Edenderry hold off St Manchan’s in intermediate final to complete double

Edenderry made an instant return to the senior ranks after edging out St Manchan’s in a thrilling Bretland Construction Offaly Ladies Football Intermediate Championship final at a sunny Bretland Park on Sunday.

Bretland Construction LGFA Intermediate Championship final

Edenderry 2-13

St Manchan’s 1-13

When the sides met in Round 1, Edenderry won on a 3-7 to 2-7 scoreline, and the margin was the same when it mattered most as Greg Farrelly’s side put the disappointment of last year’s relegation behind them to complete a Division 1 League and Intermediate Championship double. They went through the campaign unbeaten and this victory capped a memorable weekend for the Gaelic Park club whose minor boys were also crowned county champions on Saturday, denying Tullamore a clean sweep in the process.

With Moya Cummins and Maria Doyle both finding the net, the Reds recovered from a sluggish start to lead by 2-7 to 1-5 at the break. But inspired by their captain Caoimhe Lynam, who top-scored with 0-9, St Manchan’s twice reduced the deficit to the minimum in the second half. Crucially, though, they were unable to regain parity and with Cummins coming up with big scores, Edenderry finished the stronger as St Manchan’s suffered final heartbreak for the second year in-a-row.

Overall, Edenderry were just that little bit better balanced and were also physically stronger. Whereas St Manchan’s relied heavily on county star Lynam for creativity and scores, Maria Doyle, Rebecca McDonnell and the elusive Cummins were a constant attacking threat for Edenderry and combined for all but one of their scores. The winners also prevailed, despite playing the last nine minutes (including injury-time) without Kiah Farrelly, who picked up a late yellow card.

In perfect conditions, Lynam opened the scoring for St Manchan’s from the first of her seven frees before Maria Doyle replied for Edenderry. But the women from Tubber, Ballycumber and Pullough regained the lead in the seventh minute when Lynam set up corner forward Heidi Murray who finished from close range, despite Edenderry ‘keeper Aoife O’Neill getting a hand to her shot.

Cummins immediately levelled with a superb individual goal at the other end before a Lynam free restored St Manchan’s lead after 13 minutes, 1-2 to 1-1. Emer Lawless tied up the scoring again after a great break out of defence by Isabelle Liu Lyons before Maria Doyle gave the winners the lead for the first time after 16 minutes.

Further points from Cummins and Rebecca McDonnell made it 1-5 to 1-2, but Katie Doolan and Katlyn Flynn replied to leave one in it again. However, an unanswered 1-2 between the 26th and 30th minutes from Edenderry put daylight between the sides for the first time. McDonnell was involved in all three scores, setting up Doyle for the goal before kicking a brace of points herself. Lynam responded with a free to leave five in it at the break.

Two more placed balls from the St Manchan’s centre forward after the restart reduced the gap to three before Doyle replied with an Edenderry free. St Manchan’s were the better team at this stage and were back to within a point by the 50th minute, 1-10 to 2-8, thanks to scores from Riona Foley and Lynam (two, one free).

Lynam, however, let Edenderry off the hook by missing two scoreable frees either side of a brace of Cummins points. Edenderry ‘keeper Aoife O’Neill saved from substitute Sarah Cleary before Kiah Farrelly was sin-binned for a foul in the 56th minute and Lynam converted the resultant free.

Maria Doyle replied with a vital point from a free she won herself before scores from play by Kathlyn Flynn and Lynam made it a one-point game once again heading into stoppage-time. But the Reds weren’t to be denied as late points from Cummins and Doyle (free) got them across the line.

For the record, Edenderry posted five wides compared to St Manchan’s seven.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Moya Cummins (Edenderry): When the game was in the melting pot in the closing stages, the livewire corner forward popped up with three big points and also won an injury-time free - which Maria Doyle converted - to bring her tally to 1-4 for the afternoon. Doyle, Aimee Dunne and Isabelle Liu Lyons also had fine games for the winners, while St Manchan’s captain Caoimhe Lynam didn’t deserve to finish on the losing side after kicking 0-9.

THE SCORERS

Edenderry: Maria Doyle 1-5 (3fs), Moya Cummins 1-4, Rebecca McDonnell 0-3, Emer Lawless 0-1. St Manchan’s: Caoimhe Lynam 0-9 (7fs), Heidi Murray 1-0, Katlyn Flynn 0-2, Riona Foley and Katie Doolan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

Edenderry: Aoife O’Neill; Kiah Farrelly, Lily Murphy, Aoife Tyrrell; Aimee Dunne, Emma Maher, Shauna Farrelly; Tara Tyrrell, Emer Lawless; Grace Foran, Maria Doyle, Hazel O’Brien (captain); Isabelle Liu Lyons, Rebecca McDonnell, Moya Cummins. Sub: Saoirse Hoey for S Farrelly (53 min).

St Manchan’s: Sheola Rosney; Irene Murphy, Anne Marie McCormack, Avril Flynn; Kara Daly, Eva Donlon, Saoirse McGuinness; Eabha Mai Tierney, Riona Foley; Kathlyn Flynn, Caoimhe Lynam (captain), Áine Flynn; Katie Doolan, Hannah Doolan, Heidi Murray. Subs: Sarah Cleary for Foley (50 min), Sophie McDonagh for Murphy (56 min).

Referee - Stephen Connolly.