Senior League
Report by Margot Hughes
AGB 4-4
Bray 2-7
A very lively Bray team really put it up to AGB in the opening game of the Senior Ladies League and led by three points at the break on a score line of 1-4 to 1-1. AGB's Jessica Hurley opened the scoring with a well taken goal in the fifth minute of play and Bray's Alanna Conroy added a point for her side in the seventh. Bray added a goal in the fifteenth minute and three further points as they were first to the ball and dominated possession in the opening thirty minutes. Great defending from Rachel Byrne, Annie Conroy and Kayleigh Carter limited the damage and AGB had a chance to regroup at the break, realising that the game was escaping them. The introduction of Jessie McElheron impacted immediately in the second half and resulted in a goal from Áine O'Reilly in the opening minute which settled the Arklow side somewhat. A second goal from O'Reilly in the fourth minute reversed fortunes and Arklow now held the lead by 3 points. Bray were not for giving up and battled their way to a 4th minute point to reduce the margin to two. Angelika Pyciak won possession in the Arklow forward line and connected with Áine O'Reilly to secure a further point for AGB and, growing in confidence, Pyciak added two further points to extend the Arklow lead. Terrific work from Pyciak and Medbh O'Connor in the right corner set up Stephanie Martin for Arklow's fourth goal in the 26th minute but Bray responded immediately with a goal in the twenty seventh minute. This was to be the final score of the game which ended in a hard-won victory for AGB on a score line of 4-4 to 2-7. Best for Bray were Alanna Conroy, Aoife Heffernan, Éadaoin Lenihan and Sinéad Boland.
Bray: Clare Frawley, Shauna Douglas, Aisling ní hAnnaidh, Grace O'Donovan, Lauren Rowe, Aoife Heffernan, Molly Hunt, Michaela Shelly, Alanna Conroy, Éadaoin Lenihan, Sinéad Boland, Síofra Heffernan, Juliette Fortune, Sarah McGraynor, Niamh Coleman.
AGB: Linda Dempsey, Lisa Keegan, Rachel Byrne, Katie Larkin, Kirsty Hughes-McCabe, Annie Conroy, Kayleigh Carter, Sue Tyrrell, Orla Byrne, Emer Curran, Jessica Hurley, Steph Martin, Angelika Pyciak, Áine O'Reilly, Róisín O'Reilly. Subs: Jessie McElheron, Áine Byrne, Medbh O'Connor, Niamh Arthur.
AGB Senior Ladies lose out to Tinahely in Cup
Junior League
Report by Margot Hughes
Tinahely 2 -6
AGB 1-7
AGB kicked off the Junior League with a home game against Tinahely Junior Ladies. This was a very competitive encounter with the Arklow side leading at the break 1-4 to 0-3. Sarah Kendrick, Vicky O'Brien, and Róisín O'Reilly were all on target for AGB, helped by the welcome return of Aisling Appleby to the Arklow forward line. Marsha McKay stepped into the goal in place of the regular keeper and had a fine save towards the end of the half. In the second half Tinahely had the upper hand scoring 2-3 for the half despite the valiant efforts of Becky Condren in the goal for this period. Condren stopped a penalty to keep Arklow in the game to the final whistle. A further point from Róisín O'Reilly and two from Angelika Pyciak left the closing balance 1-7 to Arklow and 2-6 to Tinahely. This was a fast and sporting contest and sets the scene for an interesting Junior Ladies season ahead.
Tinahely: Bridget Kenny, Deirdre Byrne, Gráinne Mellon, Tríona Byrne, Anna Hedderman, Mary Kenny, Eimear McCrea, Áine O'Keeffe, Melissa Gilbert, Niamh Dillon, Sarah Byrne, Hannah Keogh, Emily Hadden.
AGB: Marsha McKay, Emer Curran, Kayleigh Carter, Aoife O'Reilly, Emily Mitchell, Becky Hayden, Claire Murray, Michelle Scanlon, Lisa Keegan, Vicky O'Brien, Angelika Pyciak, Sarah Kendrick, Róisín O'Reilly. Subs: Becky Bermingham, Medbh O'Connor, Aisling Appleby, Aoife Murphy, Ellie Jones, Becky Condren.
Report by Margot Hughes
AGB 1-2
Tinahely 2-16
AGB Ladies took on Tinahely in Tinahely on St. Patrick's Day in round 2 of the Combined Cup. This was a one-sided affair with a full strength Tinahely dominating an AGB side introducing their up and coming youngsters to ladies football at its best in county Wicklow. Jackie Kinch led Tinahely by example in the opening half scoring three points and creating most of the others. Great running off the ball from Ciara Byrne, Rachel Byrne and Laura Hogan led to 8 more points for the home side. A goal in the 28th minute from Laura Hogan and a closing point from Niamh Dillon meant this was over as a contest by half time. Annie Conroy scored AGB's only point for the half. In the second half Georgina Canavan added 1-1 for the visitors but Tinahely added a further 1-4 for the half. This was a baptism of fire for the newcomers to AGB as they were given a serious lesson in what is involved in senior ladies football. The game was played in good spirit by both sides and to be fair to AGB they battled it out to the bitter end. There were brave displays from AGB's Zoe Takacs and Angelika Pyciak and the back line battled throughout the sixty minutes led by Kirsty Hughes McCabe in the centre. Linda Dempsey saved a penalty and consistently encouraged the newcomers from her goal line position. Jackie Kinch and Ciara and Rachel Byrne were best for Tinahely.
Tinahely: Michelle Kinch, Kate Hatton, Ciara Stokes, Emily Hatton, Jessie Byrne, Sarah Hogan, Emily Mulhall, Jackie Kinch (0-4), Aoife O'Gorman, Ciara Byrne (0-4), Laura Hogan (2-2), Sarah Byrne, Caitriona Byrne (0-1), Rachel Byrne (0-4), Niamh Dillon (0-1). Subs: Anna Hedderman, Sarah Tyrrell, Eimear McCrea, Emily O' Reilly.
AGB: Linda Dempsey, Lisa Keegan, Orla Byrne, Katie Larkin, Vicky O'Brien, Kirsty Hughes- McCabe, Kayleigh Carter, Rachel Byrne, Stephanie Martin, Zoe Takacs, Annie Conroy (0-1), Orla Hayes, Róisín O Reilly, Jessie McElheron, Angelika Pyciak. Subs: Georgina Canavan (1-1), Katie Hurley, Emer Curran.