Laura Walsh stars as Mourneabbey beat Castlehaven to minor ladies football championship title
Mourneabbey's Laura Walsh tries to evade the tackle of Castlehaven's Emma McCarthy in their minor football championship final clash at Bishopstown. Picture: David Creedon
Mourneabbey added the Cork Minor A championship to their trophy cabinet following their win over Castlehaven at Bishopstown.
Once they took the lead, they were always in front despite the best efforts of a valiant Castlehaven side. The West Cork team are far from a bad side and their display on the night would have won them many another game. The likes of Hannah Sheehy, Laura O’Donoghue, and Niamh O’Sullivan are top-class players.
But they were up against an experienced, determined Mourneabbey team that have plenty of skill as well. They were back-boned by Abbie Hayes, Molly Burke, Kate Williamson, Grace Cronin, Laura Walsh, and Deirdre Cronin who all started in their senior win over Éire Óg a few weeks ago.
And every other player that started the minor final was on the bench for the senior game as well, which shows the quality that the Haven faced in this decider.
The Haven had the first real chance when O’Sullivan burst forward but Hayes saved superbly to deny her a goal.
Laura Walsh, who was simply outstanding, opened the scoring in the fifth minute and she added two more, to make it 0-3 to no score after nine minutes.
Mourneabbey looked like getting their first goal a minute later but Ciara Dennehy denied Laura Finnegan with a superb save.
Rachel Breen increased their lead before Ellie McCarthy got the Haven off the mark.
But from the restart, Mourneabbey worked the ball up the pitch to see Breen get their first goal. Walsh added two points to make it 1-6 to 0-1, before Hayes pulled off another great save, this time denying Jacinta Connolly.
McCarthy got the Haven’s second point, with Walsh (2), Lauren Finnegan, and Deirdre Cronin replying for Mourneabbey.
Sheehy pulled a point back just before half-time as the Haven trailed by 1-10 to 0-3 at the break.
McCarthy got the Haven’s fourth point before a goal from Kate Williamson put Mourneabbey in control.
Breen and Walsh were amongst their scorers as they led by 2-15 to 0-4, with 45 minutes played.
Three minutes later the Haven were thrown a lifeline when O’Sullivan scored a goal, following some good work by McCarthy.
Grace Cooney and Sarah Finnegan replied with white flags before the latter got their third goal.
Sheehy hit two late points for the Haven, but they were no more than consolation scores as Mourneabbey ran out deserving winners on the night.
L Walsh 0-8, S Finnegan, R Breen 1-2 each, K Williamson 1-0, D Cronin 0-2, L Finnegan, K O’Toole, G Cooney 0-1 each.
Ellie McCarthy 0-4 (0-3 f), N O'Sullivan 1-0, H Sheehy 0-3.
A Hayes; S Walsh, M Burke, S Thornhill; K Williamson, E Walsh, L Finnegan; G Cronin, S Finnegan; R Breen, L Walsh, D Cronin; G Cooney, K O’Toole, E Walsh.
R Church for G Cronin, M Kelleher for G Cooney, H O’Connell for E Walsh, K Enright for K O’Toole, B O’Callaghan for S Walsh, G Walsh for S Thornhill, K Ryan for L Walsh, E Dorgan for S Finnegan.
C Dennehy; N O’Driscoll, Emma McCarthy, A Buckley; A McCarthy, L O’Donoghue, K O’Driscoll; H Sheehy, E Buckley; J Connolly, Ellie McCarthy, M Cahalane; E Connolly, N O’Sullivan, R Sheehy.
C Flannery for M Cahalane, K O’Connell for J Connolly, K O’Brien for E Buckley.
Cathal McAllister, Aghada.
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