Strong first half clinches Kilmurry Ibrickane victory

Kilmurry Ibrickane  2-9

Éire Óg  0-6

PLAYED in very windy conditions at Shanahan McNamara Park in Doonbeg, the Kilmurry ladies had the pre-match tonic of winning the toss and having the strong gale at their backs for the opening period of the Division 3 league final.

The girls from the West got off to a flying start with an opening point from Karen Galvin in the second minute, which was followed a minute later by an excellent goal from the up-and-coming star of Clare underage football, Chloe Moloney.
In all, Moloney contributed 2-2 for her team and was the difference between the sides in what was an otherwise evenly contested match.
Éire Óg registered their first score after four minutes with a well-worked point from another player with huge potential, Shauna Keane. Kilmurry responded well, with four unanswered points from Ciara McCarthy (2), Moloney and Galvin.
The Quilty side then had a very lucky break when an excellent Éire Óg move ended with Keane knifing through the Kilmurry defence, only to see her unstoppable shot cannon off the crossbar and rebound to safety. A goal at this stage for the Townies would have been crucial and possibly game changing but it was not to be.
They registered the next score, from an Orla Devitt pointed free, but this was quickly cancelled out by Melissa McCarthy, who landed an inspiring point from 40 yards to give her side a 1-5 to 0-2 advantage approaching the 20-minute mark.
Devitt converted another free for Éire Óg to keep them very much in contention but disaster befell them in the 22nd minute when they were guilty of some poor defending and failing to clear their lines properly. Chloe Moloney latched onto the loose ball and promptly dispatched it to the net.
Although less than half the game was played, this score was in truth the match winner, as it gave Kilmurry a significant lead heading towards the break.
Moloney and Galvin added further points for the winners but the final score of the half went to Éire Óg, with Shauna Keane kicking an excellent effort from play against the wind. Kilmurry Ibrickane led at half-time, 2-8 to 0-4.
Scores were hard to come by in the second period and credit for this must go to the Kilmurry defence, who were well tutored tactically by coach Aidan Moloney. As Éire Óg had done in the first half, Kilmurry played an extra defender against the wind but the difference in how she was positioned and utilised was far more effectively managed by the coach.
Sarah Cullinan had the opening score of the second period for Éire Óg on 33 minutes but it was another 12 minutes before the Ennis side scored again, with a pointed free from Devitt.
Kilmurry defended staunchly, with Sharon Sexton keeping a tight reign on Keane and Rebecca Doohan and Dympna O’Dwyer working their socks off to keep the Townies at bay. Goalkeeper Leanne Meaney was also very solid and confident between the posts and didn’t put a foot wrong all evening.
Chloe Moloney was also deployed as a roving midfielder for the second half and she did Trojan work in this role by winning and carrying ball forward at every opportunity and shipping some fairly heavy tackles in the process.
Éire Óg fought to the end but Kilmurry Ibrickane refused to give an inch. The worthy winners were rewarded with the final score of the game, when Karen Galvin landed her fourth point of the match in the 48th minute.
Kilmurry Ibrickane were worthy and deserving winners when referee Damien Fox, who had a good game in difficult wind conditions, blew the final whistle. Éire Óg will rue some missed chances but will take something from the game, knowing they were much closer than the final scoreline suggests.

Kilmurry Ibrickane: Leanne Meaney; Sharon Sexton, Lauren McCarthy, Audrey Cahill; Áine Cunningham, Rebecca Doohan, Fiona O’Neill; Dympna O’Dwyer, Maeve Foley; Tara Comber, Edel Lynch (capt), Karen Galvin (0-4); Ciara McCarthy (0-2), Melissa McCarthy (0-1), Chloe Moloney (2-2).
Subs: Loretta Hanrahan, Shauna Healy, Bernie McGuire, Lilly Moloney, Teresa Morrissey and Ciara Hickey.
Management: Aiden Moloney, Patrick McCarthy, Francis Doohan, Martina Moloney and Theresa Doohan.

Éire Óg: Aoife O’Neill; Laura Browne, Sophie Hanna, Sinéad Darcy; Niamh Walsh, Aida Griffey (capt), Sarah Redmond; Alana O’Brien, Órla McMahon; Sarah Cullinan (0-1), Órla Devitt (0-3), Louise Kirwan; Aoife Sheehan, Shaunagh O’Brien, Shauna Keane (0-2).
Subs: Katie Malone, Rebecca Crowe, Rae Wall, Deirbhle Ryan, Elana Bradley, Ciara McCarthy and Clare Chadda.
Management: Alan Malone and Tom Sheehan.
Referee: Damien Fox.