AIG DUBLIN FEILE DIV 2 FINAL MATCH REPORT
AIG DUBLIN FEILE DIVISION TWO FINAL
CASTLEKNOCK………………………………. 4-5
ST BRIGID’S…………………………………… 3-2
By Daire Walsh
Aisling O’Neill was in fine form for Castleknock at St Peregrine’s GAA on Sunday morning, as the Somerton Park girls overcame near neighbours St Brigid’s in a high-scoring Dublin Feile Division Two final.
Just one point separated the teams (3-3 to 3-2) at the end of a goal-laden opening period, but following strong defensive work by Castleknock after the break, they ultimately claimed the spoils against their Dublin 15 rivals.
The two sides had already met on Saturday in Group A of this second-tier section, when St Brigid’s emerged victorious on a score line of 4-0 to 2-3.
Castleknock did enough to progress to the last-four, though, and in a hard-fought fixture, they got the better of St Jude’s with just two points to spare (2-4 to 2-2). Brigid’s were impressive 3-5 to 1-2 victor’s over Ballinteer St John’s, and they opened the scoring with a pointed free from Amelia Ryan.
This was supplemented by Ella Connolly score from the resulting attack, before Castleknock settled into the stride at the Blakestown venue. Emma Diamond lofted a free into the Brigid’s square, and when the ball broke to O’Neill at a left-hand angle, she clinically fired past the helpless Lauren Quane for the first goal of the game.
The self-belief of Castleknock was lifted as a result, and back-to-back points by Diamond (free) and O’Neill ensured that they created a three-point gap between the teams. Brigid’s were finding it difficult to maintain their early momentum, and they suffered a further blow on nine minutes, when a speculative placed-ball attempt from Diamond floated into the back of the net.
It was beginning to look quite ominous for Brigid’s, but after a break in play for substitutions, they started to hit a more familiar stride. Amy Power recorded a much-needed three-pointer with a neat finish, and this was followed by a similar score from the excellent Ryan – who executed a delicate lob over the head of Maya Golden.
A deflected goal from Lola Blue Ryan subsequently moved Brigid’s back in front, but just when it looked like the Tom Russell Park outfit were ready to take control of the proceedings, Castleknock responded in clinical style.
An O’Neill point brought the Brigid’s scoring sequence to an end, and a magnificent solo major by Lucy Quinn in first-half stoppage-time was another psychological boost for Joe Feely’s side.
This meant that they held a narrow 3-3 to 3-2 advantage when the action resumed, but with both sides committed to attacking football, the game was finely poised. Castleknock were eager to avenge the previous day’s reversal, however, and unanswered points through substitute Molly Tiernan and Eve McCann kept them in pole position during the third-quarter.
With Caoimhe Kavanagh and Hannah Bourke leading by example, the Castleknock defence were keeping a tight rein on the opposing attack – and when O’Neill picked up possession on the left-wing on the stroke of 20 minutes, her resulting shot drifted into the right-hand side of the Brigid’s net.
This was another massive set-back for Brigid’s, and even though Amelia Ryan, Ella Connolly and Power continued to cause problems for Castleknock, they were finding that scores were at a premium as the second-half developed.
They certainly had chances to reduce the margin, and although they had a welcome buffer at their disposal, Castleknock were always wary of a late surge by Brigid’s. However, with Golden proving to be an assured presence, they ultimately sealed the Division Two title with a five-point triumph.
Scorers – Castleknock: Aisling O’Neill 2-2, Emma Diamond 1-1 (1-1f), Lucy Quinn 1-0, Eve McCann, Molly Tiernan 0-1 each. St Brigid’s: Amelia Ryan 1-1 (0-1f), Amy Power, Lola Blue Ryan 1-0 each, Ella Connolly 0-1.
CASTLEKNOCK: Maya Golden; Aoife Bergin, Caoimhe Kavanagh, Caoimhe Sawyer; Eva Coughlan, Hannah Bourke, Emma Diamond; Sinead Feely, Shauna Phelan; Lucy Quinn, Eve McCann, Roisin Murphy; Robyn Mahon, Amy Dunne, Aisling O’Neill.
Subs: Alison Egan, Eva Mulholland, Aoibhinn O’Connell, Georgia O’Connell, Kaci O’Neill, Aisling Shiels, Molly Tiernan.
ST BRIGID’S: Lauren Quane; Clodagh Ryan, Eimear O’Reilly, Sophie O’Shea; Dara Loomes Lynn, Sarah Higgins, Amelia Ryan; Zoe O’Brien, Ella Connolly, Mia Murray, Kristen O’Brien; Amy Power, Lola Blue Ryan, Ellie Lynch.
Subs: Trista Tallon, Georgina Dempsey, Ruby Brady, Eabha McDonagh, Abby Littleton, Aoife Reilly, Izzie O’Reilly, Zoe O’Brien, Kate O’Neill, Sarah Condron.