On a Sunday which started with torrential rain, a change of venue the night previous Templemore supporters travelled to St. Michael’s GAA Club, Mahon, Co. Cork for the Munster Ladies Gaelic Football Junior Club Championship Final Replay. Templemore and Bantry Blues had met previously on Saturday, October 17th when both teams finished level on 1-10 each.
Templemore started the scoring with two quick points from Louise Cadell and Caoimhe Bourke. Libby Coppinger, Bantry Blues started their scoring with a point in the seventh minute but Templemore’s Niamh Treacy kept the two points between them when she pointed in the twelfth minute. Points were traded in the sixteenth and seventeenth minute. The score line was Templemore 0-4 Bantry Blues 0-2 as we entered the final ten minutes of the half. Bantry Blues had settled at this stage and were starting to dominate in the field of play, their third point came courtesy of Aoife O’Driscoll from a free. From the kick out Bantry Blues’s Sarah Coakley returned the ball over the bar to equalise the game. The final point of the first half came from Libby Coppinger, Bantry Blues to give them the lead going in at half time Bantry Blues 0-5 Templemore 0-4.
Bantry Blues opened the scoring in the second half with a goal from Aoife O’Driscoll in the thirty fourth minute. Templemore’s Miriam Campion and Niamh Treacy pointed their next two frees to reduce the deficit to two points. Points were traded again in the forty first and forty third minute. Just as the game entered the final ten minutes Niamh Long, Templemore gave Templemore back the lead when she netted the ball, Templemore 1-7 Bantry Blues 1-6. On the fifty fifth minute Aoife O’Driscoll, Bantry Blues equalised the game again. With very little between the teams, the tension was building and both teams were trying hard to get the score that would mean victory. However, this was not to be the case as points were traded in the sixtieth and sixty third minute, Templemore 1-8 Bantry Blues 1-8
Extra time was now required to separate the teams. Although the rain had passed prior to the game commencing, conditions were still tough and scores were hard to get. Bantry Blues, Libby Coppinger pointed for them in the eighth minute to leave Bantry Blues in front by a point at half time of extra time, Bantry Blues 1-9 Templemore 1-8. The second half of extra time opened with a point from Mairead Eviston, Templemore, equalising the game yet again. But it was short-lived as Aoife O’Driscoll pointed for Bantry Blues in the fifteenth minute. Due to a number of cramp injuries there was an extra five minutes of injury time and Libby Coppinger capitalised on this with a further point for Bantry Blues to ensure the title was staying in Cork – final score – Bantry Blues 1-11 Templemore 1-9
Well done to Templemore Ladies Football Club and although their football season has concluded for this year we wish them all the very best in the future. Congratulations to their management team for mentoring such a remarkable and young team; Sean Cashman (Manager), Tony Collins, Mary Buckley, Joe Purcell (Selectors) and Margaret Bergin (First Aid).
Templemore – Katie Bourke; Kate Anne Bergin, Maria Curley, Christina Brennan; Kate Cashman (Joint Captain), Mairead Eviston, Katie Collins (Joint Captain); Louise Cadell, Elaine Fitzpatrick; Miriam Campion, Niamh Treacy, Leanne Gleeson, Sarah Buckley, Caoimhe Bourke, Rebekah Collins.
Templemore Subs – Niamh Long for Caoimhe Bourke, Ruth Butler for Leanne Gleeson, Aine Greed for Rebekah Collins, Caoimhe O’Brien for Katie Collins.
Templemore Scorers – Niamh Long 1-1, Niamh Treacy 0-3 (3 frees), Miriam Campion 0-2, Caoimhe Bourke 0-1, Louise Cadell 0-1, Mairead Eviston 0-1
