Kildress Ladies finished off a remarkable year by winning the Tyrone Junior League Final after yet another remarkable game with Moortown earlier today at The Rock.
When they met in the League back in July, both teams played out a draw. In the Championship Final in October a late, late goal gave Moortown a one-point win. And today it was Kildress’ turn to edge over the line after a nail-biting free-kick shoot-out that followed a 0-16 to 2-10 draw, after extra-time.
This was another thoroughly entertaining game, the latest of so many involving our Ladies team this year. Strongly and very well refereed by Brian McGinn, and played in perfect conditions, it kept the large attendance on their toes throughout, flowing first one way and then the other. In the first half Moortown looked like a team that had been having regular football whilst The Tones looked like one that hadn’t played for a month. That meant Kildress were that bit rusty whilst Moortown were more match-sharp, and led by 2-3 to 0-5 at the break. The St Malachy’s defence was very well organised, though Kildress weren’t able to make the most of the times they did get in on goal.
By the third quarter The Tones had come well up to the pace of things and dominated play, scoring the four points in a row that brought them level by the water-break. They should have been comfortably ahead at this stage, but found Sinead McVey in the Moortown goal simply unbeatable on the day, putting in a heroic performance for her team, but one that was definitely very frustrating for Kildress.
In the final quarter Moortown steadied their ship and went ahead by three, only for Kildress to pull two back. Moortown then pushed their lead out to two, but Kildress simply refused to wilt and Chloe Tracey equalised with the last kick of the game.
In extra time it was a riveting sequence of Kildress by one – Level – Kildress by one – Level – Moortown by one – Level.
Then came a first-ever shoot-out experience for Kildress (very clearly and very well-managed by Referee Brian McGinn) and it was totally fitting that Captain Caoimhe Gilmore coolly shot the point that clinched the shoot-out and won the League title for Kildress.
Kildress won this one, and denied a very fine Moortown team a League and Championship double, simply on the basis of an outstanding all-round team effort. But within that there were stellar performances from Caoimhe Gilmore, Katie-Rose Muldoon, the team’s spectacular pivots Aoife O’Connor and Eimear McGarrity, Rachel McKenna, Eilis Keenan, Chloe Tracey and Annie McKenna.
And on the day that’s in it, and after the season that’s been, we also have to mention our winning Management of Conal Heagney, Sean Beggs, Maeve Conway and Donna Hagan. Achievers for us across the board. And stylish and classy with it.
Kildress: Caoimhe Gilmore | Donna Hagan, Cathy Connolly, Katie Rose Muldoon | Rachel McKenna, Aoife O’Connor, Natacha O’Neill | Sinead Daly (0-1), Antaine McNamee | Annie McKenna (0-2), Eimear McGarrity, Eilis Keenan (0-4) | Chloe Tracey (0-7), Shannon Crilly (0-1), Ann-Marie Lennon (0-1) | Aisling Hagan, Leah McCrory, Eimear McAleer, Stacy Boone, Niamh Brannigan, Maeve Conway, Marie Daly, Emma Gillen, Nicole Keenan, Anna Lennon, Cara Loughran, Bronagh McAleer, Emma McKernan, Alanna McNamee, Donna Mullin, Caitlin Murphy, Shannon O’Connor, Emma O’Kane, Mairead Rafferty, Sinead Slane, Charleen Quinn, Lanaoise Lagan, Rebekah McCaughey, Ellen McGurk
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Kildress Men Fall at Tattyreagh
In the end it was Tattyreagh’s two opportunist goals that separated the teams, as Kildress fell to the St Patrick’s by 0-15 to 2-15 in today’s men’s Division II League game at Darcy Park. But this was no opportunist victory by Tattyreagh as they deserved the points, and had in any case opened up that six-point gap by the first water-break, when they led by 0-6 to no score.
Kildress did bring it back to two points but a late first-half goal saw Tattyreagh lead by 1-9 to 0-6 at the break. The home side was in no mood to let things slip, and by the second water-break still held that six-point advantage. When their second goal stretched their lead to ten it looked game-over, but Kildress to their credit roared back with five points in a row, including a couple of spectacular efforts from Shea Murphy. Tattyreagh showed no signs of panicking however and held on the close the game out for an assured and deserved victory.
Kildress played well but Tattyreagh were better, despite the strong showings from Callum Holland, Tiernan McNamee, Marty Loughran, Paraic Lagan, Shea Quinn and Matty McGuigan.
Feargal Ward refereed a free-flowing game very well.
