U16 Division 2 Shield Final
Navan O’Mahonys 2-07 Seneschalstown 2-06
On a sunny Saturday morning in Walterstown GFC the U-16 Girls from Seneschalstown took on Navan O’Mahonys in the Division 2 Shield Final and what a compelling game it turned out to be, a fantastic spectacle of all that’s great about these wonderful committed girls on both sides.
U16 Division 2 Shield Final
Navan O’Mahonys 2-07 Seneschalstown 2-06
On a sunny Saturday morning in Walterstown GFC the U-16 Girls from Seneschalstown took on Navan O’Mahonys in the Division 2 Shield Final and what a compelling game it turned out to be, a fantastic spectacle of all that’s great about these wonderful committed girls on both sides.
The young Furze ladies with seven U-14 girls involved got off to a perfect start with a goal that was brilliantly worked and finished off by Aoife Darby, followed by a quick point from Lauren Kelleher. This made it 1-01 to 0-00 and O’Mahonys realised that they were in a game. They responded magnificently with two quick goals. Seneschalstown and Meath midfielder Kiah Geraghty then scored a lovely point and shortly afterwards was involved in a great move which seen Shona Loughran hit the net to give the Seneschalstown youngsters back the lead 2-02 to 2-00.
The play was end to end with both defences very much on top. Seneschalstown were to suffer a blow when losing corner back Laura McDonnell to injury and U-14 Leah Ryan was sprung from the bench, and along with her fellow U-14’s Caragh Monaghan and Leanne Clarke defended excellently with great help from Catherine Smyth, Grainne Gordon and Crystal Delaware. Kiah Geraghty struck over a point with O’Mahonys replying with one of their own. Sorcha Gough operating as a wing half forward scored a lovely point but again O’Mahonys responded with their own. Just before half time Lauren Kelleher scored another fine point and as they had done earlier O’Mahonys responded to leave the score at the interval reading Seneschalstown 2-05 Navan O’Mahonys 2-04 and the game balanced on a knife edge.
When the second half started both defences were excellent scoring chances were at a minimum as both teams gave their all. It took all of fifteen minutes into the second half for the first score to come, such was the tenacious defending and one felt that whichever team scored first would have the initiative. In the end it was the town side, O’Mahonys who fired over that score to level the match but after huge pressure on the Seneschalstown defence they managed to nudge ahead through the trusty boot of Kiah Geraghty from a free that was hard earned by substitute Aoife Mulvany.
Navan O’Mahonys were showing their strength and physical size as the match came into the last few minutes and this was beginning to have an effect as they equalized again. The Seneschalstown girls were giving their all and their defending was outstanding as they withstood wave and wave of attack. It was an incredible display from this young defence considering four members of the backline were U-14’s but eventually their line was breached and the Brews Hill side popped over the winning point.
The final whistle soon blew on a fantastic game when probably a draw might have been the fairest result but the Seneschalstown Girls can take huge pride out of their performances. With such commitment on view the future looks bright for these group of girls. This was truly an outstanding game and well done to O’Mahonys.
Seneschalstown Scorers: Shona Loughran 1-00, Aoife Darby 1-00, Kiah Geraghty 0-03, Lauren Kelleher 0-02, Sorcha Gough 0-01.
Seneschalstown: Shauna Gordon, Laura McDonnell, Grainne Gordon, Catherine Smyth, Leanne Clarke, Crystal Delaware, Caragh Monaghan, Katie Geraghty, Kiah Geraghty, Sorcha Gough, Lauren Kelleher, Shona Loughran, Aoife Darby, Ella Waddington, Kelly Smith
