Park-Ratheniska 11-10 St Conleth’s 2-9
Laois Ladies MFC ‘B’ Final Replay
Stradbally was the venue for the replay of the Minor B final last Friday evening after the sides had finished level in Annanough two weeks ago when St Conleth’s produced a dramatic comeback to draw the match.
There was to be no encore this time as Park-Ratheniska dominated proceedings from the start and deservedly took the spoils to bring the curtain down on the juvenile season.
On a mild evening, a gentle breeze came over the windy gap and favoured St Conleth’s in the first half.
However, it was the Park girls who got off to the perfect start with Adah Ramsbottom firing over a quick-fire point and Ellen O’Byrne adding a free to settle their side.
St Conleth’s responded with a free of their own from Aoibhe Byron before Park-Ratheniska hit a purple patch scoring four unanswered goals.
Mia Delaney raised the first green flag following good work by Mary O’Hara and Aine Nolan.
Poppy Duff then finished sweetly after a direct run at the defence before Ellen O’Byrne bagged a brace with some composed finishing under pressure from the St Conleth’s full-back line.
Aoibhe Byron led the resistance with another pointed free but Poppy Duff was proving to be a real thorn in the St Conleth’s side and added her second goal before Clodagh Fingleton followed up with a free to put her side in a commanding position midway through the half.
St Conleth’s rallied with some good attacking play and strong solo runs from Laura Carroll and Sinead Slevin caused Park-Ratheniska to concede frees.
Aoibhe Byron was on hand to dispatch three placed balls in a row, the third of which was from just inside the 45m line.
They pushed hard for a goal before halftime but Anna Sheehan, Chloe Troy, and Saffron Adams marshalled the defence to keep Park-Ratheniska in the driving seat with a 5-3 to 0-6 lead at halftime.
Having produced a fine second half performance in the drawn game, St Conleth’s would have been hoping for more of the same as referee Kevin Phelan threw-in the ball for the re-start but Park-Ratheniska had other ideas.
Grace Cunningham led from the front with a fine individual goal, carrying from halfway before riffling the ball into the top left corner.
She then added two further points before Poppy Duff completed her hat-trick and O’Byrne fired over a free.
St Conleth’s kept working away with Aoibhe Byron adding three further frees after good play from Laura Carroll, Rachel Donagher and Chloe O’Connell.
The comeback was short-lived, however, as scorer-in-chief, Ellen O’Byrne added 2-3 after a fine point from Molly Fitzpatrick to give Park-Ratheniska an unassailable lead.
Credit to St Conleth’s, they never gave up and got just reward for their efforts with two goals of their own from Aibhin McCann and Aoibhe Byron.
However, it was left to Park-Ratheniska to have the final say when substitute Sarah Cunningham drove home another goal to seal a convincing win.
PARK-RATHENISKA: Katie Cahill; Laura Brennan, Anna Sheehan, Ciara Conroy; Mary O’Hara, Chloe Troy, Poppy Duff; Saffron Adams, Aine Nolan; Clodagh Fingleton, Grace Cunningham, Mia Delaney; Adah Ramsbottom, Ellen O’Byrne, Molly Fitzpatrick. Subs: Abbey Blake Dunne, Maeve Kelly, Eva Troy, Caoimhe Kingston, Anna Szwaglis, Kate Conroy, Sarah Cunningham, Riona Dunne, Kate Kavanagh, Moya Ramsbottom, Amy Troy
ST CONLETH’S: Emma Carey; Holly O’Reilly, Jane Ridgeway, Logan Weafer; Mia Kelly, Ola Hasstrup, Rose Dunne; Sinead Slevin, Laura Carroll; Sarah Leah Larkin, Aoibhe Byron, Roisin Keogh; Chloe O’Connell, Rachel Donagher, Aibhin McCann. Subs: Seren Roberts, Sarah Hyland, Tara Kennedy, Ella Fitzpatrick, Blaithnaid Keogh, Ellie Dunne, Ruby Phelan
SEE ALSO – Laois Ladies MFC: Sarsfields finish season in style to claim Minor championship over Portlaoise
