Educate.ie u14 County league Division 1 Final. Rathmore 2-8 Southern Gaels 1-9.
The game was dominated by the exceptional work rate of 6 county U14 players. It was Rathmore’s Mary Collins opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, from play as both of Ava O’Sullivan of Southern Gaels efforts went wide on their first attempt.
Southern Gaels had several efforts denied by the Rathmore backs who were solid in defence in the opening quarter. The Gaels were very unlucky as Rachael Devane who was, one on one with the Rathmore keeper, was blown for overcarrying and an effort from Siofra O’Shea went just wide as the Gaels were comming into the game, having plenty of possesion, but couldn’t convert. In the 10th minute, the Gaels Rachael Dwyer had her point blank shot stopped by Rathmore keeper, who put it out for a 45 and they failed to convert that effort. It was in the 16th minute that Southern Gaels registered their first of the afternoon as Siofra O’Shea pointed from play and from that they 3 more efforts that were dealt with, by the Rathmore keeper and it was in the 20th minute that Southern Gaels went ahead as Maria O’Sullivan’s effort sailed over.
But Mary Collins cancelled out that lead as she pointed from a free and again she put Rathmore ahead 3 points to 2 with 5 remaining in the opening half. Southern Gaels were again dealt a blow as Ava O’Sullivan was blown for over carrying on her way to a goal scoring chance . Rathmore replied with 2 points and Southern Gaels with one, before the short whistle and Rathmore held a lead 5 to 3 at half time.
At the restart, Rathmore’s Danielle O’Leary worked her way through the Gaels defence and raised the green flag to now lead by 4. Rathmore applied pressure but 2 efforts from Maura O’Keefe and Alice O’Leary failed to extend their lead and Southern Gaels Siofra O’Shea and Maria O’Sullivan replied with 4 in as many minutes to level the game as they now have the wind advantage and were using it well. All square at the end of the third qtr 1-8 to 8.
Southern Gaels then found Ava O’Sullivan free who drilled it low to the net and Southern Gaels now lead by 3. But Rathmore from the kick out worked it well into an attacking formation and dropped it into the small square, and the Gaels keeper was dispossessed and the goal from a hand flick from Rathmore’s Katie Galvin who raised both the green flag and the tempo of the game, as the side were level with 10 remaining on the clock. Rathmore’s Aoife Nagle and Caoimhe Dineen extended the Rathmore lead by two and Southern Gaels had two efforts go just wide of the posts.
Siofra O’Shea reduced the deficit to one as the Gaels went in search of an equalizer, but couldn’t find the mark as Rathmore’s defence stood solid. With time running out, Rathmore’s Maura O’Keeffe worked a ball out to Danielle O’Leary who pointed from an impossible angle to register the last score of the game and Rathmore’s 2 points advantage to win on a scoreline of Rathmore 2-08 Southern Gaels 1-9.
The U14 Educate.ie County league Division 1 Final Cup “Donal Curtin Memorial Cup” which was kindly donated in memory of the late Donal Curtin, (Former Chairman of Kerry Ladies Football LGFA ) by his family and the Castleisland Desmonds LGFA club was presented to the Rathmore captain Mary Collins by his wife Shiela and daughter Mariah and Kerry Ladies Chairman Paddy White.