Ladies: Kilcullen off to a flyer.
July 21, 2014Kilcullen had a number of star performers as they got their Junior A Championship campaign off to a flying start on their home turf last Thursday evening.
But pride of place has to go to full forward Jayne Peacocke who finished the game with an outstanding total of 2-8, all from play. Peacocke was just too much for the Suncroft defence to handle and there were some outstanding scores amongst her tally from her powerful left foot.
Ciara Pembroke and Kaylee Cogan also made important contributions on the scoreboard but at the heart of the performance was Clare Kelly. Kelly was involved in the build up for many of the Kilcullen scores and brilliantly linked defence and attack both in the first half, when she played in the half forward line, and in the second half when she played in a deeper role around the middle third.
From Suncroft's point of view, their county players Ellen Dowling and Trina Duggan tried their best to inspire those around them but the 'Croft never looked likely to recover from a slow start.
Kilcullen dominated the early proceedings and with Peacocke helping herself to three points, moved into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead. The exclamation mark to that promising beginning came when Cogan scored the game's first goal in the 15th minute.
The pacy corner forward caused Suncroft problems all evening and a typical mazy run ended with a great finish past Marie Murphy.
The second goal arrived ten minutes later and it was no surprise to see Kelly at the heart of the build up. Her final pass released Pembroke and having already seen a couple of efforts saved by Murphy, made no mistake on this occasion.
On the stroke of half time Kelly was again the creator and this time it was Peacocke who benefitted. After receiving the pass, Peacocke unleashed a brilliant drive to the roof the Suncroft net that left Murphy helplessly grasping at fresh air.
That left the half time score at 3-10 to 0-5 in favour of the home team. To give Suncroft their credit, they never stopped trying even though the result looked beyond doubt. Ellen Dowling (2) and Aine Conway scored in succession between the 39th and 41st minute but Kilcullen were soon back in control.
Peacocke net her second goal in the 43rd minute following another Kelly pass but Suncroft got a goal of their own with ten minutes to play.
Ellen Dowling's shot was blocked by a Kilcullen defender's foot and from the resulting penalty, Duggan fired home.
That just served to wake Kilcullen from their slumber and they hit back with two quickfire goals. They were goals similar to those that were scored in the first half. Kelly passed inside to Pembroke, who had been left unattended close to goal, and she neatly shot past Murphy.
Then Cogan took off on one of her trademark runs. She burst past three defenders and found the top corner of the net with another superb shot.
Kilcullen's evening was rounded off late on when substitute Katie Brierton scored their seventh goal when she was quickest to a loose ball after Cogan had been denied a hat trick of goals by Murphy's save.
All in all, this was a hugely impressive performance from the Kilcullen girls and it gives them a great starting point for the remainder of their championship season.
Kilcullen: Aoife Molyneaux; Laura McMahon, Karen Bell, Caroline Breen, Katie Willis, Amy Moran 0-1, Amanda Boland; Lorraine Schwer 0-1, Daire Smyth; Aoibheann Smyth, Claire Kelly 0-1, Sinead Maher 0-1, Kaylee Cogan 2-0, Jayne Peacocke 2-8, Ciara Pembroke 2-3. Subs: Kate Timmons for Breen, 41; Katie Brierton 1-1 for Moran, 46; Avril Glendon for Molyneaux, 53; Amy Moran for D Smyth, 53.
Suncroft: Marie Murphy; Niamh Bolger, Rebecca McGuirk, Sarah Brown, Carol Kenny, Paula Brown, Kirsten McGuirk; Trina Duggan 1-5 (0-1 pen, 0-2fs), Aine Conway 0-1; Nicole Dooley 0-2, Ellen Dowling 0-4, Abbie Poole, Jenny Hall, Kellie Hughes 0-1, Roisin Bolger.
Referee: Brendan Hickey. Tweet
