Louth ladies final: first title for Newtown Blues
September 15, 2014
Newtown Blues 2-9
Stabannon Parnells 0-7
Newtown Blues won their first ever Ladies Senior Chamionship with a deserved victory over Stabannon Parnells on Sunday afternoon in the Grove, Castlebellingham.
Both teams were evenly matched coming into this encounter with Newtown Blues avenging last year's county final defeat to Cooley Kickams with a comfortable semi final win over the same opposition, while Stabannon who had never lost a senior chamionship final having won all four that they contested from 2009 to 2012, were looking to add the championship to the Division 1 league won earlier in the year.
The Blues started bright and within 90 seconds led thanks to a Lisa Kelly point and added their second point in the 7th minute from the foot of Laura Collins.
Stabannon will look back at the next five minutes as a lost opportunity to stamp their authority on the game as they failed to find the back of the net with three good goal opportunities, hitting both the crossbar and upright while Elaine Flood did well to keep out a Ciara McMahon shot when through one on one with the Blues goalkeeper.
The Blues added their third point in the 14th minute with a Kate Gerard point while it took Stabannon twenty minutes to record their first point of the game though Aine McGee. Stabannon closed the gap to a point thanks to a point from captain Jenny McGuinness.
Just as Stabannon were starting to get into the game and with a strong wind in their favour to come in the second half, the Newtown Blues management introduced Vikki McGinn and it coincided with a seven minute spell before half time where the game was decided.
A Laura Collins point was followed up with a goal from Kate Gerrard. Next up was a brace of Laura Collins points, the first from a free and the latter from long distance. Laura Collins' confidence was obviously high and the next time she got the ball she blasted a goal into the corner of the net from twenty metres out to give Suzanne Carroll no chance in the Stabannon nets. The half time whistle then blew with the score line reading 2-6 to 0-2.
Stabannon started the second half bright and closed the gap with a point from Danielle Sharkey, and although Stabannon owned possession for the first fifteen of the second half they would fall further behind thanks to two points on the counter attack from Laura Collins and Rebecca McAllister.
Stabannon did score the next four points of the game thanks to three Jenny McGuinness points and one from substitute Kim Lynch but it was a case of too little too late, while it was fitting the player of the match Laura Collins would have the final say on proceedings with a well worked point.
Apart from Laura Collins, Newtown Blues were best served by Lisa Kelly and goalkeeper Elaine Flood, while Stabannon who never give up were best served by Grace Lynch, Grace Rogers and Ann Marie Lynch.
After the game, county chairperson Ann Meade presented the cup to Kate Gerard in front of the large crowd and commended both teams for a game that was played in good spirit and which failed to see a single card shown by referee Paul Finnegan.
Newtown Blues: Elaine Flood, Emma Thompson, Lisa Finglas, Hannah O'Neill, Orlaith Nugent, Laura O'Shaughnessy, Aine McCormack, Maura Sullivan, Ciara Campbell, Shayleen McDonagh, Lisa Kelly 0-1, Rebecca McAllister 0-1, Cliona Smith, Kate Gerard, 1-1 Laura Collins 1-6 (1f). Subs: Vikki McGinn for L Rafferty, Sarah Dyas for C Smith, Lauren McGinn, Aimme McGinty, Samantha Newman, Stacy Owens, Laura Owens, Aimme Kirwan, Michaela O'Boyle, Laura Downey, Jessica Dyas, Catherine Russell, Caoimhe Thompson, Verity McKenna.
Stabannon Parnells: Suzanne Carroll, Orlagh Byrne, Andrea Carney, Emma Tuite, Michelle McArdle, Ann-Marie Lynch, Bronagh McGrane, Grace Lynch, Aine McGee 0-1, Maria Bannon, Grace Rogers, Mary Maloney, Danielle Sharkey 0-1, Jenny McGuinness 0-4 (1f), Ciara McMahon. Subs: Julie Campbell for M Maloney, Kim Lynch 0-1 for M McArdle, Carol Cluskey for M Bannon, Tara Greene for J Campbell, Nadine Weldon, , Grainne Whelan, Oonagh Giggins, Elaine Byrne, Amy Malone, Sarah Russell, Deirdre Lynch, Suzanne Reilly, Bernie Agnew, Ciara Connolly, Andrea Conlon.
