Maynooth EC beat Skibbereen College in the All-Ireland B Semi Final

Maynooth Education Campus took on Skibbereen Community College in a tough battle in the All-Ireland B Semi Final. The match took place in Mc Donagh Park in Nenagh Tipperary. With hard conditions to play in, Maynooth worked for sixty minutes plus extra time to come out with a victory. The game started off when captain Casey Noone won the toss and chose to play with the wind, Maynooth got a quick score giving them the upper hand. Hard work from the backs left Skibbereen low scoring in the first half. With a penalty won by Maynooth full forward Poppy Byrne, Hannah Merrick stepped up and slotted into the back of the net.

Even though there was hard work being put in from the full forward line to the goalie Ella Leavy, Skibbereen still managed to put scores on the scoreboard. With a great kick out from Ella won by Maynooth midfielder Meabh McDonagh, led to a well

worked score giving Maynooth momentum. Going into the second half Maynooth were leading by 8 points, but they were in for a tough second half against the wind. With MeabhMc Donagh coming back on after an early injury brought energy back into the team.

Skibbereen started out very strong making the match a draw within twenty minutes. The two teams were fighting very hard with it being a very even game. Skibbereen took a lead of three points with ten minutes remaining with Maynooth down to fourteen due to a yellow card. However, the backs worked extremely hard to hold off the Skibbereen forwards and a

goal by Eimear Behan drew the sides level and the game would go to extra time.

The first half of extra time was a cagey affair with both teams only scoring two points leaving it all to play for in the second half of extra time. Maynooth started off strong in the second half getting a quick goal and a point giving them the momentum they needed to go on and win the match. In the end Maynooth won by six points but the score doesn’t reflect the hard-

fought game.

Scores: Eimear Behan (2-2), Aoibheann Bircheall (1-3), Poppy Byrne (1-5), Hannah Merrick(1-0)and Aoife Murnane(1-2)

Maynooth Team - Ella Leavy; Aoife O’Riain, Grace Munro, Emelie McNally; Esa Heslin, Casey Noone, Kate Gormley; Hannah Merrick, Meabh McDonagh; Aoife Murnane, Emear Behan, Aoibheann Birchall; Keeva Flynn, Poppy Byrne, Isabel Lambert.

Subs: Kayla McGonagle for Meabh McDonagh, Carolina Farrell for Casey Noone, Lucy Martin

for Aoibheann Birchall.