Powerful Second Half Performance Drives Modeligo to U16 B Success

 

Modeligo 6-10 An Rinn 3-03

Our second U16 final of the weekend, this time the B final was played in the WIT grounds with Modeligo facing An Rinn in an all-Western affair.  It was the Modeligo outfit who powered to a victory with a dominant second half performance to put them in control to see out the game and become U16 B Champions.

A bright start from Modeligo got the U16 B final up and running with an Emma Fleming goal in the first minute. Captain of the An Rinn team Lilly Anne Nic Giolla got the first point for An Rinn through a placed ball.  In a game that Modeligo came into as favourites, it was in fact a very balanced opening half for both teams.  Midfielder Emma Hickey scored her first point of the day when coming in on her right hand side to slot over the bar.  Onelia Whelan responded in turn with a point of her own to leave Modeligo leading 1-01 to 0-02 at the water break.  After the break Emma Fleming raised a white flag for Modeligo.  An Rinn had a sustained period of pressure on the Modeligo defence and eventually they broke through with Lilly Anne powered through the middle to fire to the back of the net.  An Rinn pushed forward once more and deep into injury time Lilly Anne fired over to put the An Rinn outfit ahead 1-03 to 1-02 going in at half time.  In a half where it was a battle of the defences with Anna Hickey of Modeligo very strong at centre back having a great battle with Lilly Anne Nic Giolla of An Rinn.  Emma Hickey for Modeligo along with Oneila Whelan of An Rinn also impressing at midfield for the two teams.

The half time team talk from the Modeligo management had its desired effect with the team in green and white bursting to life with 1-03 scored within the first ten minutes of the second half.  The strong running of Emma Hickey was hard to live with as she fired over her first of the second half.  Emma Fleming raised her and Modeligo’s second green flag on the fifth minute.  Emma Hickey followed up with two more points to bring her personally tally so far to 0-04.  The classy Rachel O Brien got on a ball over the top of the An Rinn defence with the Modeligo wing forward finishing to the net in style.  This was a big turnaround with the An Rinn outfit unable to get a shot off in anger in the first fifteen minutes.  The scores at the water break now read 3-05 to 1-03 to Modeligo.  An Rinn had it all to do to claw back the deficit.

An Rinn came out in the last quarter showing great determination and bravery to get back into the game.  However the Modeligo forwards found scores easier to come by with full forward Emma Fitzpatrick and the very strong Claire Walsh slotting points over to increase their lead. An Rinn did not give up however and continued to push forward but it was Karine Drohan of Modeligo who’s shot found the back of the net from distance to increase their lead. Emma Hickey finished off her scoring with her fifth point of the game in what was a very strong display from the midfielder while Rachel slotted over from a 45 to keep the Modeligo lead increasing. Claire Walsh was impressive in her strong running with the ball today and she found space again to slot over her second point of the day. To round off the Modeligo scoring Karine Drohan and Rachel O Brien raised green flags again to both finish with two goals apiece going into injury time.  An Rinn did not give up and continued to push to get scores on the board and they did so with speedster Aoibh Ní Mhurchadha plucking the ball from the clowds and running at the Modeligo defence and firing to the net from distance.  That wasn’t to be the final score however with Éle Nic Craith finding the back of the net to leave the final score 6-10 to 3-03.  A powerful second half from Modeligo sees them crowned U16 B Champions for 2020.  An Rinn showed a lot of spirit and will bounce back from this in 2021. Congratulations to Modeligo.

Modeligo: Muireann Hickey; Lucy Fraher, Chloe Power, Katie O’ Brien; Rebecca Burke, Anna Hickey, Emily Foran; Mairead Hickey, Emma Hickey; Karine Drohan, Claire Walsh, Rachel O Brien; Bronagh Ryan, Emma Fitzpatrick, Emma Fleming.

Subs: Meabh Barron, Bébhínn Walsh; Eimear Griffin, Ceire Ryan, Orla Whelan, Aoife Power, Abbie Fitzpatrick, Sarah Barron, Aoife Reddy, Jessica Collender.

Scorers: Rachel O Brien (0-1’45), Emma Fleming 2-1 each, Karine Drohan 2-0, Emma Hickey 0-5, Claire Walsh 0-2, Emma Fitzpatrick 0-1

An Rinn: Neasa Nic Íomhair; Róisín Ní Arta, Katie Ní Chionnfhaolaidh, Brooke Ní Reagáin; Luisne Níc Craith, Grace Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, Ríoghnach Ní Thiomáin; Onelia Ní Fhaoláin (0-01), Lia Ní Arta; Eilidh Ní Churraoin, Lilly Anne Nic Giolla, Aoibh Ní Mhurchadha; Mamie Ní Chionnfhaolaidh, Éle Nic Craith, Alannah Ní Laocha.

Subs: Sarah Ní Mhuileoir, Molly Nic an Iomaire.

Scorers: Lilly Anne Nic Giolla 1-2, Aoibh Ní Mhurchadha, Eilidh Ní Churraoin 1-0 each, Onelia Ní Fhaoláin 0-1

Referee: Liz Dempsey (Kilkenny)

*Report with thanks from Waterford Camogie County Board.