Superb second-half sees St Mary's win Munster football title
St Mary's Macroom celebrate after winning the Munster Ladies Football PPS Junior A Championship at Banteer.
St Mary’s Macroom were crowned Munster Ladies Football PPS Junior A champions at Banteer on Tuesday.
The Cork side staged a remarkable comeback in the second half to deservedly come out on top.
They trailed by 2-4 to 1-1 at half-time and had conceded two late goals that saw Ursuline Thurles in prime position to retain their title.
But in the second half, the Cork side took over, led by Naomh Aban’s Roisín Ní Liatháin, amongst others.
She was outstanding after the break, and her tally of 0-8 played a crucial part in their win.
Added to a goal from Olivia King, who found the back of the net with her first touch after coming on, St Mary’s hit 1-8 without reply to take the title as they totally dominated after the break.
They won the All-Ireland Junior B championship last year and stepped up a grade this season, and on this performance, don’t rule them out winning back-to-back titles.
It took Ursuline Thurles just 20 seconds to take the lead when Orla Pamplin pointed from their first attack as the Tipp side were quicker to settle.
She increased their lead five minutes in as St Mary’s were finding it hard to get a foothold in the game.
But they started to settle, and Ní Liatháin got their first score after 10 minutes, to make it 0-2 to 0-1.
With 17 minutes gone, they took the lead when a good team move saw Shauna Keane get the game’s opening goal.
Ní Liatháin and Evie McMahon had combined well to set her up to see the Cork side lead by 1-1 to 0-2.
Leah O’Connell drove forward to point for Ursuline Thurles, and with 26 minutes gone, they were back on level terms, thanks to a Rosanna King point.
Two minutes later, they got their first of their two goals when Pamplin set up Melanie Flannery to score.
From the restart, they regained possession, with Sophie Moynihan’s effort coming back off the post.
However, Anna Doyle was quickest to react to the breaking ball to slot home Ursuline Thurles’ second goal, as they led 2-4 to 1-1 at half-time.
Early scores from Cliona O’Brien and Ní Liatháin reduced the deficit, before Flannery and Sophie Moynihan replied for Ursuline Thurles.
St Mary’s then took over, with two more from Ní Liatháin, making it 2-6 to 1-5.
Evie McMahon and O’Brien scored, and with 44 minutes gone, there was only a point in it, 2-6 to 1-8.
A minute late, and St Mary’s took the lead when Ní Liatháin played King in to score their second goal.
They added points from Hannah Sweeney and Ní Liatháin, and with time running out, they were 2-12 to 2-6 in front. Flannery scored late on, but by then it was no more than a consolation score as the Cork side ran out deserving winners.
R Ni Liathain 0-8 (5f), S Keane, O King 1-0 each, C O’Brien 0-2, E McMahon (f), H Sweeney 0-1 each.
M Flannery 1-2 (1f), A Doyle 1-0, O Pamplir 0-2, L O’Connell, R King, S Moynihan 0-1 each.
L Hodman (Naomh Fionnbarra); T Browne (St Val’s), S Cronin (Naomh Fionnbarra), H O’Shea (Macroom); P Murphy (Macroom), A O’Riordan (St Val’s), K Murray (St Val’s); Orla O’Brien (St Val’s), H Sweeney (Naomh Fionnbarra); R Ni Liatháin (Naomh Aban), E McMahon (St Val’s), C O’Brien (Macroom); S Keane (St Val’s), Orlaith O’Brien (Macroom), B Prendeville (St Val’s).
O King (St Val’s) for Orlaith O’Brien (41), K O’Riordan (St Val’s) for H Sweeney (52).
S Heaney; M Lonergan, R O’Brien, C Farrell; L Ryan, L O’Connell, M Jones; O Pamplin, C Fitzgerald; S Deegan, S Moynihan, J Shanahan; R King, M Flannery, A Doyle.
A Mockler for A Doyle (48), A Moran for J Shanahan (60).
Grainne Sands, Down.
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