Na Fianna 0-8 Seneschalstown 2-6
(HT Score Na Fianna 0-1 Seneschalstown 2-4)
Seneschalstown Junior Ladies secured their place in the Kepak Junior C Championship Final with victory away to Na Fianna in Sunny Baconstown on Sunday Oct 1st.
The start of this game was delayed for about 20 minutes as a change of jerseys was required as both teams appeared out in predominantly yellow jerseys.
Playing with a strong breeze in their backs in the first half Seneschalstown had a glorious goal chance within the first 30 seconds, but the Na Fianna net minder was out to smother Eve Wardick-Clarkes’ effort. In the fourth minutes another goal chance was blocked but Kelly Smith followed up the rebound to drive the ball over the bar soccer style. Ruth Commons followed up with a point 2 minutes later from a free before the home team opened their account in the 7th minute. Seneschalstown were enjoying the lions share of possession,playing some very good attacking football but their inaccuracy in front of goal was letting them down. Another point from Commons just before the quarter hour was all they had to show for their early dominance. Na Fianna came more into the game, but the Seneschalstown rearguard were in no mood to give anything away and in particular Orla Garry who showed great awareness and composure to cut out quite a number of Na Fianna attacks. The forwards and mid fielders were also putting good pressure on the ball coming out of the Na Fianna defense.
Another couple of goal chances were spurned by the Seneschalstown attack but eventually they did find the net in the 22nd minutes when a Donna Stafford shot hit the crossbar and bounced down and eventually ended up in the net. Commons added another point in the 27th minute. Just on the stoke of half time, after another fine move that opened up the Na Fianna defense, Chloe Williams was on hand to finish to the net to give the Seneschalstown girls a vital and much needed boost on the scoreboard heading into the second half against the strong breeze.
Early exchanges were even in the second half with Na Fianna pulling a point back early on. Two quick fire points in less that a minute from Commons and Stafford in the 37th minute increased the lead, but this would be the last time the Seneschalstown girls would register a score with a number of efforts dropping short into the Na Fianna goalies’ hands in the third quarter against the strong breeze. Na Fianna pointed in the 40th minute and it would be another 10 minutes before they registered again. Ava Jane Ryan replaced Katie Geraghty entering the final quarter. In the final 10 minutes Na Fianna registered 4 more points mainly from frees as the Seneschalstown defense came under under increasing pressure. Na Fianna had one possible chance of a goal, but keeper Katie Lawlor dealt with the attempt comfortably. Lawlor’s kicks out into the strong breeze in the second half were well directed also. Seneschalstown held out for a deserved victory and a final date with Drumbaragh on the last weekend in October.
Scorers: Ruth Commons 0-4, Donna Stafford 1-1, Chloe Williams 1-0, Kelly Smith 0-1.
Team: Katie Lawlor, Catherine Monaghan, Aoife Lenehan, Grace Finnegan, Caoimhe Clarke, Orla Garry, Megan Connolly, Darcey Kilfeather, Ruth Commons, Katie Geraghty, Donna Stafford, Lucy Lynch, Kelly Smith, Eve Wardick Clarke, Chloe Williams
Sub Used: Ava Jane Ryan for Katie Geraghty.
Subs: Lana Wardick, Niamh Mulvany, Holly Knowles, Katie Finnegan, Kellie Geraghty, Moya Waters, Molly Keating.
