Glynn shoots Killanena/Whitegate to Munster title

A POWERFUL defensive display against a strong wind in the first half was the primary reason Killanena/Whitegate captured the Division 2 Munster League title on Sunday. A three-way play-off between Killanena/Whitegate, Wolfe Tones and Feenagh/Kilmeedy was won by the East Clare side to gain qualification to the final against Cork side Carrigaline.
In their previous two games, the Killanena/Whitegate defence had been miserly, conceding just 1-5 and this continued in this hard-hitting final played in Charleville on Sunday evening.  The winners elected to play against the elements in the first half and Rachel Bleach, who was superb at midfield, opened the scoring. Two converted frees from Evelyn Glynn, who was top scorer again, left Killanena/Whitegate three points clear before Carrigaline had managed an attack. The Cork side scored three frees in the first half and in the second quarter, Glynn added two more scores.
The winners were in a comfortable 0-5 to 0-3 position at the interval with the strong wind at their backs for the second period. Carrigaline defended well for the first 10 minutes of the second half but eventually Killanena/Whitegate, who had played nine games in seven weeks, had superior fitness and Aisling Treacy and Lisa Donoghue were on target with a point each to send the winners four points clear. Triona Kelly, now operating at wing-forward, was beginning to dominate as centre-back Gráinne McNamara denied Carrigaline a route to goal.
Carrigaline had one point in the second half and should have scored at least one goal, only for determined defending by Anne McNamara, the excellent Ciara O’Leary and Ciara Mulvihill, who had to retire due to a leg injury. Such was the intensity of the exchanges, there was a number of stoppages due to injuries sustained by players of both sides.
The goal that was always on the cards was scored by Glynn in the 48th minute to send Killanena/Whitegate 1-7 to 0-3 clear. Two further scores by the Killanena sharpshooter sealed the win for her side to spark off great celebrations for the amalgamation side.
Best for the winners were Anne McNamara, Ciara O’Leary, Gráinne McNamara, Rachel Bleach, Amy McArthur, Evelyn Glynn, Aisling Treacy and Aoife Collins.

Killanena-Whitegate: Anne McNamara (Killanena), Ciara O’Leary (Whitegate), Ciara Mulvihill (Whitegate), Lorraine Canny (Killanena), Aoife Collins (Killanena), Gráinne McNamara (Killanena), Claire Taaffe (Killanena), Rachel Bleach (Whitegate) (0-1), Carol Minogue (Whitegate), Amy McArthur (Killanena), Pauline McNamara (Killanena), Evelyn Glynn (Killanena) (1-6), Lisa Donoghue (Whitegate) (0-1), Aisling Treacy (Whitegate) (0-1), Triona Kelly (Whitegate).
Subs: Ciara McNamara (Killanena) for Pauline McNamara, Sinéad Reilly (Killanena) for Canny, Emma Quirke (Whitegate) for Mulvihill (inj), Aoife Conlon (Killanena) for Bleach, Orla Burke (Whitegate) for Minogue and Sinéad Coen (Whitegate) for McArthur.
After the game, Joe O’Donnell presented the trophy to joint captains Ciara Mulvihill and Pauline McNamara.