A dream year for Stabannon Parnells Ladies
November 27, 2011Building on their successes has always been the mantra of the Stabannon Ladies and 2011 has been no different. Starting off the year as champions of Louth and runners up of Leinster in 2010, Stabannon ladies had one goal in mind for 2011 - to put right the wrongs of 2010 and go one step further and win the Leinster title. However, once the training commenced this was put firmly at the back of the girls minds and they knew that it would take winning one game at a time in Louth before they could even think about playing in Leinster.
A new management team was put in place at the beginning of 2011 with Ciaran Marks taking charge and Ciaran's team was made up of coach Barry Teather and selectors Colin Tiltey, Helen Reilly and Ruth McGuinness. The challenge for Ciaran and his team was to ensure that complacency did not set in among the girls and that nothing and no game would be taken for granted. Taking nothing for granted quickly became the motto within the team and once the league commenced Stabannon put down a marker that would set out their approach to football for the 2011 season.
Senior League
The senior league began on Saturday 2nd April and Stabannon travelled to Roche to play Roche Emmets in Stabannon's first game in the league in Division 1. Stabannon started well and won the game on a scoreline of 2-20 to 0-1.
Stabannon went on then to meet St. Marys Ardee and the Stabannon girls put in a powerful performance which saw them win on a scoreline of 5-20 to 1-5
The league journey continued with a match against St. Mochtas in Louth Village. The Louth village side really put it up to Stabannon on the night and they started as the better team playing a high intensity physical game which caught Stabannon unawares. However, Stabannon regained their composure and settled in to the game to come out winners on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-04.
The last game of the league was against neighbours St. Kevins and the win for Stabannon ensured their place in the league final against Roche.
League Final
Stabannon claimed their second successive Division 1 league title when they came out on top against a battling Roche side on 24th July 2011. Stabannon were on top for most of the game but had to survive a brief second half rally from the Roche girls before settling themselves and deservedly claiming victory. Jenny McGuinness opened the score with a goal in the third minute which was followed by points from Mary Maloney and Grace Lynch. Roche responded with points from Nicola Mills and Rosana Heeney but Stabannon were quick to reply with points from Grace and Tara Lynch to make it 1-4 to 0-2. Grace Rogers set up Tara Lynch for a goal and Grace Lynch had a point to make it 2-5 to 0-2 at the interval. Stabannon's chance to further their lead was stopped by Roche are Roisin Begley saved a Mary Maloney penalty. Grace Rogers responded with four points and Tara Lynch with another point leaving it 2-10 to 0-3 heading in to the final quarter of the game. Roche came back fighting and both Tracey Rogers and Megan Fitzpatrick found the back of the Stabannon net to bring it to a seven point game. Stabannon were quick to get a hold of the game after this and both teams exchanged points before Danielle Sharkey seal the victory for Stabannon by sending the ball to the back of the net leaving it 3-11 to 2-5 as the full time whistle blew. Scorers for Stabannon were Grace Lynch 0-2, Grace Rogers 0-4, Mary Maloney 0-1, Tara Lynch 1-4, Jenny McGuinness 1-0.
With the league title in the bag, Stabannon now had the task of preparing for the championship and if they had any hopes of going one step further than last year, this is where it was all going to happen.
The Championship Road
The journey to becoming Senior Champions for the third time in a row began for Stabannon on 17th August 2011 when they met St. Mochtas from Louth Village in Louth Village. The girls from Stabannon made sure of this victory and they put up an impressive score of 6-16 to 1-6.
Goals in the first half of the game by the away team finished this game as a contest and the Mochtas were left with a real up hill battle at half time. Louth full back Grace Rogers playing at full forward all season for her club was once again on top form finishing the game with an amazing 4-1.
It was now time to meet old rivals Cooley in the semi final where the champions remained on course to retain their Championship title when they beat Cooley by nine points in a high intensity game.
Stabannon were made fight all the way but showed their class in the last quarter of the game with nine unanswered points to claim victory. Stabannon led by 0-8 to 0-1 at the 20 minute mark before Cooley reduced the gap to 0-8 to 1-2 at the break. Cooley continued to be dominant after the break and they levelled the game within seven minutes of the second half. Stabannon steadied the ship with a point from Tara Lynch and then went on to up their game to score a further eight points to seal their victory. Scorers: Grace Lynch 0-2, Jenny McGuinness 0-10, Mary Maloney 0-2, Tara Lynch 0-2, Danielle Sharkey 0-1.
Final day
Stabannon Parnells made it three successive Senior Championship titles when they held off the challenge of first time finalists Roche Emmets in the final at Pairc Mhuire on Sunday 4th September.
In the end, Stabannon were worthy winners but Roche will look back with disappointment at the fact that the enjoyed a good share of possession and created a number of goal chances, but failed to score more than three points.
