No Joy for Saint Augustine’s in Munster Final

There was no joy for Saint Augustine’s College in the Munster Senior ‘A’ Colleges Ladies Football Final at Castletownroche on Sunday afternoon last as they went under to Limerick side, John The Baptist Community School from Hospital.

While at the end of the game eleven points separated the sides on the scoreboard, it was the Limerick sides ability to raise green flags that proved to be the difference between what were two evenly matched sides.

At the break just two points separated the sides in the Limerick side’s favour as they turned around leading 2-4 to 0-8, with both goals coming from Player of the Match Anna Rose Kennedy on four and twenty five minutes.

The concession of a third goal just ten seconds into the second half proved to be a step too far for the Abbeyside College side.

Both sides started by exchanging early scores. Anna Rose Kennedy opened the scoring for the eventual winners with a pointed free only for it to be cancelled out with a similar effort from Kaeisha Tobin.

Saint Augustine’s were dealt a blow on four minutes when Anna Rose Kennedy struck for her first major score of the afternoon to put her side three points in front and they added further scores through Sarah Morrissey and Andrea O’Sullivan to give them a five point lead early in the game.

Saint Augustine’s however with Rachel McGuickian, Aisling Mullaney and Abbie Dalton beginning to get on top in the half back line and Chloe Fennell and Áine O’Neill beginning to get on top in the middle of the field, Saint Augustine’s began to fight back.

At the other end of the field Kaeisha Tobin also began to show her ability by kicking three unanswered points to leave just two points between the sides as the game entered its final ten minutes of normal time in the first half.

However in a four minute spell the Limerick side came right back at Saint Augustine’s as they hit a point first from Andrea O’Sullivan on twenty one minutes and four minutes later Anna Rose Kennedy hit her second major score of the afternoon.

But Saint Augustine’s refused to throw in the towel and points from Bronagh Condon, a brace from Kaeisha Tobin and one from Darina Shanley followed to leave their side trailing 2-4 to 0-8 at the break.

The concession of a third goal, this time from Kate Heelan proved to be a blow to Saint Augustine’s as they would have wanted to start the second half as they had finished the first, on top but it was not to be.

Kaiesha Tobin landed another point from a free for Saint Augustine’s but the Limerick side hit back with three Anna Rose Kennedy points and one from Grainne Condon to give them a 3-8 to 0-9 lead.

Amy Fennell and Bronagh Condon pulled points back for Saint Augustine’s by the fifty third minute to leave six between the sides. If they were to hit the next score and if it was to result in a green flag you can’t but have felt that they would go on and get something from the game.

But it was the Limerick side that scored next, a point from Ava Hartigan on fifty five minutes after which Kaeisha Tobin added to her impressive tally on the score sheet.

The Limerick side however would finish the game the stronger of the two sides.

Anna Rose Kennedy picked out Eimear Kirby to strike a four goal late on for the winners and they followed up with points from Andrea O’Sullivan and Grainne Condon, to give their side what was a deserved victory.

While Saint Augustine’s College will be disappointed with the final result of this game, many in the panel can take something from the game in that in recent years many of the players that have impressed on Colleges and Underage Inter county sides have been given their chance to show what they can do with the Waterford senior team in the last year or two, including some that were involved in this game.

In the year ahead the likes of Rachel McGuickian, Aisling Mullaney, Abbie Dalton, Chloe Fennell, Áine O’Neill, Bronagh Condon, Sheena McGuickian and Kaeisha Tobin will all likely be involved in other big games and it would be no surprise to see a number of this group get a call up to play and train with the Waterford senior team in the weeks and months ahead.

Saint Augustine’s: Shauna McGrath; Megan Phelan, Sarah Morrissey, Lauren Dunford; Rachel McGuickian, Aisling Mullaney, Abbie Dalton; Chloe Fennell, Áine O’Neill; Caoimhe Dwyer, Bronagh Condon, Darina Shanley; Sheena McGuickian, Kaeisha Tobin, Dearbhala Beresford.

Scorers: Kaiesha Tobin 0-8 (7f), Bronagh Condon 0-2, Chloe Fennell, Darina Shanley 0-1 each.

Hospital: Emer McCarthy; Maeve Barry, Ciara Ryan, Ciara Hynes; Grainne Condon, Ava Hartigan, Lucy Ryan; Caitlin Kennedy, Grainne Ryan; Eimer Kirby, Andrea O’Sullivan, Katie O’Meara; Kate Heelan, Anna Rose Kennedy, Sara Morrisssey. Subs Used: Jane Casey, Eva Butler.

Scorers: Anna Rose Kennedy 2-4 (0-2f), Andrea O’Sullivan (1f) Grainne Condon (1f) 0-3 each, Eimer Kirby, Kate Heelan 1-0 each, Sara Morrissey 0-1.

Referee: AJ Cronin (Cork).