Karen Kielt stars as Kilrea defeat Steelstown in Junior final at Owenbeg

Outfield Junior B Championship Final 

Kilrea 2-7

Steelstown Reserves 0-4

KAREN Kielt led the way as she guided her club Kilrea to the Junior B championship on Friday evening in Owenbeg. 

The experienced duel star hit 1-5 as the Pearses in their first year fielding an adult senior side. The victory was laid with a strong opening half as they built up a 2-6 to 0-1 advantage. Kielt who has won numerous county and titles and also provincial with Glen roles back the years to turn in a superb display. The Kilrea side also included Karen’s sister Christina and Bronagh McNicholl who both lined out for Glen in last years senior county final but now lining out for their home club. 

While defeated, this young Steelstown side showed plenty of promise and had opportunities to have made this a musher closer contest especially with a dominant second half. It was in the final quarter and their shooting that was to be their downfall and the concession of a second goal on the stroke of half time that left it a long way back. 

The Pearses got off to a blistering start with Karen Kielt hitting 1-1 inside two minutes. Following her opening point, she combined with her sister Christina to fire home her goal. It was the dream start and one Steelstown never recovered from. The City girls did get off the mark on 11 minutes when Shannon McCartney split the posts from a free, the lively forward was to notch all her sides scores. 

Bronagh McNicholl with a fisted effort and two converted frees from Karen Kielt stretched the advantage to seven by the 19th minute. It wasn’t all one way traffic as the strong running of midfield duo Annie Duffy and Nora Harkin was causing Kilrea problems. Five wides and an effort short not helping Steelstown but they almost got a crucial goal four minutes from the break. A quick free from Duffy found McCartney who give the return ball but Eimear Maguire made a fine save to deny Duffy and from the rebound the ball struck the post. 

A let off for Kilrea and at the other end they were more clinical with the very lively Shauneen Donaghy hitting a fine score. Maguire was quick off her line again to halt a dangerous Steelstown move and then came the crucial second goal for the winners. A effort from Donaghy dropped short and McNicholl gathered and fired to the net. Then with the final action of the half McNicholl got in again but this time the crossbar came to Steelstowns’ rescue.

After the break, Steelstown, now with a aid of the wind saw plenty of the ball. They were rock solid in defence with Kilrea only adding. Further point, that coming from a Kielt free in the 62nd minute. The Brian Og’s girls had their chances but again wasted good opportunities with poor passing and just taking the wrong option at the vital stage. 

The direct running was paying dividends for them especially from Duffy and Harkin. The first score of the half came on 42 minutes when McCartney converted a free following a foul on Ellie Williams. Three minutes later it looked like they were in a for a goal but again a pass too many and the Kilrea defence turned the ball over. McCartney was on target again, this time Duffy was fouled and her fourth and final score also from a free came nine minutes from time. 

Defensively, Kilrea, were solid but they struggled to keep possession and Steelstown kept plugging away. With a minute of normal time remaining they almost struck for the goal they craved as Ellen McArdle played in Caitlin McCafferty but that women Karen Kielt was there to deny her goal bound effort. Then it was Kielt that had the final say as she tapped over a free to round off a superb opening year for Kilrea ladies. 

Team and Scorers

Kilrea: Karen Kielt 1-5 (0-3f), Bronagh McNicholl 1-1, Shauneen Donaghy 0-1

Steelstown Reserves: Shannon McCartney 0-4 (f)

Kilrea: Eimear Maguire; Maria McKinney, Catherine McNicholl, Amy O’Boyle; Daire McKenna, Julie Ann Rainey, Caoimhe McGurk; Shauneen Donaghy, Kimberly Burke; Clodagh McAleese, Jessica Hickinson, Annie McGilligan; Karen Kielt, Christina Kielt, Bronagh McNicholl. 

Subs Used: Erin Magilligan for C McGurk (HT), Jade Henry for C Kielt (43), Michaela Doherty for C McAleese (46), Dervla Thompson A O’Boyle (61), Shannon McCloskey for K Burke (63). 

Steelstown: Bronach Crabtree; Carol Ann Gallagher, Ruagin Atkins, Rihanna Dobbins; Ella McBrearty, Emma Connolly, Grainne McGuiness; Annie Duffy, Nora Harkin; Ciara McWade, Ellie Williams, Ellen McArdle; Ciara Foley, Shannon McCartney (0-4, f), Sarah Hunter. 

Subs Used: Eve Mallet C A Gallagher (23), Caitlin McCafferty for C Foley (35), Kayla NicAilin for R Dobbins (49) Kiera McKeever C McWade (55), Saoirse Duggan for G McGuiness (59).