Although the game started with Stabannon exerting the early pressure, it was the Faughart side who took the lead when Roseanna Heeney pointed a free on five minutes.
It took a superb block from Player of the Match, Olivia Grant, to deny Parnells a goal before Nicola Mills doubled the lead on 14 minutes with a well taken score from a difficult angle.
Roche then missed a number of opportunities to extend the advantage before Stabannon finally got off the mark on 22 minutes through Jenny McGuinness and two minutes later the same player had the sides level.
The champions were on top at this stage and it took a great save from Tara McGivern to deny Tara Lynch a goal, but just before the interval Jenny McGuinness added a third point to make it 0-3 to 0-2 at the break.
Stabannon remained on top at the start of the second half and added points from Mary Maloney and Jenny McGuinness by the 40th minute, while in between Kim Lynch was denied by McGivern.
Tara Lynch landed two points either side of a Shauna Finn score for Roche to make it 0-7 to 0-3, before Roche raised their game and put real pressure on their opponents.
They were unlucky not to find the net as Shauna Finn fisted off bar while Megan Fitzpatrick had a shot just inches wide and Tracey Rogers was also denied by the woodwork. In an exciting finale, Jenny McGuinness also hit a post for Stabannon.
During this spell the Stabannon defence played superbly to keep Roche at bay while they added points from McGuinness (2) and sub Deirdre Lynch in the closing stages to seal victory.
Aine McGee was delighted as she lifted the Senior Cup for Stabannon, ten years after she captained the Stabannon team to their first ever title, the Junior Championship.
The Leinster Journey
Stabannon Parnells cruised into the semi-final of the Ladies Leinster Club Championship with a clinical display to see off the Laois champions at home on Saturday 1st October on a final scoreline of 4-15 to 0-7.
Stabannon produced stunning second half to blow the visitors away in a game that saw Jenny McGuinness finish top scorer with an impressive 1-8. It was Stabannon who got off the mark with the first point from Sinead McGrane but a very closely contested first quarter ended with the home side just 0-4 to 0-3 ahead.
The Mid Louth girls edged ahead before the closing minutes of the half produced a number of crucial moments helped turn the game in Stabannon's favour. In the final minute of normal time, Tara Lynch and Grace Rogers set up Jenny McGuinness for the first goal of the game. Almost immediately, full back Andrea Carney produced a brilliant block to deny Kileen a certain goal before Grace Rogers landed the final point of the half to put her side 1-8 to 0-5 ahead.
That goal left the Laois champions facing an uphill task but they retained a slight hope when Stabannon added just two further points in the opening ten minutes of the second half.
However, in the next eight minutes Stabannon put the game beyond any doubt as goals from Mary Maloney and Deirdre Lynch were part of a tally of 2-4 in that spell.
Danielle Sharkey weighed in with a fourth goal on 53 minutes and it was fitting that Jenny McGuinness had the final point of a memorable afternoon for Stabannon.
Leinster Semi final
Stabannon Parnells booked their place in the Leinster final for a second year in a row after they saw off the challenge of Round Towers from Dublin on Saturday 8th October on a scoreline of 0-10 to 0-5. Stabannon booked their spot in the final with a superb second half defensive display that held the Dublin champions to a solitary point. The first score of the day came from Stabannon's Jenny McGuinness who had a point in the third minute from a free and four minutes later McGuinness put the ball over the bar from a difficult angle. Stabannon went on to extend their lead to 0-4 to 0-1 at the 20 minute mark. Round Towers then drew level with the Louth side. However this was short lived as McGuinness replied to give Stabannon a one point lead on the 25th minute. Stabannon then upped the tempo and Tara Lynch added two points to see the Louth side go in three points up at the interval.
Round Towers came out fighting in the second half and were unlucky not to have the ball in the back of the net. The Dublin side enjoyed a lot of possession at this point but were finding it very difficult to penetrate the Stabannon defence. The irrepressible Grace Lynch then did what she does so well, she spotted a gap and went straight through sending the ball high over the net to give Stabannon a four point lead. A vital McGuinness point seemed to knock the confidence of Round Towers and it was Lynch again who did brilliantly to win possession and turned inside the defender to kick one of the game's best points and put the game beyond any doubt.
Leinster Final
Stabannon Parnells added the Leinster Intermediate Club Championship to their senior league and championship double with a one point victory over Oldcastle of Meath on a cold day in Clane, Co. Kildare.
In the 9th minute Stabannon finally got off the mark with a point from Tara Lynch. Stabannon were the more dominant team in the next ten minutes but were still struggling to make the final pass stick. Oldcastle kicked two quick scores before the sides exchanged points. With six minutes left in the first half Jenny McGuinness scored her first of the day to close the gap back to one point. Three minutes later McGuinness levelled the match before Stabannon took the lead through Lynch. It was 0-4 each at half time after Oldcastle grabbed the last score of the half.
