The Rose Hotel U/14 County League Div 1 Final.

The Donal Curtin Memorial Cup.

Maurice MacNamara reports from JP O’Sullivan Park Killorglin.

A display of scintillating, dominant and skilful teamwork ensured that the Rose Hotel Division One Under 14 title went south as Southern Gaels defeated a valiant Austin Stacks side by a score line of 6-15 to 1-08.

From the throw in Ellie O’Connell laid down a marker sprinting clear and but for some terrific tackling by Rosie O’Donnell the worst start possible would have transpired for Austin Stacks. The ball however was laid back and pointed by Leah Dwyer. The second of the terrible Dwyer twin threat, Aoife, pointed from the kickout and with the quick concession of a penalty it did not look good for the Stacks girls.  However a brilliant save from Stacks excellent goalkeeper Laura Somers seemed to spark the Rockie girls.  After conceding a third point they broke up the field and Heather McNamara buried a great goal after a slaloming run. She gathered the kick out and put it over the bar for a great score.  Suddenly, Stacks now led by one.

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The game entered a period of stalemate highlighting a great battle in the midfield between Ella Breen and Ellie O’Connell,with the robustness and sheer skill shown by both protagonists during this period worth the price of admission alone. In a microcosm of the game, the more powerful and experienced girl from Southern Gaels started to get the upper hand, and with this her team started to get on top.  A fantastic volley from Kiosha Fogarty nearly burst the net and Southern Gaels followed up with points from Aoife Dwyer (F), and Deirdre Kelly from play, which left them up by five.

Laura Somers in the Stacks goal made a brace of superb saves from point blank range but she could do nothing about Leah Dwyer’s goal after a brilliant crossfield pass by Ellie O’Connell.  This period of dominance was broken by points from Heather MacNamara, Lauren Dowling and Gillian Lane.  The Stacks backs were playing at the maximum and with quick hands and great interceptions they were keeping their team in the game. Unfortunately for them, they suffered a hammer blow right on half time when a speculative shot from Kiosha Fogarty came back of the post- and the goalkeeper- to finish in the net and left Southern Gaels ahead at the half by 3-05 to 1-04.

The Stacks pointed three times after Kiosha Fogarty extended the Gaels lead on the restart, to bringsthe deficit down to five but any chink of light was extinguished when Kiosha Fogarty’s long range shot snuck in at the butt of the post.  This score seemed to inspire Southern Gaels into a period of fantastic football and the Stacks girls had no answer to their dominance. A series of points from Aoife Dwyer (3), Hannah Sugrue, Deirdre Kelly (2), Cliona O’Shea and Isabella Curran along with goals from the very impressive Kiosha Fogarty and Leah Dwyer ensured that the cup was returning south, Kirby Ann Ryan from the Stacks finished the scoring with an impressive point from long range and on the final whistle the score of 6-15 to 1-08 didn’t do justice to the efforts of the Stacks girls. It did emphasise  how good the girls in green and gold were on the night though.

With fifteen minutes to go in the game,the use of possession, passing and aggression towards the ball that Southern Gaels were showing was something to marvel at, and it shows that they are the Kingpins of underage football in Kerry. They showed so much intelligence on the ball moving into position, taking and giving the right pass at the right time that only the ponytails flying gave evidence to the fact that you were watching Ladies football and not their much more vaunted male counterparts.

Ellie O’Connell, Shonagh Fitzpatrick, Brianna O’Sullivan all performed so well they ensured that the Southern Gaels very impressive forwards shone like beacons on an overcast night, Kiosha Fogarty, Aoife and Leah Dwyer were constantly on the move carrying an incredible unrelenting scoring threat.  Austin Stacks best performers were all in the backs, Laura Somers was brilliant in goals, Grace Reidy added to her rising reputation along with Clodagh Murray and Rosa O’Donnell, Ella Breen had an incredible battle with the midfield, Heather McNamara was the Stacks fulcrum in the forwards backed up by Gillian Lane, Mary Moore and Lauren Dowling.  A special word for Kirby Ann Ryan who rushed down from Waterford for the game arriving just before half-time, great commitment to the cause.

Another year over in Division One and another victory for Southern Gaels but boy did they deserve this one, back to the drawing board for Austin Stacks but I have a feeling this group of girls won’t give in and will be back for another cut at a fantastic team.

 Southern Gaels

Kiera Furey, Emma Sheehan, Shonagh Fitzpatrick (capt), Lauren Curran, Jessica Gill, Isabella Curran(1), Leanne O’Sullivan, Ellie O’Connell, Brianna O’Sullivan, Deirdre Kelly(3), Aoife Dwyer(3), Sarah O’Shea(2), Kiosha Fogarty(4-02), Leah O’Dwyer2-02), Cliona O’Shea(1). Subs: Emma Quigley, Hannah Sugrue(1), Aine Daly, Amy Quirke, Chloe Goggin, Rebecca O’Shea, Julia Cooper, Ellie Cournane, Aoife Wharton.

Austin Stacks

Laura Somers, Cathy Dwyer, Bronagh Kelliher, Rosie O’Donnell, Grace O’Mahoney, Clodagh Murray(1), Grace Reidy, Ella Breen, Eimear Litchfield, Mary Moore(1), Heather McNamara(1-03), Gillian Lane(1), Lauran Dowling(1), Shannon Oba, Grace O’Connor, Kirby Ann Ryan(1), Aoife O’Rourke, Doireann Moore, Anna Draghici, Maria Draghici, Aoife O’Connell, Dani O’Sullivan, Erin Keely, Amy Sammy, Jane Akinrilade, Niamh Collins, Caoimhe Cotter.