Feakle and Ruan must do it again

Feakle 2-6   Ruan -3

A LAST-gasp, injury-time point from Ruan youngster, Lauren O’Donoghue, levelled matters and set up a replay in this thrilling Junior B encounter with Feakle on Saturday afternoon at Éire Óg.

Ruan had the better start, pointing after six minutes from an Alice Casey free followed by a point from Brenda O’Donoghue some seven minutes later.

They held the bulk of possession for the next 10 minutes but failed to convert their chances, while Feakle were also guilty of a number of wides. It was the East Clare side that pushed ahead, however, with a Clodagh Gray goal in the 25th minute giving them a slender one-point lead.

Ruan goalie, Niamh Lyons pulled off a fantastic save in the last minute but the rebound was sent to the net by Lauren Guilfoyle to give her side a four-point lead at the break.

Within five minutes of the restart, Feakle had stretched their lead to nine points with Mary Kate Moloney notching up two points and Colette Purcell grabbing a goal. Ruan’s Rebecca Crowe raised a white flag, which seemed to spur on her side.

A point from a placed ball by Alice Casey along with two goals within two minutes, from Tasha Hynes and Anne O’Regan, left the minimum between the sides. Vera Loughnane pointed a free to put Feakle ahead by two points. Ruan responded with Alice Casey pointing in the 24th minute to once again make this a one-point match.

Excitement levels rose to fever pitch with Feakle defending valiantly and Ruan doing their utmost to breach that defence. Spectators watched with bated breath as injury time trickled into the third minute and glory seemed to be heading Feakle’s way, when Lauren O’Donoghue finally got through the defence and put her shot over the bar to ensure both sides do it all over again.

Feakle: Pauline Rochford, Siobhán Tuohy, Ciara Minogue, Lisa McGrath, Sarah McGuinness, Sharon Naughton, Colette Purcell (1-0), Clodagh McDonnell, Louise O’Halloran (captain), Clodagh Gray (1-0), Mary Kate Moloney (0-2, 1f), Vera Loughnane (0-01f), Lauren Guilfoyle (1-0).
Ruan: Niamh Lyons, Emily Mulqueen, Nicola O’Donoghue, Eadoin Fitzgerald, Claire McDonnell (captain) , Brenda O’Donoghue (0-1), Rebecca Crowe (0-1), Alice Mahoney, Niamh O’Loughlin, Edel O’Regan, Alice Casey (0-3, 2f), Lauren O’Donoghue (0-1), Tasha Hynes (1-0).
Subs: Anne O’Regan (1-0).
Referee: John Dolan (Clarecastle).