County Junior B Ladies Football Final – Saturday, 13th October 2018
St. Gabriel’s 3-16 Glinsk 2-4
Darren Kelly in Mountbellew
St. Gabriel’s completed back-to-back promotions after they’re were crowned County Junior B Ladies Football champions in a rain soaked Mountbellew.
Ciara Lohan, Aisling Donnellan and Pearl Finnerty struck the three goals for the Kilconnell based side while Galway senior Caitriona Cormican also registered six points from play.
Gerard Donnellan has overseen this team’s progress along with his management team of Della Finnerty, Martin Costello, Damien Finn and Conor Delaney.
“They really pulled it out of the fire in the second half,” said Gerard Donnellan afterwards. “They really pushed on.
“I just thought we let the work rate drop a small bit after 13 minutes. So, we just said (at half-time) we’d to up it now and give it everything they have. Thirty minutes to win it and in fairness to them, they did.
“Fair play to them, they (Glinsk) came back there and gave everything they had. They put us to the pin of our collar in the first half. In fairness to the girls, they upped it in the second half.
“We knew once they got the first score (after the break), it’ll settle them down. But once they got the first score, they never really looked back. They pushed on again.
“Their movement (full forwards Rosa Bleahene, Cormican and Aisling Donnellan) I thought was very good. They were always out in front. I don’t think they were bet to a ball. They missed a few but in fairness, they kept shooting and it paid off.
“I thought when Emma (Reynolds) came on in the second half, she brought a lot of energy to midfield as well. And the likes of Niamh Daly there as well, the work rate was exceptional in the second half.
“This is massive. We won the Junior C last year. And our first year up, we win it again. So, it keeps going and keeps interest and keeps girls involved.
One person who would have been looking down on St. Gabriel’s was Gerard’s father Padraig who passed away recently. Padraig was heavily involved with the club and served as chairman while also having daughters Niamh and Aisling playing.
“He would have been at every game,” added Gerard Donnellan when asked about his father. “He would have given a bit of advice to us on the sideline and everything. And telling us what we were doing right and what we were doing wrong.
“He would have been proud of the girls today. They put in a great performance. And we’ll celebrate tonight.”
