Simonstown 4-17
Royal Gaels 2-09

Simonstown ladies registered their sixth successive League win of the year with a sixteen-point win over Royal Gaels in perfect playing conditions in Simonstown last night.

However, don’t be fooled by the score line. This was a very competitive game and it was only truly in the last ten minutes that the home side got the scores to make the game safe. Hughie McCarthy’s team started proceedings like a team who hadn’t made the trip to Navan for the fun of it! They had the first two scores on the board before Simonstown had even settled and they could have had a goal too but for some wayward shooting. Unfortunately, in the process of blocking one of these goal bound efforts corner back Karen Foran picked up a serious knee injury and was replaced by Sarah Muldoon.

Kelly Harris eventually settled the home team’s nerves with an excellent point after a darting run through the centre. Kelly followed this up with a free conversion. At the other end the talented Maedhbh Byrne was another player showing nerves of steel and her free accuracy meant any fouls on opposition forwards were being punished.  Another Kelly Harris point was followed up by a Captain Ailbhe McHugh pointed free, after Jackie Shiels had been fouled.  Byrne responded with a free at the other end. Alannagh Lyons started this game at wing forward and as always, she was full of running. A fine turnover by her after twelve minutes demonstrated her team’s intent. Anything the Dunshaughlin team were going to get was going to be hard earned here. McHugh set up Shiels shortly after and Jackie fired over her first score. Alannagh Lyons grabbed the next two points, her second coming off the upright after Zoe Matthews had found her in space. Another Maedhbh Byrne free ensured that there was only two points in it.

Royal Gaels threatened danger any time they were on the attack. It was greatly to the credit of Naoise de Graaff and her defense that they kept the lively forward six from raising a green flag in the opening half.  Kelly Harris then grabbed her third point of the first half-a booming kick from distance to keep her team’s noses in front.  On twenty-three minutes a free by Harris found its way to the net when Ellie Lane fisted the ball past Orlagh McLaughlin and a gap started to open between the sides.

Lauryn Grier may have been preoccupied with Leaving Certificate exams in recent weeks but she showed that her absence hadn’t dulled her razor-sharp instincts. She latched onto a Jackie Shiels pass and somehow beat McLaughlin at her near post. At the other end Naoise had to emerge quickly off her line to block a shot from Kelly O’Dwyer that had goal written all over it. Ailbhe McHugh looked to have gotten her team’s third goal at the other end but her smart shot hit the base of the upright and came back out. Another Harris score left it 2.08 to 9 points at the interval.

Katelyn Doherty was enjoying a marvelous tussle with Sarah Muldoon and she managed to evade Sarah’s attentions for a second to give the visitors the dream second half start, a goal which was high to the net, to Naoise’s left. We were back to a two-point game. However, it was to be one of only two scores the opposition registered in the second half. From there on Simonstown gradually took control of proceedings. Two minutes later, a wonderful Grier, Shiels combination saw Ellie Lane sneak in behind the last defender.  Ellie collected from Shiels and fired cleverly to the net past the advancing McLaughlin to ensure a five-point lead was restored. A McHugh chipped effort into the net shortly after put real daylight between the sides.

While it was great to be getting all these scores further out the field much of the credit must go to a hard-working defense where Emma Cassidy, Orla Conlon and Sarah Muldoon were ready to put their bodies on the line to contest everything. The half back line of Aisling Sheridan, Regina Hand and Zoe Matthews did likewise and used possession well. Zoe had her hands full keeping tabs on the very lively Suzie O’Rourke but it was a contest she began to shade as the game progressed.

Niamh Cassidy may have been a bit on the hoarse side last night but she certainly let her football do the talking on this occasion. A turnover by her fifteen minutes into the second half helped set up a Lauryn Grier point which McLaughlin had to tip over. At this stage the score stood at 4-10 to 1-09. Laura McEnery was another at wing forward who was getting up and down the pitch to great effect and she put her name on the scoreboard with a fine point on twenty-two minutes. A Royal Gaels attack saw them secure another goal but it was to be just a brief respite. Junior Captain Jane Smyth worked her socks off when introduced and Shona Lister and Cáit Walsh were not found wanting. It was also great to welcome keeper Nicole Byrne back to senior action and she joined the action late on- in the forwards!

Harris, McHugh, Hand and Lane fired over the last four overs to leave it 4-17 to 2-09 by the time Colm McManus called time.

All in all, this was a very satisfactory and hardworking performance from Simonstown. They will have been very disappointed to concede the two goals but it could be argued that a talented Royal Gaels attack had to work very hard to get them. Simonstown can now look forward to an away game against St Michael’s on Wednesday week. The Carlanstown outfit came to Simonstown two months ago and would have counted themselves extremely unlucky not to emerge with something from that one. It’s an encounter Simonstown will need to be ready for if they have ambitions to maintain their winning ways.

Simonstown: Naoise de Graaff, Karen Foran, Emma Cassidy, Orla Conlon, Aisling Sheridan, Regina Hand (0-1), Zoe Matthews (0-1), Niamh Cassidy, Ailbhe McHugh (1-04), Alannagh Lyons, Lauryn Grier (1-01), Laura McEnery (0-1), Kelly Harris (0-5), Jackie Shiels (0-3), Ellie Lane (2-1) Subs: Nicole Byrne, Sarah Muldoon, Shona Lister, Jane Smyth, Catherine Walsh.

Royal Gaels:  Orlagh McLaughlin, Laura Ryan, Laura Quinn, Caitlin O’Neill, Sarah Darby, Laura Murray, Niamh Hetherington, Petra Reilly, Roisin Bruce, Suzie O’Rourke, Kelly O’Dwyer, Ciara Galvin, Maedhbh Byrne, Laura Burke, Katelyn Doherty

Tweet

Most Read Stories