Last Saturday morning 6th October 2018, in a sun drenched Bennettsbridge, St. Brigid’s defied all the odds to beat Thomastown and be crowned U16 Roinn A Champions. It was a remarkable achievement for a team who competed in Roinn B last year.
The game started at a frantic pace and it was Brigid’s who drew first blood when a Lauren Ronan shot deceived the Thomastown keeper and ended up in the back of the net. Thomastown hit back with a brace of points and soon after Molly Butler and Lauren East combined to set Lauren Ronan for her and the team’s second goal. The incredible pace of the game continued and Thomastown hit back scoring 1-1 to draw the teams level after 18 minutes.
Tara Ronan and Claire Doheny were beginning to get a foothold in midfield and their hard work paid off when Sarah Harrison gave a clever pass to set up Claire Doheny who blasted the ball over the bar. Molly Butler raised a white flag for Brigid’s before Lauren Ronan scored two in a row, one from a free and a great point from the sideline after being set up by Margaret Maher.
At the other end Thomastown started to pile on the pressure but the halfback line of Reece Delaney, Kate McCluskey and Lucy Egan stood firm. They did get through in the 25th minute and were awarded a penalty which centre back Aine Kirwan fired to the net. St. Brigid’s heads did not drop and from the next attack Tara Ronan delivered the ball to full forward Leah Brett who beat her marker to score the team’s third goal.
Thomastown again came back and raised two white flags before the break to leave the score 3-4 to 2-5 to St. Brigid’s as the halftime whistle blew.
The second half started as the first ended and two Lauren Ronan frees settled what little nerves Brigid’s might have had. With the aid of a strong breeze, Thomastown were starting to pile on the pressure and when full forward Sarah Barcoe broke through the defence Ellie O’Neill made a stunning point blank save.
The next ten minutes was all Thomastown and they eventually got in for their third goal to leave just a point between the teams. Again this blow only seemed to drive Brigid’s on more and soon after this, the score of the day and possibly the year came St. Brigid’s way. Lauren Ronan gathered the ball around 45 metres from goal, took on the entire Thomastown defence and fired a rocket of a shot to the back of the net.
To Thomastown’s credit they did not give up and 3 further points left just one between the sides with 26 minutes played. The full back line of Kate Everard, Isabel Caldbeck and Moya O’Brien along with Ellie O’Neill in goal were outstanding during this period to keep Brigid’s noses in front. With 3 minutes of injury time to be played the game was still in the balance.
Caoimhe Young and Roisin Casey were introduced to add fresh legs to the St. Brigid’s attack. But there was still some heroic defending to be done. Molly Butler, Claire Doheny and Tara Ronan were back working their socks off helping out their defence. A long clearance from defence found Leah Brett who beat her maker and played the ball to Roisin Casey who fired to the net to seal what was a famous victory for St Brigid’s which was built on courage, heart and determination.
Full time score
St Brigid’s 5-6
Thomastown 3-8
Team & Panel: Ellie O’Neill, Kate Everard, Isabel Caldbeck, Moya O’Brien, Reece Delaney, Kate McCluskey, Lucy Egan, Claire Doheny, Tara Ronan, Margaret Maher, Molly Butler, Lauren East, Lauren Ronan, Leah Brett, Sarah Harrison., Faith Delaney, Aoibhe Murphy, Kelly Lanigan, Roisin Casey, Caragh Keating, Abby O’Keeffe, Caoimhe Young, Caoimhe Cahill, Robin Delaney, Ellie Lanigan, Katie Maher.
