Grade One Minor League Final Carrickmore v Cill Iseal In a rematch of the Grade One Minor Championship Final Cill Iseal entered the game as favourites having got the better of the Carmen girls on that occasion. In another tough encounter the crowd were served up with some exciting and entertaining football. Both teams displayed a great deal of heart and competitive edge throughout the hour. First blood went to Cill Iseal with the impressive Zoe Loughran registering a point after 2 minutes. Carmen responded quickly and drove up the field but only managed a wide from Arlene Fox. This was to set a trend for the next period of play. Despite great work from Meadhbha Ni Cheara, the ever busy Aimee Fox and Shannon Mc Callan they simply could not convert, racking up four wides on the trot. Yet they were encamped in the Cil Iseall half due to the efforts of the Carmen midfield of Aoife Mc Guone and captain Caira Monroe. Both worked tirelessly catching at midfield and working back to assist their defence. Their efforts paid off when Aoife Mc Guone found the net after 12 minutes in what proves to just reward for Carrickmores domination at that stage. The goal seemed to spark Carmen into life and they won the resulting kick out feeding it into Marie Mc Aleer who cooly slotted it over to put her side three in front. However it was back to bad habits as four more wides prevented the Carmen girls from cementing their lead despite dominating proceeding throughout the park. Cill Iseal too had their share of wides but were shooting under pressure from a tight marking Carrickmore rearguard. Timely interceptions by Ursula Mc Gee, Shauneen Mc Aleer and Ursula Mc Kernan averted danger. On more than one occasion Alanagh Treanor was there to sweep up and drive out of defence in her trademark tenacious fashion. Denis Mc Cann showing her diversity by lining out at corner back adapted well to her new role with some great play. Between the posts for Carmen Emma Mullin came off her line on several occasions to assist her defence. Sensing that the chances of securing the double were slipping from their grip Cill Iseal dug deep and for the first time in almost ten minutes looked dangerous in front of goals. Their hard work was to pay dividends with Zoe Loughran on target again with a well taken goal to pull her team back level as the game entered the last 5 minutes of the first half. The closing minutes of the half were a hard fought affair with both sides anxious to stamp their authority before half time. Carmens last chance of the half saw Marie Mc Aleer narrowly miss putting her side ahead before the whistle sounded. As the ball was thrown in for the second half Aoife Mc Guone picked up where she left off. Catching the throw in she yet again drove forward only to be hauled down. Meadhbha Ni Cheara scored the resulting free to edge Carmen ahead. From the kick out good work from Aimee fox who was quick onto the breaks throughout the game saw Carmen press forward again only to see the ball sail wide yet again. In true fashion Cill Iseal sensed that it could once again be their night and enjoyed their best period of the game. They attacked relentlessly for the next ten minutes and again the Carrickmore defence was called into operation time and again to hold on to their slender lead. A fine goal-line clearance by Shauneen Mc Aleer kept Carmen hopes alive at a crucial stage. Cara Grogan who played as an extra defender was well positioned on a number of occasion to intercept and clear. Up front Cill Iseal always looked dangerous with Zoe Loughran, Louise Kelly and Vanessa Doyle all proving difficult to mark in this period of play. It was only a mater of time before something had to give and it was Zoe Loughran who again provided Cill Iseal with all the answers. She hit the net to send her team into the lead and Rebecca Loughran added a point to see them three points clear. For Carmen it seemed that their earlier misses were going to cost them dearly. As the game entered the last fifteen minutes the girls from Cill Iseal began to believe in themselves again with their defence refusing to allow Carrickmore to claw back. Clare Hegarty, Michaela Monaghan and Niamh Dinsmore all defended superbly to hold on to their lead. However Carmen had not thrown in the towel yet. In a sweeping Carrickmore move that found Meadhbha Ni Cheara bearing down on goals. A Cill Iseal foul allowed her to convert the resulting free to leave just a goal in it. With still the cushion of the goal there Cill Iseal looked in charge but at midfield Caira Monroe and Aoife Mc Guone yet again refused to relent as they worked back in typically unselfish fashion to launch attack after attack. Orla Begley was on hand to cut out a number of long Cill Iseal balls targeted at their dangerous score getter Zoe Loughran and Carmen sub Lisa Mc Crory was ever available to receive passes up along her wing as Carmen desperatley sought to pull the game out of the fire. A good cross field pass from Aoife Mc Guone found Ursula Mc Kernan whose halfback forays up the field saw her turn defence into attack throughout the game.. Ursula found Meadbha Ni Cheara who slipped to the onrushing Shannon Mc Callan. Shannon had only one thing on her mind when she took possession and as she drove goal ward she unleashed a great shot which lodged itself in the top corner of the Cill Iseal net past their goalie Denise Hegarty. With game tied going into the closing minutes the tension had reached fever pitch with may in the stands unable to watch. But there was more drama to come as Cill Iseal kick out was not cleared. Arlene Fox, another solid performer on the night,, was on hand to collect a poor pass and drive it to the Cill Iseal net to put her side 3 points clear and into a commanding position with time almost up. Yet Cill Iseal were not to go down without a fight and as the game entered injury time they put tremendous pressure on the Carrickmore defence to try to draw matters level. Obviously needing the goal they worked the ball time and again into the danger zone in the prolonged period of extra time which stretched on close to ten minutes. But it was to be Carrickmore night with Alanagh Treanor, Shauneen Mc Aleer Ursula Mc Gee on hand yet again to clear their lines when danger threatened. The joy on the faces of the Carrickmore girls was there for all to see when the final whistle sounded as they brought a three year series of final defeats to a close. Tweet

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