Taghmon 2-13 Blackwater 0-4

Never did that old adage of a game of two halves seem truer than this Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Rackard League Girls football Roinn B final. Ultimately, it was  a very different second half display that saw a skilful Taghmon side overcome their determined Blackwater counterparts to claim the title. Blackwater entered the final on the back of last year’s excellent Roinn C success and they were hoping to beat Taghmon in the race for promotion to Roinn A status.  Up to half time, it appeared that the winner could have been anyone.

Taghmon started well and scored quickly through Aoife Codd. Despite several attacks however, they squandered early chances and allowed Blackwater to level when Ciara Molloy set up the dangerous Marie Sutton for a score. Taghmon briefly pulled away with a brace of Emma Clarke points but Blackwater grew in confidence with each Taghmon wide and levelled affairs again when Marie Sutton and Ciara Molloy drove over further scores for their team. Industrious Blackwater midfielder Moya Fortune cleared seven balls up the field at this stage of the game and seemed to be determined to drive her team on. Gabrielle Marin was also doing some great work in the Blackwater defence with the help of Amy White.

The game remained close as scores were exchanged by Emma Kelly and Ciara Molloy and then the impressive Ciara Banville used her pace to power through the Blackwater defence and score just before halftime to give her team the slimmest of leads, 0-5 to 0-4. Seven first half Taghmon wides to Blackwater’s none hinted at what was to come in the second half if Taghmon could get their act together in front of goal.

Taghmon emerged in the second half a different side, this time much more focussed and slicker in attack  and they swiftly began to make their scoring chances count. Ciara Banville got the early score and this was quickly followed by a long range Emma Clarke free. Michelle Carty seemed desperate to get in on the scoring act and was unfortunate to rattle the post and be denied twice by the sterling goalkeeping of Blackwater’s Nicola Roche. This sustained pressure was rewarded when Emma Clarke and Ciara Banville both added two more points each to the scoreboard to open up a 7 point lead.

Shauna Dunne got her first score after some great interplay with Michelle Carty just before the game was fully put beyond Blackwater. It was Emma Clarke who got the score of the match, calmly sidefooting the ball into the top corner of the goal from distance to bring the Taghmon score to 1-12 to Blackwater’s 0-4. Emma goaled again soon after when Michelle Carty set her up for a simpler close range effort. Ciara Banville scored her fifth point with another burst of pace and skill as the flurry of Taghmon scores continued.

Blackwater fought in vain against the stiff breeze and the countless Taghmon attacks and were unlucky not to get the goal that they deserved when Ciara Dixon hit the post late on. Marie Sutton came close soon after but was also unfortunate to see her chance flash across the goalmouth. With a huge panel of thirty six girls, brighter days are certain to be ahead for these Blackwater girls but on this day it was undoubtedly Taghmon’s time to shine and that they truly did in the end.

Taghmon: Nicola Roche, Caitlin Nash, Mairead Nolan, Anna Eustace, Niamh Lacey, Mollie Redican, Michelle Carty, Shauna Dunne, Emma Kelly, Ciara Banville, Emma Clarke, Aoife Codd, Therese Redmond, Anna Peiro Doyle, Alannah Lacey, Chloe Clancy, Anna Kelly, Annabelle Dunclody Doyle, Aisling Kelly, Megan O’Sullivan, Katie Flynn, Bronagh Curran, Hannah Roche Kelly, Lisa-Marie Whitty, Amber Kehoe Byrne, Dearbhla O’Hanlon

Blackwater: Laura Cash, Leah Rossiter, Fiona Bernarius, Melanie Corrigan, Gabrielle Marin, Amy White, Ciara Dixon, Moya Fortune, Laura Kehoe, Lisa Tyrrell, Ciara Molloy, Marie Sutton, Aisling Murphy, Amber Wright, Emily Donohue, Clodagh Whelan, Orla Roche, Millie Nolan, Tashana Hoy, Aoife O’Brien, Evelyn Burke, Amy Kelly, Shauna Murphy, Erin Murphy, Sophie O’Brien, Shauna Cullen, Caitlin Byrne-Farrell, Philome Power, Florence Healy, Lily Mangan, Rachel Cash, Rebecca Moran, Ella Wright, Laura Mc Guinness, Hannah Murphy, Shauna Byrne