County Junior B Ladies Football Final – Saturday, 13th October 2018
St. Gabriel’s 4-16 Glinsk 3-4
Darren Kelly in Mountbellew
St. Gabriel’s finally put the boot down in the second half to run out comfortable winners of the County Junior B Ladies Football title. Five points unanswered created a buffer for the east Galway side before goals from Aisling Donnellan and Pearl Finnerty wrapped up this contest.
The victors led 1-8 to 2-3 at half-time but could easily have found themselves behind despite dominating the third quarter. After just 50 seconds, they’d struck the first goal as Rosa Bleahene, Caitriona Cormican and Aisling Donnellan combined to set up Ciara Lohan.
St. Gabriel’s inside forwards were a constant threat and points for Donnellan, Bleahene, Niamh Daly and Cormican (2) gave them a 1-5 to 0-0 lead on 12 minutes. Glinsk hadn’t settled yet but when Emma Curley split the posts on 13 minutes, they gradually got back in contention.
Ellen Bleahene made it 1-6 to 0-1 for St. Gabriel’s before Glinsk were awarded a penalty after Shauna Keane was fouled. Curley had her first shot saved but referee Tom Browne wasn’t happy with the positioning of keeper Laura Hession. The second was dispatched into the net.
Laura Scanlon pointed on 19 minutes reducing arrears to 1-6 to 1-2 but St. Gabriel’s looked in control again when Ellen Bleahene won thier penalty but Donnellan’s attempt to place the ball was off target and wide. However, she made amends with a free.
Curley and Cormican traded white flags but Glinsk were definitely back when Curley struck a goal. But captain Lorraine Curley was sinbinned after the restart and St. Gabriel’s pulled clear through Ellen Bleahene, Cormican (3) and Donnellan. And on 47 minutes, Donnellan rattled the net.
St. Gabriel’s third goal came four minutes when later when Donnellan turned provider for in the in running Pearl Finnerty. The player of the match made it 3-14 to 2-3 before Emma Curley converted Glinsk’s sole second half score. Donnellan and Ellen Bleahene concluded St. Gabriel’s account.
Scorers – St. Gabriel’s: Aisling Donnellan 1-5 (three frees), Caitriona Cormican 0-6, Pearl Finnerty 1-0, Ciara Lohan 1-0, Ellen Bleahene 0-3, Niamh Daly 0-1, Rosa Bleahene 0-1.
Scorers – Glinsk: Emma Curley 2-3 (1-0 penalty, two frees), Laura Scanlon 0-1.
St. Gabriel’s: Laura Hession; Lauren Dolan, Niamh Donnellan, Leona Larkin; Rachel Byrnes, Grace Finnerty, Pearl Finnerty; Laura Creaven, Niamh Daly; Antoinette Cormican, Ciara Lohan, Ellen Bleahene; Rosa Bleahene, Caitriona Cormican, Aisling Donnellan.
Subs used: Rachel Larkin for Byrnes (30 mins), Emma Reynolds for Creaven (HT), Caoimhe Garvey for Lohan (53 mins), Amy Kelly for C. Cormican (56 mins), Eva Sinclair for R. Bleahene (56 mins).
Glinsk: Christina Fahy; Ann Marie Cunniffe, Lorraine Curley, Linda Kilheaney; Orlaith Trayers, Lisa Ward, Nicole Griffin; Lauren Griffin, Bridget Barlow; Eimear Keane, Emma Curley, Alicia Collins; Lisa Nolan, Shauna Keane, Laura Scanlon.
Subs used: Katie Connolly for Kilheaney (37 mins).
Referee: Tom Browne
Player of the Match: AISLING DONNELLAN (St. Gabriel’s)
