Tramore down the years have produced some top quality ladies footballers the likes of Bridget Hannigan and Elaine Power to name but two that have served the game at club and county level well, playing at the highest level.
The town of Tramore and its outline to many is seen as a soccer area, and many of the G.A.A. Support in the Déise County feel that the area have often underperformed and will argue that a Club with its population should be playing and competing against players at the highest level within the county.
When it comes to the women’s games however, it is fantastic to see the white and blue shirt flying high at the moment.
Recently the town’s Camogie team made things very difficult for current County and All-Ireland Champions at the semi final of this year’s senior championship and on Sunday afternoon they were crowned County Junior ‘A’ Ladies Football Champions against Saint Patrick’s at the Dungarvan Club Grounds.
Saint Patrick’s would have fancied themselves to take this year’s title. They have some quality players, the likes of Kelly Moroney, Eimear Scanlon and Aoife Landers all who have inter county level and Denise Nugent is a vastly experienced player at this level.
On a day when it rained goals in other County Final’s played, surprisingly there was none in this game, which could be put down to the fact that both sides had some star performers in their back lines while if the ball did pass them there was two excellent goalkeepers to be beaten.
Player of the Match Catherine Power opened the scoring in this game within seconds of the throw in after her side won the throw in. This might have suggested that there was going to be scores a plenty to follow, but only two further scores followed up to the water break midway through the opening half.
Saint Patrick’s opened their account on ten minutes when Denise Nugent fisted over the crossbar after some good work by Sinead Flynn and Kate Hickey in the build-up. Just before the break mid way through the opening half after Kristen Lyons rand at the Saint Patrick’s defence and popped her side back in front with a good score.
The West Waterford club were having no luck with some of their shooting and they needed a point from a Gillian Whelan free five minutes from the break to draw level and seconds later they looked as if they would hit the Tramore net when Áine Flynn set up Eve Power but just as she was about to pull the trigger she was blown for over carrying the ball.
Saint Patrick’s however after playing with the breeze in the opening half turned around with a 0-3 to 0-2 lead showing on the score board when Gillian Whelan popped over from play after some good work by Aoife Landers in the build up.
Tramore with the wind at their backs in the second half were the better of the two sides. While Saint Patrick’s wasted much of the chances they created at the other end Tramore were very economical with their shooting.
Elaine Enright just seconds after the restart crashed the size four off the upright but Keavy Gillane was on hand to fire the rebound over with the help of the up-right. At the other end Saint Patrick’s created a goal scoring opportunity on 34 minutes, Emma Hickey picked out Denise Nugent who used her experience to drop the ball in front of the Tramore goal. Kate Hickey raced onto the ball and went to fist the dropping ball to the net but Katie Geoghegan was on hand to clear the danger.
Saint Patrick’s were dealt a blow on 37 were dealt a blow when full back Muireann Walsh rather than allow Tramore in on goal took a yellow card and a ten minutes sin-binning by deliberately committing a foul. From the resulting free, Catherine Power split the uprights.
Abbey Dunphy followed up with an excellent score for Tramore on 40 minutes but three minutes later her side were also cut to 14 players for the next ten minutes when Edwina Curran was sin binned. While the numbers on the field were level before Muireann Walsh was allowed back on just after the water break Catherine Power hit a brace of scores inside seconds of each other to give her side a 0-7 to 0-3 lead at the second half water break.
Elaine Enright pointed for Tramore on 53 minutes followed shortly afterwards with a response from Saint Patrick’s Gillian Whelan from a free.
With both defences on top no further scores came till deep in stoppage time when Catherine Power shot over a brace of scores in quick succession to give her side a deserved title.
In this game for Saint Patrick’s Eimear Scanlon, Mollie Murphy-Nix, Aoife Landers, Hannah Power, the Hickey sisters and Denise Nugent all had fine games, while for Tramore, Catherine Power was outstanding while there was excellent performance from Fiona Whelan, Elaine Enright, Abbie Dunphy, Neema Nyangasi and Katie Geoghegan.
TRAMORE: Katie Geoghegan; Muireann Cuddihy, Eimear Gallagher, Anna Fanning; Edwina Curran, Fiona Whelan, Niamh Purcell; Kristen Lyons, Keavy Gillane; Elaine Enright, Neema Nyangasi, Claire Lombard; Sarah Power, Abbie Dunphy, Catherine Power.
Subs: Rebecca Savage for Anna Fanning, Holly Ahern for Claire Lombard.
Scorers: Catherine Power 0-7 (1f), Elaine Enright 0-2, Kristen Lyons, Abbie Dunphy 0-1 each.
ST. PATRICK’S; Kelley Moroney; Mollie Murphy Nix, Muireann Walsh, Tara Fraher; Eimear Scanlon, Aoife Landers, Aoife Dee; Emma Hickey, Eve Power; Sinéad Flynn, Hannah Power, Áine Flynn; Gillian Whelan, Kate Hickey, Denise Nugent
Subs: Megan Phelan for Áine Flynn
Scorers: Gillian Whelan 0-3 (2f), Denise Nugent 0-1
Referee: Padraig Nolan (Affane/Cappoquin)
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