Kilanerin 7-10 Piercestown 1-1

A stellar performance in St. Patrick’s Park by the Kilanerin and Ballythomas girls saw them win their first Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Rackard League Roinn A Girls’ Football Championship title. Just two years after winning the Roinn C division, the Kilanerin girls continued their upward curve by continuing to thrive in the higher division. It would prove to be the start a very entertaining double bill as faced regular finalists Piercestown in the first half of a Kilanerin-Piercestown double header on the night.

As finals go, Kilanerin got a dream start when they put 1-2 on the board within the opening ninety seconds. Anna Hughes and Neassa Ní Luasaigh combined well to strike down through the middle of the Piercestown defence early in play. This pattern would continue when centre back Thomasina Carter and midfielder Bébhínn McDonald also both drove up the middle to goal, and further points from Neassa Ní Luasaigh and Sienna Arcari created a stunning 3-4 to no score lead.

While a series of wides from Kilanerin invited Piercestown back into the game, the maroon and white girls found the Kilanerin defence to be as deadly as the girls in attack. A full back line well marshalled by Róisín McGonigle simply refused to cough up scores. In fact, the entire Kilanerin team worked well as a unit to track back and smother any Piercestown adventures into their half.

Up front, the stylish foot passing, hand passing and movement of the Kilanerin forwards continued to create many problems for Piercestown. Just before halftime, Bebhínn McDonald struck for another goal after a fine fine mazy run and finish.

The second half was a much more evenly contested affair, but for Piercestown the damage was already done. Ten minutes into the half, Piercestown got a score on the board when Sinéad Cullen pointed. Kilanerin however continued to press and were rewarded with further points through Sienna Arcari and Anna Hughes.

Bébhínn McDonald continued her fine form with two further goals and a point in the closing moments to finish with an impressive haul of scores. While her scoring prowess was a remarkable individual feat, it was undoubtedly a product of the excellent team play throughout the Kilanerin team.

Piercestown got the goal that their efforts deserved close to the final whistle when Anna Jeffares finished from close range. Unfortunately, the unstoppable form of Kilanerin saw them claim a well deserved title at the end of not only a excellent performance in the final, but an excellent year of football for the North Wexford girls.

Kilanerin: Megan Fahy, Alexia Arcari, Roisín McGonigle, Amy Noctor, Rachel Boland, Thomasina Carter, Ella Jones, Bebhínn McDonald, Anna Hughes, Caoimhe McGonigle, Neassa Ní Luasaigh, Edie Byrne, Sienna Arcari, Caoimhe Noblett, Lucy Buggy, Emma O’Sullivan, Ella McCarton, Gemma Bolton, Ruby Naessens, Hannah Sheriff, Martha Hart, Sophie Molloy, Faye Boland, Emma Kelly, Kate Millar

Piercestown: Ella Crotty, Kate Stafford, Nicole Goff, Grace O’Connor, Aoibhe Ormonde, Mia Quirke, Mary Connors, Isabell Lee Morris, Chloe Curtain, Sinéad Cullen, Leagh Maddock, Helena Mularney, Alanna Firman, Katie Audsley, Aoibhe Hurley, Anna Jaffares, Lily Murray, Lucy O’Hanlon, Eva Cashman, Kaylee Walsh, Ellen Devereux, Amber Shaw, Rhianna Kenny, Emma Sharrock, Ella Hurley