PILTOWN 0 -12 BLACKS & WHITES 2 -07
“Follow me up to Carlow…. “
Our Junior side bowed out of the Championship after a tug of war type of match played in the superb facilities of St Mullins GAA club.
A 110km round trip to Co Carlow on a Friday night , the night before most of the same girls will tog out as members of the Senior panel playing a County final is neither ideal , or right but …...
Anyway, back to the action , and plenty of it there was. Five minutes played and the green flag was being waved by one of the team of Carlow umpires , but it was being waved beside Mairebeths goal, as number 14 Emma Carroll pounced on a loose ball around the square and put it in the net. A great start for B&Ws .
The game settled a bit then, both sides attacking and defending well, but nothing to show for it, until Aine Hahessy , who played very well throughout, scored our first point from the left wing. The other Aine , Aine Doyle , then showed her coolness early with two well struck frees to level the game after 17 minutes. It was a good response by the girls, no panic there. And then Aines cousin , Ciara Dunne scored well to put us ahead after 18mins. It was going ok.
But again the Skeogh girls came back, with Emma Carroll who was an absolute handful all night scored one point from play and two frees to finish their scoring for the half , Aine Doyle replied with another two frees of her own to leave the scores level at half time.
PILTOWN 0 -06 BLACKS & WHITES 1 -03
The second half started , and Emma Carroll scored three frees from silly fouls in 11 minutes to put the Skeogh side ahead, and even though it was early in the half, it looked like they were pulling away. But Piltown didn’t think so, with the like of the ultra competitive Katelyn Moore winning her battle and other peoples battles too , we were in with a chance. Sarah Tobin was excellent as she won dirty ball and moved it on towards the opponents goal.
Aine Doyle got our first score in the 13th minute with another fine shot in her usual silky style. She was scoring from another free in the 15th minute as Piltown fought their was back into the game, B&Ws were on the back foot now and we needed to take advantage.
Ciara Dunne got her second of the game with a fast burst of speed through the middle and banged the sliothar over the bar. A level match after 19mins of the second half. B&Ws weren’t finished though as they went back ahead, the game now a arm wrestle , Lisa McCarthy came alive and burst down the right wing, high the ball high up into the darkness above the floodlights , and when it dropped it was sailing over the bar. 24mins gone, level again.
Then the score of the night, as Aine Doyle received a ball to hand from Rachel O’Shea , burst forward, leaving opponents in her wake, she delivered a pass to Ciara Dunne and she scored to put us one ahead , 26mins gone.
Lisa McCarthy then doubled her tally with another well struck shot over the bar, 28mins gone , 2 up.
Skeough didn’t panic, they took their time, and ultimately took their chance. A soft free given away on the 45, a lofted ball in ‘around the house’ , a scramble, hurleys, feet, players all trying to clear,but it breaks out to a girl from Skeough and bang. She rifles it to the back of the net.
30mins gone, 1 point down. …. “Goals win games…”
There wasn’t much time added on, and the final whistle blew , and the lights went out on the Junior Championship. A great game, competitive and in the balance until literally the last minute.
Hard luck to all the girls involved, such great effort and commitment all year. Be Proud.
Best of luck to B&Ws in the semi’s and further on.
FULL TIME SCORE – PILTOWN 0 -12 BLACKS & WHITES 2 -07
