Second quarter blitz eases Edenderry ladies to league honours

A devastating scoring burst in the last 10 minutes of the first half that yielded an unanswered 4-3 propelled Edenderry to an impressive Offaly LGFA Division 1 League final victory over a youthful Naomh Ciarán team at a balmy Bretland Park last Friday evening.

Offaly LGFA Division 1 League final

Edenderry 4-12

Naomh Ciarán 2-7

Trailing by 0-3 to 1-5 just after the first water break which made a surprise return after being widely used during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Reds looked to be in a spot of bother, but they then turned the game on its head with a barrage of scores to take a commanding 4-6 to 1-5 lead into the break. To compound matters for Naomh Ciarán, they finished the first half with 14 players after corner back Ellagh Darcy was yellow-carded for taking down Moya Cummins for a penalty which impressive substitute Rebecca McDonnell expertly dispatched.

Whatever hopes the West Offaly outfit had of staging a second half comeback were extinguished when Edenderry grabbed the first four points, bringing their total without reply to 4-7. The classy Lauren Kelly pulled back a goal, but Edenderry’s excellent defence ensured there was no way back for the charges of Vincent Darcy, Paul Fitzgerald and Gerard Keenaghan.

Relegated from the senior ranks last year, this was a great response from the Edenderry women whose sights are now firmly fixed on winning the intermediate championship. However, their management team of Kieran Breen, Jack Collins, Ciaran Farrell, Greg Farrelly and Tony Kenny will be quick to remind them that their opponents were without many of their regulars, including county players Anna Grehan, Nicole Buckley, Róisín Ennis, Sarah Fitzgerald, Emma Maher and Lucy Flynn.

With such a young team on show, Naomh Ciarán were eventually overpowered by Edenderry’s greater experience and physicality. Tara Tyrrell, who has featured regularly for Offaly this year, and captain Hazel O’Brien, dominated the midfield exchanges, while Emma Maher, Kiah Farrelly and Shauna Farrelly formed a superb half back line.

Up front, Moya Cummins, Maria Doyle and Rebecca McDonnell combined for 4-8, with the latter coming off the bench after 20 minutes to score 2-3 and contribute handsomely to the Gaelic Park club’s purple patch before half-time.

In the last game to be played before the new LGFA rule enhancements take effect, the winners could have had two goals in the early stages, but had to settle for just a point instead. Moya Cummins opened the scoring after Tara Tyrrell rattled the crossbar straight from the throw-in before Naomh Ciarán ‘keeper Amanda Keena saved from Emer Lawless.

Captain Lauren Kelly led by example for last year’s senior championship runners-up and split the posts from their first attack. A brace of Maria Doyle frees lifted Edenderry into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead before Naomh Ciarán also passed up on a goal chance when Aoibhe Kelly was unlucky to see her palmed effort from Lauren Kelly’s centre come back off the underside of the crossbar.

Lauren Kelly soon drew Naomh Ciarán level with a brace of well-taken points before Aoibhe Kelly gave them the lead for the first time just before the first water break. When play resumed, Caoimhe Kelly popped up with another point from wing back and Neasa Trainor waltzed through for a goal to open up a five-point gap.

But Edenderry’s response was nothing short of sensational. Moya Cummins immediately brought them back into it with a fine solo goal before Rebecca McDonnell and Tara Tyrrell restored parity at 1-5 apiece. Tyrrell then gave the Reds a lead they wouldn’t relinquish when rounding off a brilliant end-to-end move.

Edenderry were purring now and McDonnell raised their second green flag after Tyrrell was involved again. There was no respite for Naomh Ciarán as Hazel O’Brien soloed through the middle unchallenged before teeing up Cummins for her second major. Things went from bad to worse for Naomh Ciarán on the stroke of half-time when Darcy was sin-binned for bringing down Cummins, and McDonnell made no mistake from the spot.

It continued to be one-way traffic after the restart when McDonnell, Doyle (two) and O’Brien tagged on further scores to extend Edenderry’s advantage to 4-10 to 1-5. Lauren Kelly opened Naomh Ciarán’s second half account from a free just as Darcy returned to the fray, only for McDonnell to reply at the other end.

Neasa Trainor set up Lauren Kelly for a much-needed Naomh Ciarán goal in the 41st minute before Cummins and Aimee Fitzgerald traded points prior to the second water break.

Remarkably, the final quarter failed to produce any scores as Edenderry comfortably saw out the win. Naomh Ciarán hit a number of poor wides, including an uncharacteristic miss from Lauren Kelly from a last-minute free which was awarded for a foul by Ellie O’Brien on Sasha Coleman, and saw the Edenderry substitute Ellie O'Brien sin-binned for her troubles.

MATCH ANALYSIS

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PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Tara Tyrrell (Edenderry): The county player showed her quality by scoring three points from midfield and gets the nod ahead of team-mates Shauna Farrelly, Rebecca McDonnell and Moya Cummins. Lauren Kelly was a constant threat at full forward for Naomh Ciarán, but didn’t get enough ball, while young centre back Sasha Coleman looks to be a star in the making.

THE SCORERS

Edenderry: Rebecca McDonnell 2-3 (1-0 pen), Moya Cummins 2-1, Maria Doyle 0-4 (2fs), Tara Tyrrell 0-3, Hazel O’Brien 0-1.

Naomh Ciarán: Lauren Kelly 1-4 (1f), Neasa Trainor 1-0, Aoibhe Kelly, Caoimhe Kelly and Aimee Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

Edenderry: Aoife O’Neill; Saoirse Hoey, Niamh Byrne, Lily Murphy; Emma Maher, Kiah Farrelly, Shauna Farrelly; Tara Tyrrell, Hazel O’Brien (captain); Aimee Dunne, Emer Lawless, Grace Foran; Andrea Pender, Maria Doyle, Moya Cummins. Subs: Rebecca McDonnell for Pender (20 min), Ellie O’Brien for Foran (34 min).

Naomh Ciarán: Amanda Keena; Ellagh Darcy, Aíne Maher, Shauna McGovern; Caoimhe Kelly, Sasha Coleman, Fia Grennan; Teagan Darcy, Katie Corcoran; Aoibhe Kelly, Emily Darcy, Neasa Trainor; Molly Wheeler, Lauren Kelly (captain), Aimee Fitzgerald. Subs: Natalie McIntyre for McGovern (half-time), Sarah Flynn for Corcoran (38 min), Emily Flynn for Wheeler (45 min).

Referee – Kyle Waters (Ballinamere).

REFEREE WATCH

Better known as a hurling referee, Kyle Waters let the play flow and had a good game.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Moya Cummins’ goal for Edenderry after Naomh Ciarán had opened up a five-point lead marked a huge turning point in proceedings.

VENUE WATCH

Bretland Park was in tip-top shape for this final with a good-sized crowd present to cheer on their teams whilst enjoying the sunshine.

STATISTICS

Wides: Edenderry – 3 (2 in first half); Naomh Ciarán – 8 (3 in first half)

Yellow cards: Edenderry – Ellie O’Brien; Naomh Ciarán: Ellagh Darcy.