Our
U16 girls were celebrating on Saturday after winning the County A Championship
in an exciting final against Eoghan Rua.
This squad ably managed by Colin Ledwith, Sinead Corcoran and Orla
Keaveny brought the U16 Championship
back to St Marys for the first time since 2010, and won the game playing as a
skilful team full of belief. Things
looked dodgy when the impressive Eoghan Rua team raced into a 4-02 to 0-02 lead
in the first quarter, but our girls withstood this onslaught and showed their
temperament by easing back into the match through Roisin Martin and Kayla
Breheny getting control of midfield and our forwards keeping the scoreboard
moving with a good flow of point taking.
Our backline had leaders in every position and they tigerishly worked as
a unit to close down options for their opponents. Then goalkeeper Laoise Treanor’s accuracy
with her distribution started a platform for many attacks. At the break, incredibly Eoghan Rua had been
held scoreless (well done our backline) for the remainder of the first half and
the sides were level at 2-08 to 4-02. This St Marys side had tasted defeat in a
number of previous finals, but their support could sense a determination in them
that this was going to be their day.
The second half despite stiff Eoghan Rua opposition belonged to St
Marys. Wing forwards Emma Corcoran and
Lisa Kelly’s storming runs pegged back Eoghan Rua and created opportunities for
Ciara Gilroy and Helen Monaghan who in some style put the match beyond the
opposition. When Eoghan Rua did break forward, our backs
made sure nothing easy was given up, and marshalled the area to protect their
keeper and minimise scoring opportunities. In the end, the scoreline of 5-15 to
6-03 was a little flattering for us as Eoghan Rua always looked capable of
coming back into the game, but the strength of the St Marys teamplay won the
day, which ended with captain Ciara Gilroy lifting the cup in front of a large and
vocal St Mary's support.
Congratulations to every member of the squad as the strength in depth and
commitment from the bench played a huge part all season. Well done also to the management team and
the supporters.
The U13 boys had a comfortable win in the Feile against Drumcliffe/Rosses
Point, and this win qualifies them for the County Final. Foundations of the
victory were laid in an impressive first 10 minutes into a stiff wind. The U21 squad made a winning start to their Championship
campaign with a pulsating victory over Eastern Harps in Keash on Saturday
evening on a scoreline of 3-11 to 2-12. There were lots of positives in the
victory, including the spread of five years in the panel of 25 players on the
day, and knowing several other players will join the panel for next weekend’s
mouthwatering home game against Coolera Strandhill. Eastern Harps made a great start to the game to
lead by 7 points early in the second half, so huge credit to our lads who
rolled up their sleeves and dug out the result.
All in the club send our condolences to the Keane and Carleton families on the sad
and untimely death of Niamh, sister to Sharon and David, may she rest in peace.