U16 A Final

Boherlahan Dualla 1-11 (14)

Silvermines 3-03 (12)

Referee: Jim Lees

Last Wednesday’s U16 A County Final lived up to its’s high expectations with a really exciting and hard fought game taking place in front of a huge crowd in the County Camogie Grounds. Playing with the aid of a strong breeze Boherlahan hit the ground running and with Abbie Horgan on top form in corner forward from frees and play they led 3 points to no score after 7 minutes. Shauna Looby got Silvermines off the mark with a well taken point 2 minutes later to reduce the deficit but 2 more points from play from Abbie Horgan put 4 between the teams. Despite wearing number 10 Silvermines opted to play Maeve Cunneen as a sweeper helping out her defence and she got onto a lot of ball throughout the hour. This meant the outnumbered Silvermines forwards had to work really hard and no one epitomised this more than Olivia Looby who won the ball and drove at the Boherlahan defence. Silvermines free taker Saoirse Ryan and Abbie Horgan exchanged points to leave the score 6 points to 3 approaching half time. On the 29th minute Sophie Moynihan pointed for Boherlahan and a minute later she struck from distance hoping for anothe point. But her shot dropped shot and was blocked out by the Silvermines keeper. The ball was then struck back across the face of the goals where Sophie had followed in and finished the ball into the net. 1-01 in 2 minutes gave an impressive Boherlahan Dualla side a good lead at the break 1-07 to 3 points. Credit to Silvermines they didn’t let this setback faze them and they came out in the second half determined to make full advantage of the wind. 

Boherlahan though were first to threaten and won a penalty after 2 minutes which Abbie Horgan stepped up to take. Her shot though was brilliantly saved by Anna Lee to the roars of delight of the Silvermines crowd. Two minutes later Horgan slotted over a free before Ailbhe Treacy struck for the first of 3 Silvermines second half goals to make it 1-08 to 1-03. By now the match tempo had gone up another level and the excitement was electrifying as both teams went at it ‘hammer and tongs’ to the delight of supporters and neutrals alike. The ball was up and down the field and the tackling and hooking and blocking was ferocious but the scores weren’t free flowing as both sets of backs began to dominate. Kellie O’Dwyer and Maeve Cunneen were excellent for the ‘Mines’ while Leah Maher, Sarah McLoughlin and Dearbhla Casey were to the fore for Boherlahan Dualla. Almost 15 minutes passed before the next score was registered a pointed free from the reliable Abbie Horgan. Silvermines though were growing more and more into the game and winning a lot of the 50/50 battles. Their hard work paid off when an Ailbhe Treacy strike from distance ended up in the back of the net and suddenly it was only a 3 point game 1-09 to 2-03. But Boherlahan dug deep against the wave of Silvermines pressure and Abbie Horgan slotted a free followed by a Sophie Moynihan point from play to leave 5 between the sides again with the clock ticking down. There was still time for another attack with a lovely Maeve Cunneen ground strike beating the Boherlahan keeper. Hoping for time for one more attack Silvermines quickly retreated for the puckout but Jime Lees blew the full time whistle and it  was Boherlahan Dualla who were celebrating a very hard earned and satisfying victory. Along with the aforementioned players, Neasa Dwan was another standout performer for the winners especially in the second half where she came deeper out from full-forward and got onto a lot of ball. It was a great team effort by both sides with a brilliant Boherlahan Dualla side shading it slightly against an excellent Silvermines outfit. 

Boherlahan Dualla: Saoirse Maher, Kate McCarthy, Leah Maher, Brid Quirke, Evanne Gleeson, Sarah McLoughlin, Dearbhla Casey, Maria Murphy, Mya Hickey, Doireann Ryan, Sophie Moynihan (1-02), Leah Hickey, Nicole Tarrant, Neasa Dwan, Abbie Horgan (0-09 , 6 frees)

Silvermines: Anna Lee, Aileen Moroney, Robyn O’Dwyer, Ava Quigley, Aoibhe McGrath, Kellie O’Dwyer, Ava Corcoran, Shauna Looby,(0-01) Jane Ryan, Maeve Cunneen(1-0), Ailbhe Treacy(2-0), Charlotte Ryan, Lydia Leamey, Saoirse Ryan(0-02 frees) , Olivia Looby.