Brigid's find their groove to take Ladies Intermediate Football title

Carlow Ladies Intermediate Football Final

St Brigid's 4-14

Kildavin/Clonegal 0-6

The first of the two ladies finals scheduled for Netwatch Cullen Park started under the heavy showers but that didn’t stop certain die hard fans from standing on the terrace in shorts with an umbrella .

First score came after just two minutes when well worked free was given short and Sara Doyle was on the loop to kick the score.

St Brigid’s found the net thanks to Fiona Hobson after 3 minutes, a left footed effort to the roof of the net. Followed up by a Tara Lyons point.

Good pressure from KC on the kickout led to free earned by Nicole Roberts with Isobel Cronin converting to make it 1-2 to 0-1 after 9 minutes.

Nice link up play Aoife Carroll and Niamh Cox came to a well earned free converted again by Cronin. Could this be the confidence last year’s Junior champions need?  

After 15 minutes Sara Doyle showed her class running at the middle of Kildavin/Clonegal defence to neatly slot over a point. Brigid’s pressure from the kick out led to a turn over from Mayghan Doyle who took command of the ball and ran into the large square and slotted home another goal making it 2-3 to 0-2.

Brigid’s were starting to show their class now though with three points from Fiona Hobson, Aibha Kiernan and Sara Doyle. Doyle wasn’t done there as she kicked another and her fourth in just 24 minutes.  

Brigid’s took control for the last 10 minutes with Tara Lyons pointing towards the end of first half, Kildavin/Clonegal had possession of the ball but were struggling.

Special mention has to go to Pamela Hayden who done a great job in the middle.

St Brigids started as they left off with run through middle only for a great save by Katelyn Sheppard in Kildavin/Clonegal goal. Danielle Lambe found the posts with only two minutes gone in the half.  

After a well worked move by Kildavin/Clonegal team India Murnagh pointed , Caoimhe Redmond and Orlagh Hickey were moving the ball together well to break the Brigid’s defence down.

After a great save by Katelyn Sheppard, Ailbhe Maguire was fasted to react and dispatched the ball to the net.

St Brigids opted to go away from the running game and when with a long ball into the full forward Fiona Hobson who was able to get the ball away to Ruby Connolly who finished low to the net making it 4-09 to 0-3 after 43 minutes.

The next three minutes was all St Brigids. Sara Doyle kicked two more points with a great Ruby Connolly point separating Doyle’s fifth and sixth of the game. Tara Lyons tagged on another score with 50 on the clock.

Kildavin/Clonegal are a team who only set up three years ago reaching a Junior semi final the first year, winning Junior last year and in this Intermediate final can hold their heads high as they didn’t give up.

They tagged on three points in the final four minutes thanks to Orlagh Hickey and Caoimhe Redmond who ran themselves into the ground. Isobel Cronin on the 59th minute pressured the St Brigid’s kickout leading to a free which she slotted over.

Tara Lyons finished off a complete team performance kicking her fourth point on the final whistle making it final score of St Brigids 4-14 to Kildavin/Clonegal 0-6. St Brigid’s Chloe Smith lifted the Carlow LFGA Intermediate Cup amending for last year’s disappointment.

St Brigid’s: Rachel Hickey; Chloe Smith, Pam Murphy, Lauren McGrath; Orla Kealy, Megan Kane, Ailbhe Maguire; Aibha Kiernan, Mayghan Doyle; Rose Alice  Byrne, Sara Doyle, Kate Ryan; Tara Lyons, Fiona Hobson, Danielle Lambe.

Subs: Ruby Connolly for Kate Ryan (30 minutes), Olwynn Doyle for L.McGrath (30 minutes), Rachel Treacy for Danielle Lambe (45 minutes), Annie Lawlor for Orla Kealy (50 minutes), Elisha Ryan for Ailbhe Maguire (50 minutes).

Kildavin/Clonegal: Katelyn Sheppard; Emma Byrne, Sarah Kirwan, Maria Fitzpatrick; Lia Dunne, Aine Hickey, Niamh Cox; Aoife Carroll, Caoimhe Byrne; Chloe Roberts, Caoimhe Redmond, Orlagh Hickey; Isobel Cronin, India Mernagh, Nicole Roberts.

Subs: Kim Sheil for Emma Byrne (30 minutes), Ava Treacy for Lia Dunne (45 minutes), Megan Doyle for Chloe Roberts (45 minutes), Sophie Byrne for Nicole Roberts (48 minutes), Sinead Nolan for Niamh Cox (48 minutes).

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