U14 Girls Division 2 League Final Venue: Ratoath
Seneschalstown 0-07 St. Colmcilles 3-03
After losing their star full forward Mallaidh Breen to concussion during the week Seneschalstown U14 girls took to the field in Ratoath on Saturday evening against a seriously strong St. Colmcilles in the final of Division 2 league knowing that a huge performance was needed to cause an upset. This strong St. Colmcilles team had easily beaten the furze girls in the early stages of the league.
U14 Girls Division 2 League Final Venue: Ratoath
Seneschalstown 0-07 St. Colmcilles 3-03
After losing their star full forward Mallaidh Breen to concussion during the week Seneschalstown U14 girls took to the field in Ratoath on Saturday evening against a seriously strong St. Colmcilles in the final of Division 2 league knowing that a huge performance was needed to cause an upset. This strong St. Colmcilles team had easily beaten the furze girls in the early stages of the league.
The girls got off to a very shaky start and conceded two goals and two points within the first twelve minutes of the game with St. Colmcilles employing a sweeper system and with several Meath U-14 girls on their squad coming at the Seneschalstown defence wave after wave. Sinead McLarney settled the nerves with a fine point and after a few tactical changes the girls from Seneschalstown began to grow into the game. Aisha Ogunyemi who has only started playing Gaelic Football this year and helped Kentstown NS School to a Cumann na mBunscol title has developed into a fine footballer and scored two excellent points from play bringing the girls back into it. The Seneschalstown girls began to grow in confidence defending superbly and with growing possession Sorcha Gough popped over a fine point to leave the score heading into half time at 0-04 to 2-02.
At the start of the second half Seneschalstown began were they had left off and tore into the Cilles girls right from the off. Dominating from midfield Leah Ryan and Caragh Monaghan were beginning to run at their defence. Aoife Mulvany scored the opening point from play and St. Colmcilles knew they were in a game. These girls never know when they are beaten and at the half way stage in the second half had held this St. Colmcilles scoreless for more than thirty minutes. Ava Jane Ryan popped over two fantastic frees from distance and the Furze Girls found themselves only a point behind. A warm humid evening and with the girls playing on a full size pitch, they gave their all in the search for the equaliser with a Sorcha Gough shot saved by the superb St. Colmcilles goalie who commanded her square excellently. St. Colmcilles, spurred on by that save kicked an excellent point from a tight angle to give them a two point lead. The game was still very much in the balance with five minutes to go but when a lobbed free from St. Colmcilles found itself nestled in the Seneschalstown goal there would be no coming back from that killer blow.
These girls poured their heart and soul on the pitch to try and get back into the game but unfortunately the full time whistle came. All credit must be given to this young side – one has to remember that over half of this U-14 team are still in National School and it’s no surprise that Kentstown NS and Yellow Furze NS both won their Cumann Na mBunscol titles in Páirc Tailteann earlier in the year. Today they just came up against a more experienced and physically stronger St. Colmcilles outfit. Tears flowed after the game showing the passion and fight that these girls bring every time they put on the blue and yellow of the club. Some of these girls have been on too many losing finals over the last three years but they can take great pride and encouragement in reaching these finals every year. Their time is coming and as a lot of these girls are moving onto secondary school Meath Ladies football and their respective schools will benefit greatly from these girls. Special mention to the mentors of this team that do great work throughout the year – George Donnelly, Ollie Mulvany and Caolac Monaghan ably assisted on match days by Geraldine Gordon and Gerry McDonnell for his school development work.
Seneschalstown: Shauna Gordon, Aoife Mulvany (0-01), Aine Nangle, Aoife Darby, Orla Finnegan, Leanne Clarke, Aoibhe Monaghan, Caragh Monaghan, Leah Ryan, Aisha Ogunyemi (0-02), Sorcha Gough (0-01), Lauren Donnelly, Kelly Smith, Ava Jane Ryan (0-02), Sinead McLarney (0-01).
Seneschalstown Subs: Lauren McCarthy for Nangle, Ava Garland for Smith, Ava Lyons for Ogunyemi, Mallaidh Breen (injured).
