Goals crucial as Aghada regain title after hard-fought win over Naomh Abán
The Aghada ladies football team celebrate their win over Naomi Abán in the county final at MTU. Picture: Noel Sweeney
Aghada were crowned Cork Credit Unions Senior A Ladies Football champions following their win over Naomh Aban at MTU on Sunday.
In a game that was close all through it swung in the winner’s favour after 45 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. Naomh Abán were also down to 14 when Claire Hughes was red-carded for the foul on Kaitlin Smith.
The red card seemed somewhat harsh as most were expecting a yellow for the tackle, but after consulting with his umpires the referee issued a straight red. Roisin Phelan scored the penalty and straight from the restart they goaled again, through Abigail Ring, before Naomh Abán had time to regroup.
This put them 4-7 to 1-9 in front and from here it was always going to be tough for Naomh Aban.
They can’t be faulted for their efforts as they threw everything at Aghada, but the experience of being there before at this level paid off for the winners in the end.
Roisin Phelan opened the scoring for Aghada with Grainne Lucey replying for Naomh Aban with nine minutes played.
Naomh Aban took the lead a minute later when Lydia McDonagh pointed and they made it 0-3 to 0-1, with Roisin Lehane getting their third score.
Their lead didn’t last long as Phelan set up Clare Walsh to goal for Aghada, to put them a point to the good after 13 minutes, 1-1 to 0-3.
A great ball from Grace Murphy set up Joanne Kelly to level it again.
Phelan point for Aghada and Abigail Ring added another from a free as they led by 1-3 to 0-4 with 20 minutes played.
Lydia McDonagh got her second for Naomh Aban to put one between the sides, before Kaitlin Smith stretched Aghada’s lead again.
But Naomh Aban finished the half strongly with Kelly putting a point between the sides, and Lehane levelling with time running out. Just before half-time Lydia McDonagh was on target again to see her side lead by one at the break, 0-8 to 1-4.
In the first minute of the second half, Abbie Scannell goaled for Naomh Aban to put them four points up, but four minutes later Aghada replied with a goal of their own through Sarah Leahy.
Three frees from Ring made it 2-7 to 1-9 to Aghada with 42 minutes played.
Three minutes later and the key moment came with Phelan scoring the penalty and Hughes sent to the line.
From the restart after the penalty Aghada regained possession with Leahy setting up Ring to score. Ali Smith pointed to make it 4-8 to 1-9 before Naomh Aban came storming back.
With 10 minutes to go Aghada were down to 14 when Yvonne Burgoyne was sin-binned so the sides were even again.
Four frees from Lydia McDonagh reduced the deficit but Aghada held out to regain the title they lost to Éire Óg last year.
A Ring 1-4 (0-4 f), R Phelan 1-2 (1-0 pen), S Leahy, C Walsh 1-0 each, K Smith, A Smith 0-1 each.
L McDonagh 0-8 (0-6 f), A Scannell 1-0, R Lehane, J Kelly 0-2 each, G Lucey 0-1.
S Walsh; K O’Farrell, S McAllister, M McRae; A Coughlan, Y Burgoyne, A Smith; R Phelan, S Leahy; M Leahy, R Leahy, B Smith; A Ring, C Walsh, K Smith.
E Farmer for M Leahy (57).
L Hughes; C Hughes; C O’Connell, E Hyde; A McDonagh, R Corkery, C Twomey; G Lucey, C Vaughan; A Scannell, J Kelly, C Murphy; G Murphy, L McDonagh, R Lehane.
I Riordan for C Murphy (37).
Conor McCarthy, Rosscarbery.
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