MINOR B SHIELD FINAL
By Declan O’Shea, Assistant PRO
Mullinahone 3-12 Galtee Rovers 2-12 (AET)
Mullinahone travelled to Bansha on Saturday 22nd November for the Minor ‘B’ shield final, taking on the home team Galtee Rovers. What a match this turned out to be with no quarter given or asked. Both teams were totally committed from the start with Galtee attacking relentlessly but Mullinahone defending well. A pointed free for Galtee from Roisin Finnane in the first minute saw them take the lead. Mullinahone replied from play with an Aoibhe O’Shea point seven minutes later. The teams then traded points and were level with a quarter of an hour played, three points each but Mullinahone’s Lena Butler then struck for the game’s first goal in the sixteenth minute giving Mullinahone a three point lead.
The game continued to ebb and flow up and down the field with Galtee enjoying more possession but not converting some good scoring opportunities when they came. Some fine saves from the Mullinahone goalkeeper Valentino Kavanagh kept them in the game up to half time. A goal for Galtee on twenty one minutes saw them take a one point lead and both teams then added further scores to leave the half time score, Galtee Rovers 1-6 Mullinahone 1-4. In the first half Galtee Rovers midfield pairing of Darielle Ronan and Rachel Maloney were on top feeding a lot of ball into their forward line for whom Roisin Finnane was causing havoc every time she got on ball.
Mullinahone were first on the attack when the second half resumed and two quick points from Aoibhe O’Shea and Jane Walker saw the team’s level once more. Just when Mullinahone seemed to be gaining the advantage a mix up in the Mullinahone defence saw a wayward kicked clearance rebound into the net giving Galtee the lead once more. A further point for Galtee saw them take a two point lead but immediately afterwards Mullinahone enjoyed a passage of play which saw them score two goals within two minutes from Nicole Shelly and Aoibhe O’Shea giving them back the lead. Jane Walker increased their lead to two points but with time almost up Roisin Finnane added two fine points for Galtee bringing the teams level on full time, Mullinahone 3-7 Galtee Rovers 2-10. Extra time required in this intriguing and enjoyable game played between two game sides.
From the throw in Mullinahone took the game to Galtee but scores were difficult to come by. Mullinahone had changed their midfield pairing bringing Nicole Shelly and Aoibhe O’Shea outfield to get on more ball. This appeared to work with two fine points from Aoibhe O’Shea for Mullinahone. These were almost immediately cancelled out by Galtee Rovers Roisin Finnane and the teams found themselves level once more at half time in the extra period, 3-9 to 2-12. Aoibhe O’Shea pointed a free immediately after the resumption and when Mullinahone’s Aine Dunne from centre back soloed forward to score a fine point from play it looked as if Mullinahone would hold out. To their credit Galtee continued to push forward and with less than two minutes remaining were awarded a penalty after a Mullinahone defender was adjudged to have fouled in the square. This was make or break for both teams and Roisin Finnane stepped forward to take the kick. Goalie, Valentino Kavanagh stood firm in the Mullinahone goal and got a hand to the penalty saving the day for the Mullinahone ladies. From the rebound Roisin Finnane was deemed to have committed a foul on the keeper who was down injured and sent to the sin bin. With the numerical advantage now Mullinahone’s Aoibhe O’Shea finished the game after a well taken point on the stroke of time. When referee Tony Fox blew the full time whistle both sets of players fell to the ground such was the intensity of the game. This was a fine sporting game played in an exemplary manner with tough but fair challenges from start to finish. Both teams had their chances but the two goals scored by Mullinahone in the twenty first minute of the second half and the saved penalty were ultimately the difference here.
County Board Treasurer, Biddy Ryan presented the shield to Mullinahone Captain, Fiona Fennelly who, on behalf of the players thanked her management team of Jim White and Mary O’Shea along with club secretary Judy Maher and official Helena O’Meara for the effort put in. She finished by praising the Galtee Rovers girls for making them work so hard for the game throughout.
This was a fine game played in a sporting manner with some stars of the future putting in excellent performances. Galtee Rovers played some lovely football throughout enjoying more possession but up front were probably a little too dependent on Roisin Finnane for scores. Mullinahone had threats up front with A O Shea, Lena Butler N Shelly all getting vital goals from play.
Mullinahone: Valentino Kavanagh, Aisling Foley, Fiona Fennelly (Capt), Meibh Maher, Grace Foley, Aine Dunne (0-1), Caoimhe O’Shea, Shauna O’Meara, Nicole Shelly (1-1), Jane Walker (0-2), Aoibhe O’Shea (1-7), A Browning, G Dunne, G Horan, Lena Butler (1-1), Subs: E Horan, K White.
Galtee Rovers: Saoirse Fanning, Kate Phelan, Aoife Nugent, Zoe Morrissey, Nicole Tobin, Laura Keeley, Kay Whyte, Darrielle Ronan, Rachel Moloney, Ciara Halpin, Roisin Finnane, Ruth Ronan, Hannah Dowdell, Leah O’ Meara, Aine Whyte.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Tipperary Ladies Gaelic Football will hold their Annual General Meeting in the Horse & Jockey Hotel on Monday December 2nd at 8.00pm. Nominations have been sent to all clubs.
Information concerning Ladies Football will appear in these notes. If you wish to include any item of interest, please contact us at pro@tipperaryladiesfootball.ie before 8pm on Sunday. Visit the Tipperary Ladies Football web site at www.tipperaryladiesfootball.ie to date with all the latest news in Tipperary Ladies Football.
By Jonathan Cullen Tue 25th Nov
