of 10
Zara Corroon and Eabha Moran, Mullingar Shamrocks, get to the ball ahead of Ellie Scott, Tyrrellspass. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 7 of 10
The Mullingar Shamrocks ladies minor football side which played in Sunday’s Div 3 final.Image 8 of 10
The successful Tyrrellspass ladies minor football side.Image 9 of 10
Ellie O’Donnell, Mullingar Shamrocks, is under pressure from Shannon Corcoran and Katie Hogg of Tyrrellspass. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 10 of 10
Ellie O'Donnell, Mullingar Shamrocks, on the attack in Sunday's Div 3 minor football final. JOHN_MC_CAULEYMullingar Shamrocks and Tyrrellspass served up an entertaining hour’s football on a cold Sunday afternoon in Rochfortbridge, in the Westmeath Ladies Minor Football Division 3 decider.
Two evenly matched teams provided some fine passages of play that ended in victory for the physically stronger and more experienced Tyrrellspass team, who established an eight-point lead by half-time and were strong enough to fend off a Mullingar fight back.
The early exchanges were even before wind-aided Tyrrellspass opened the scoring with a point from Cara Corcoran. The Shamrocks response was immediate and after a series of passes, Kate Mohan in the Tyrrellspass goal brilliantly saved Mollie Maguire’s finishing shot. Alexa Gavigan collected the rebound and pointed. Shamrocks gathered possession from the restart and Grace Daly and Katie Matthews combined for the latter to score a neat point. Grace Daly extended the Shamrocks lead with a pointed free and after twelve minutes the scoreboard read 0-3 to 0-1 in favour of Mullingar Shamrocks.
Inspired by the play of Amy Seery in particular, as well as Dawn Gill, Shannon Corroon and Rachel Murphy, Tyrrellspass enjoyed 15 minutes of dominance during which time they established a commanding lead that ultimately secured the title. In the twelfth minute, Emma Coyne scored the first goal of the afternoon after a bout of combined play, and this was quickly followed by a Rachel Murphy point. Six minutes later Ellie Scott had the ball in the Shamrocks net for the second time and when a long-range shot from Cara Corcoran eluded Emily Forde for a third Tyrrellspass goal, Shamrocks were in deep trouble and trailed by eight points (3-2 to 0-3).
Incredibly, this proved to be the final score of the afternoon for Tyrrellspass. The Shamrocks girls responded in style from the setback and launched several attacks before the break and three scoring attempts were foiled by the woodwork. Grace Daly and Alexa Gavigan struck the crossbar and Gavigan’s effort for a point also rebounded from the post.
This was a classic example of the game of two halves as Mullingar Shamrocks totally dominated the second half, with Tyrrellspass struggling to take the ball past the half-way line. Caoimhe Farrell reduced the deficit with a fine point in the opening minute. Tyrrellspass responded with their most threatening attack of the half and it took a brilliant Emily Forde save to prevent a goal. In challenging for the breaking ball the Shamrocks 'keeper fouled Rachel Murphy and the resultant penalty kick was saved by Forde to keep Shamrocks in the game.
Grace Daly pointed twice from free kicks and once from play to reduce the deficit to four points after 15 minutes of the half (3-2 to 0-7). Kate Mohan saved well from Orla Nohilly, but Orla was not to be denied as minutes later her brilliantly struck dipping shot skipped under the crossbar to reduce the deficit to the minimum with ten minutes remaining. Tyrrellspass were in serious trouble but to their credit they marshalled their defence and inspired by centre-back Dawn Gill, defended the lead and indeed missed one very good scoring chance before the final whistle.
A series of wides, balls dropping short and into the goalkeeper’s hands, over-elaboration, an unwillingness to shoot at times and several turnovers proved costly for Mullingar Shamrocks in the final analysis. However, they contributed superbly to a gripping final.
Tyrrellspass were undoubtedly relived at the end and team captain Kate Mohan accepted the cup from Westmeath LGFA secretary, Paula Finan.
Scorers - Tyrrellspass: Cara Corcoran 1-1; Emma Coyne 1-0; Ellie Scott 1-0; Rachel Murphy 0-1.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Grace Daly 0-4; Orla Nohilly 1-0; Caoimhe Farrell 0-1; Alexa Gavigan 0-1; Katie Matthews 0-1,
Tyrrellspass: Kate Mohan (Captain); Emma Daly, Amy Seery, Fraya O’ Reilly; Anna Gavigan, Dawn Gill, Marie Coyne; Shannon Corroon, Katie Hogg; Emma Coyne, Rachel Murphy, Cara Corcoran; Keelin Egan, Ellie Scott, Grace Murphy. Substitutes: Alice Pierson for Emma Coyne; Jane Maxwell for Ellie Scott.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Emily Forde; Seoidín Thornton, Ella Briody (Captain), Rosie O’ Grady; Eabha Moran, Ellie O’Donnell, Saoirse Clinton; Aideen Langtry, Katie Matthews; Aya Hacini, Caoimhe Farrell, Alexa Gavigan ; Mollie Maguire, Grace Daly, Zara Corroon. Substitutes: Alannah Burke for Seoidin Thornton; Orla Nohilly for Aya Hacini; Aya Hacini for Mollie Maguire; Florence Geelon for Caoimhe Farrell; Seoidin Thornton for Saoirse Clinton.
Referee: Vinny Cox (Rosemount).