The Louth champions grabbed the first two points of the second half and were unlucky as they hit the crossbar twice in quick succession.
A burst of 1-1 put Oldcastle into the lead and the same two points separated the sides.
With 5 minutes left on the clock Oldcastle were ahead by two points but then Stabannon got their chance to take the lead when substitute Deirdre Lynch was fouled by Oldcastle keeper Shauna Coakley and the referee awarded Louth a penalty. Jenny McGuinness stepped up to take the penalty and calmly rolled the ball low to the left of the keeper and to the back of the net putting her side ahead.
The sides swapped scores but Stabannon were comfortable in possession at this point and averted any late danger.
The referee blew the full time whistle, with Stabannon leading 1-7 to 1-6, sparking wild celebrations for the Stabannon team. The victory came thanks to a brilliant effort from the starting 15 and the substitutions that were introduced during the game but the stand out players on the day were Ann Marie Lynch, Grace Lynch, Aine McGee, and player of the match Jenny McGuinness. The victory was a just reward for the effort put in by all involved with the team who now go on to the All Ireland semi-final where they will meet the Munster champions.
Stabannon: Nicola Barry; Oonagh Giggins, Andrea Carney, Orlagh Byrne; Siobhan Giggins, Ann Marie Lynch, Aine McGee; Grace Lynch, Kim Lynch; Bronagh McGrane, Sinead McGrane, Mary Maloney; Jenny McGuinness, Grace Rogers, Tara Lynch.
Substitutions: Carol Cluskey for Sinead McGrane 36mins, Deirdre Lynch for Oonagh Giggins 49mins, Danielle Sharkey for Mary Maloney 53mins.
Subs not used: Grainne Whelan, Ciara Connolly, Julie Campbell, Maria Bannon, Amy Malone, Stephanie Shevlin, Grainne Smyth, Isobel Keenan, Kelly Lynch, Denise Moynagh, Lisa McDonald, Michelle McArdle.
Underage Football in Stabannon in 2011
The Stabannon Ladies and St Kevin's Ladies teams are combined for underage football and they had a very successful year in 2011. The Club has U12, U14, U16 and minor ladies teams, with plenty of potential which is very important to the club going forward.
Some of the players from the U14, U16 and minor teams play with the County Development Squad and the Louth County Team. Some players are on loan from St Finbars at U16 and minor level.
Stabannon have many talented players and have played lots of football in both league and championship games throughout the year. The teams trained on a Thursday evening and they play a match one night per week. There is a great atmosphere at training and games both from a sporting and social aspect. Both players and mentors get a lot of enjoyment out of the underage set-up.
The U12 team are trained and coached by Danielle Sharkey and Michael Burke. The U14 and U16 teams are coached and trained by Alan McMahon and Danielle Sharkey and the U16 and minors are trained by Helen Reilly and Alan McMahon. Mentors for the U12s are Marion McNally, Bernadette Vernon and Michelle Lowth. U14 mentors are Anne Lynch, Rootstown, Anne Dowling, Jimmy Murray and Anne Lynch, Charleville, who along with many others, have helped play a huge part in the success of the club.
U12 league
The U12 team played in the league and in the championship did not have a lot of success, but this is a very young team with great determination and promise for the future.
U14 league
In the U14 league they were beaten in the semi-final by St Fechins 3-3 to 2-9. The club also competed in the Feile competition and were beaten by the Clans by five points.
U14 Championship winners
After a weak start to the year the U14 team finished very strongly and the Stabannon/Kevin's team defeated St Fechin's in the semi-final before going on to have a tremendous victory in the U14A Championship final against Glyde Rangers, 5-13 to 2-1. Ciara McMahon was captain of the team and also received player of the match on the day.
Scorers for Stabannon/Kevin's: Ciara McMahon 3-9, Ruth McNally 1-0, Rachel McNally 1-0, Tara Greene 0-1, Katie Mathews 0-2, Sinead Lynch 0-1.
The U14 team had a great finish to the season winning the final of the Becky Woods Cup played in Monaserboice on Saturday 8th of October, 4-13 to 3-3 against Naomh Mairtin.
U16 winners of the Shield
It was another great year for the U16 ladies team, winning the final of the Shield Cup for the second year in a row. They beat St Pats in the semi-final and went on to beat Clan Na Gael in the final on Sunday 2nd October in Termonfeckin, in which they had a convincing win. Laura Keenan captained the u16 team to final this year.
Stabannon/Kevin's won 8-15 to 1-0.
The Minor team competed in the A championship.
What a year this has been for the mid Louth girls, for the management team and the committee of Stabannon Parnells Ladies. It is certainly one that will be in the history books and will live long in the memory of players, management, committee and supporters. Tweet
