Tables turned in Peninsula rivalry as St Patricks reclaim Senior Championship

HALPENNY TRAVEL SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

St Patricks 2-11

Cooley Kickhams 2-7

The tables were very much turned in the Peninsula rivalry in Louth ladies football circles anyway, as St Patricks avenged last year’s final defeat to reclaim the Louth Senior Championship, gaining revenge on their rivals, to seal a league and championship double.

While it may have taken some late frees from the outstanding pair Grace Treanor and Kate Flood to seal the deal for the Lordship side, this victory was ultimately deserved as they led from the beginning to the end in a performance which saw them nullify key Cooley shooters Lauren Boyle and Niamh Rice, two players capable of winning games on their own.

Exactly 8 minutes on the clock, and county star Kate Flood buried the ball to the net for the Pats’ second major, and her side were seemingly in control, leading by 2-9 to 1-5.

However, you can never write off any Cooley side at any level, whether its their men or ladies teams who line out in the green and gold, and so it proved when Lauren Boyle, who returned to the field having been withdrawn, set up Ciara Boyle to fire to the bottom corner, as the defending champions came roaring into life.

While Niamh Rice was held scoreless by a determined Pats backline, with Melisssa O’Hanlon, Naoimh Butterley, and Deribhle O’Doherty outstanding, Cooley seemed toothless until Boyle’s major. The exception to this was Eibhlin Rice who stood up where others struggled, hitting 1-5, and having 16 possessions over the hour.

Ciara Boyle’s goal followed 0-2 from Rice, and that Lauren Boyle free to set up a grandstand finish. In that chaotic period, Pats custodian Rebecca Lambe Fagan tipped a parried effort from sub Anne-Marie Brophy over the bar, in one of two crucial saves she made in that half.

It was 2-7 to 2-9 with seven minutes remaining.

However, the Pats held their nerve at both ends of the pitch, with some crucial turnovers from sub Chloe Barry, Deribhle O’Doherty and Naoimh Butterly proving just as imperative to their success as Treanor and Flood’s late frees, in sealing this memorable four point victory.

First Half:

Following last year’s disappointing showing when the two sides met in last year’s final, St Patricks came out of the blocks, in a first half performance which mostly imbued incisive panache in their play, as they led their rivals by 0-5 to 0-2 inside the first quarter, with Grace Treanor and Kate Flood finding the range early on, before the lively Meg Woods, Treanor (f) and Flood, gave them a 0-7 to 0-2 lead inside 25 minutes.

The Pats were dominant across all areas, winning 4 out of 9 on the Cooley kickout in that first half, which was a problem for last year’s championship winners in the game, as Aine Breen, Ellen Barry, and Aisling O’Doherty excelled this sector, with Breen once again displaying key leadership when required.

Cooley were largely blunt in attack, with Eibhlin Rice their main scorer-in chief, with Lauren Boyle marshalled by Naoimh Butterly, and Niamh Rice held scoreless.

However, with players like that on the field, they remain capable of producing a big moment, having taking a Shannon Walker pass off the shoulder, Niamh Rice set off for goal.

Her first effort was blocked by Pats sweeper Carrie Keenan, before the forward was denied by the crossbar as the Pats scrambled the ball to safety.

A delightful Grace Treanor footpass found Aisling O’Doherty, who calmly slotted past Cooley’s Corin Rice to make it 1-7 to 0-2 in her side’s favour, heading into the final few minutes of the first half.

That goal sparked Cooley into life, as despite losing Lauren Boyle, Eibhlin Rice got the better of Rebecca Lambe Fagan to scramble the ball home to give Cooley hope at the break.

Second Half:

Early scores were traded by Kate Flood and Eibhlin Rice, while the latter was denied minutes later by Rebecca Lambe Fagan with a marvellous save from a very talented keeper, in a crucial minute, as second later the Pats moved down the field, for Meg Woods to feed Kate Flood who fired the ball to the roof of the net, to seemingly seal the win for the Pats at 2-9 to 1-5 after 38 minutes.

The Pats would only register once between the 38th and 59th minute, as Cooley refused to give up their title without a fight.

Lauren Boyle was deemed fit to return to play, and the forward had a role to play, setting up Ciara Boyle to fire to the net, to bring them right back into contention.

Eibhlin Rice continued to find the range, as the Pats’ backs were against the wall, with Lambe Fagan producing another save to tip Anne-Marie Brophy’s effort over the bar.

It was added time, and the game was very much in the melting pot. This is where the Pats’ game management deserves huge praise, with every key defensive turnover made from Deirbhle O’Doherty, Melissa O’Hanlon, captain Caoimhe O’Hare and sub Chloe Barry met with a roar from their vocal support similar to what we have heard at the recent Rugby World Cup.

Thanks to that clever game management and composure in possession from Carrie Keenan, Aine Breen, Anna White, and co, the Pats held on, thanks to those late frees from Grace Treanor and Kate Flood, to seal a memorable moment in their history, a league and championship double, and what a way to do it!

St Patricks: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Melissa O’Hanlon, Caoimhe O’Hare, Naoimh Butterley; Ellen Barry, Anna White, Deirbhle O’Doherty; Aine Breen, Saoirse Butterly; Carrie Keenan, Grace Treanor (0-4) (3f), Aisling O’Doherty (1-0); Niamh Holland, Kate Flood (1-6) (1f), Meg Woods (0-1). Subs: Chloe Barry for Saoirse Butterly (HT), Meabh Butterly for White (52), Saoirse Butterly for Deribhle O’Doherty (61).

Cooley Kickhams: Coirin Rice; Hazel Malone, Claire Donnelly, Katie McDonald; Shannon Walker, Laura Traynor, Chloe McCarragher; Aoife McDaid, Laoise McElroy; Niamh Rice, Katelyn Murphy, Lucy White; Lauren Boyle (0-1) (1f), Eibhlin Rice (1-5) (3f), Katie O’Rourke. Subs: Ciara Boyle (1-0) for Lauren Boyle (24), Roisin McDaid for Traynor (31), Anne-Marie Brophy (0-1) for O’Rourke (HT), Lauren Boyle for McElroy (47).

Referee: Sean Doherty (Kilkerly Emmets)