Brickey Rangers Prove Too Strong For Abbeyside

 

Despite conceding goals with seconds of the start of both halves in the first game played at the WIT Arena at Carriganore on Saturday last, Brickey Rangers are County Junior Champions after they proved too strong for an Abbeyside side who are only fielding adult teams for a very short period of time.

The Bushy Park based outfit had a number of very impressive performances in this game most notably from top scorer Kate McGrath, Amy O’Neill, Kelly Treacy, Beth Gardener, Róise Murray, Aoibhinn Connaughton and Clara Fennell, while Abbeyside’s best player on the day was Eimear Fennell, but mention must also must be made of their goalkeeper Shannon Dunford and the six backs that started the game. For much of the game they were under a lot of pressure by a more experienced side, but time and time again they closed down many of the Brickey Rangers attacks and had they not worked as hard as they did, the margin of defeat could be a lot higher.

Playing into the wind in the first half Abbeyside got off to a brilliant start in this game winning the throw in and immediately attacked their opponent’s goal. The victors here looked to have had the danger cleared but Eimear Fennell intercepted their clearance and caught Brona O’Neill off guard with a shot placed near the post which dropped into the net.

The Brickey’s had to wait till the ninth minute for their first score when Aoibhinn Connaughton put over a 20 metre free from half way between the edge of the D and the sideline. Moments later Brickey Rangers were in front as Aoibhinn Connaughton caught out Shannon Dunford from a tight angle.

Brickey Rangers lost Theresa Curran at the water break with an injury and within seconds of her replacement Clara Curran making her entry into the game she made her mark as she followed up on the rebound after Shannon Dunford had saved well from another Aoibhinn Connaughton effort.

Top scorer Kate McGrath put over a brace of ‘45’s and in stoppage time added before the break, Aoibhinn Connaughton hit a third goal for Brickey Rangers hand-passing past Shannon Dunford after she was picked out by Clara Curran.

The Brickey’s were not finished yet and in the time remained before the half time whistle Kate McGrath put over two more frees to give her side a 3-5 to 1-0 lead at the turn around.

Playing with the wind at their backs in the second half Abbeyside once more started strong. Dearbhla Beresford played in Eimear Fennell who danced through the Brickey’s defence before finishing past Brona O’Neill between the posts.

However Brickey’s wasted no time in getting back on top and three points in a row by Kate McGrath, followed with one from Aoibhinn Connaughton and another from Kate McGrath had Brickey Rangers comfortably 3-10 to 2-0 in from with 46 minutes played.

Eimear Fennell pointed for Abbeyside with ten minutes remaining but four minutes later at the other end of the ground Clara Curran struck her second goal of the game after good work by Ava Healy and Kate McGrath in the build up.

Sister Una and Kate McGrath stretched Brickey’s lead, but Abbeyside refused to give up. Aoibhin O’Grady pointed on the hour mark and in stoppage time Shannon Dunford who earlier despite playing well between the posts was brought up field was pulled down inside the large box referee Ciaran O’Neill after consulting with one of his umpires only awarded a free which Eimear Fennell struck, but she saw her effort for goal rise just over the cross bar.

Brickey Ranger’s: Brona O’Neill; Aoife O’Neill, Rachel Donnelly, Beth Gardener; Emily Murphy, Kelly Treacy, Aileen Gallagher; Kate McGrath, Ava Healy; Áine O’Neill, Róise Murray, Ellen Kirwan; Aoibhinn Connaughton, Theresa Curran, Clodagh Fennell.

Subs: Clara Curran for Theresa Curran, Niamh Fennell for Ellen Kirwan, Una McGrath for Clodagh Fennell, Hannah O’Connell for Aoife O’Neill, Ellen Maye for Ava Healy.

Scorers: Kate McGrath 0-9 (6f, 2 ‘45’s), Aoibhinn Connaughton, Clara Curran 2-0 each, Áine O’Neill 0-2 (1f), Una McGrath 0-1.

Abbeyside: Shannon Dunford; Laura Cosgrove, Kaia McGovern, Kate Cosgrove; Cliodhna Roche, Clodagh McGovern, Laura Morrissey; Róisín Briggs, Saoirse McDonnell-Moynihan; Dearbhla Beresford, Megan O’Regan, Moya Kiely; Hannah Walsh, Aoibhin O’Grady, Eimear Fennell.

Subs: Ellen Flynn for Hannah Walsh.

Scorers: Eimear Fennell 2-2 (0-1f), Aoibhin O’Grady 0-1.

Referee: Ciaran O’Toole.