St. Farnan's do the business in extra time.
St. Farnan's do the business in extra time.
September 25, 2012
The latest chapter in the ongoing story of our club was written in dramatic fashion in a sun drenched Cloonacool GAA pitch on Saturday last when the Junior team overcame a highly fancied St. Mary's outfit to take home the Jnr C'ship crown for the very first time. A pulsating tie had everything ladies football followers could ask for - fifteen goals, twenty five points, a sin binning at a crucial time, two penalties in the closing minutes of extra time, lots of goalmouth incidents and extreme levels of commitment from players on both sides.
By virtue of their win when the sides met earlier in the competition the Sligo town based side came into the tie as favourites and they seemed to fully justify that tag when they struck for two goals in the opening minutes. However our girls showed no signs of panic and while our first few attacks proved fruitless, goals from Elaine Cawley and Sinead Kilgannon as well as a point from the latter saw us hit the front only for Mary's to kick an equalising point soon after. Further points from Cawley and her namesake Cathriona, either side of a brace from Aisling Molloy saw us open up a four point lead which was soon reduced to two before Kilgannon pointed for what was the last score of the half leaving us leading 2-6 to 2-3 but facing the stiff breeze for the second period.
St. Mary's drew first blood again after the restart with a point but the response from our girls was swift and significant as Elaine Cawley found the net for her second goal to put us five points up. This joy was short lived however as the opposition kicked two goals and a point without reply to leave them leading by two points as the final quarter approached.
The withdrawal of Leanne Dunne who received a heavy knock seemed to represent a serious blow for our side but her replacement Emer McHugh wasted no time in making an impact scoring two goals in the space of four minutes to put her team four points ahead at a crucial time in the game. Then followed what seemed to be a fatal blow to our chances with the sin binning of team captain Jackie Mulligan, who had been charged with the considerable task of keeping tabs on her county colleague, the elusive Emma Hansberry, a role which she had carried out with much success. Mary's made full use of their numerical advantage scoring 2-3 without reply thereby opening up a five point lead with only four minutes remaining.
The re-introduction of Mulligan at this stage coupled with the brave decision by the St. Farnan's management to move herself and full back Imelda McNulty to more advanced positions reaped almost unbelievable results. Points from the hard working Tara Kelly and Elaine Cawley reduced the lead but the opposition seemed to seal the issue with a point which left the gap at four with time running out. Then McNulty, who was later named Player of the Match, used all her experience to break through the Mary's rearguard and rifle the ball to the net to reduce the gap to the minimum before Sinead Kilgannon levelled matters at 6-9 apiece with a well worked point in injury time.
With most players out on their feet neither side would have welcomed the resulting two ten minute periods of extra time but our girls would have been certainly spurred on by an emotional team talk from iconic player Marie Ruane who has had to sit out most of the year through injury. It was substitute McHugh who got the scoreboard ticking over again with the opening point but this was quickly cancelled out by a similar score at the other end. The same player was on target again with what was her second point followed by a similar score from Elaine Cawley resulting in a two point lead for the team from the West but any hopes that we would push on from there were cruelly dashed as we conceded a goal and two points to trail by 7-12 to 6-12 with only minutes remaining. If the end to normal time was dramatic then the dying minutes of extra time was even more so as our girls threw everything at their opponents in a bid to save the game. When the aforementioned Mulligan was brought down on twice in as many minutes with the goal at her mercy referee Dermot Walsh had no hesitation in pointing to the spot on both occasions and it was substitute McHugh who coolly slotted the resultant spot kicks to the net to bring her personal tally to 4-2 and more importantly put the girls in Blue and White into a three point lead.
Mary's tried desperately for the goal which would level matters again but our defence held firm and while the town side did manage a point it wasn't enough to prevent Farnan's claiming their first Jnr title on the somewhat amazing scoreline of 8-12 to 7-13. The sounding of the final whistle released unbridled scenes of joy and emotion as the players, management and supporters celebrated a famous victory.
Team captain Jackie Mulligan was presented with the cup by Louise Lavin, Chairperson of Sligo Ladies Co. Bd. while Imelda McNulty was presented with the Player of the Match trophy.
Team: F.Mulligan, V.Mulligan, I. McNulty(1-0), C.Hannon, G.Lynch, J.Mulligan, L.Morrison, C.Kearins, G. Ruane, L.Dunne, T.Kelly(0-1), A.Molloy (0-2), E.Cawley (2-3), S.Kilgannon (1-3), C.Cawley (0-1), Subs (used) : E.McHugh (4-2), G.Reynolds, A.Dunne, V.Dunleavy. (not used) D.Kilgannon, C.O'Reilly, E.Burns, D.Kelly, A.Cawley, S.Furey, M.Ruane, S.Dunne, L.Kilgannon, J.Ryan, A.Connolly,C.Hynes. The side is managed by Sean Kilgannon, Austin Clarke and Johnny Sheridan with Anne Ruane and Mary Furey looking after the first-aid duties.
The side will now participate in the Connacht Club C'ship semi final where they will face the winners of the preliminary round tie between the champions of Mayo and Roscommon.
Good Luck to the U-12 team and their management who will take on Drumcliffe/Rosses Point in the "B" C'ship Final in Collooney this Friday.
Sympathy is extended to relatives of Canon Sean Durcan, former Parish Priest of both Templeboy and Dromore West; to Ann Jordan and family on the death of her father in Co. Donegal; and to the family of Winnie Kilgannon, Portlaoise and formerly of Garryduff, mother of our former Jnr team Manager, the late John KIlgannon, all of whom have passed away recently. Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad.
See Photo Gallery for more Pics.