Longford LGFA: Clonguish U-18 ladies overcome Killoe in Minor ‘A’ title triumph

Inspired by impressive midfielder Sophia Carey who registered a total of six points, Clonguish overcame Killoe in the Ladies Football Minor ‘A’ Championship Final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday.

Clonguish . . . 1-14    Killoe . . . 2-7

Despite shooting several wides that stretched into double figures, Clonguish were still too strong and particularly so with the advantage of the stiff wind in the second half with Carey shooting five of her scores (two frees).

The sides were deadlocked at 1-4 apiece at the break with the Killoe goal coming from their most influential player Ailbhe Mulligan in the 18th minute but Clonguish got right back into contention when Hannah Burke planted the ball in the corner of the net in the closing stages of the first half.

That left Killoe facing a real uphill battle in the second half against the wind with the opposition clocking up three quick scores from Darcey Brady, Sophia Carey and Hannah Burke immediately on the changeover.

While Killoe were given a glimmer of hope when a speculative dipping shot from Sophie Coyle yielded a goal in the 40th minute to leave her side in front by the minimum of margins, Clonguish came storming back with three points in a row from Carey (2 frees) and Burke to regain their grip on the game. 

A couple of goal chances were then missed by the Newtownforbes outfit to put the issue beyond all doubt and the gap was reduced to a solitary point when Sophie Coyle shot over the bar in the 52nd minute.

The better balanced Clonguish side were determined not to let the Minor ‘A’ title slip from their grasp and three more points through Sophia Carey, Darcey Brady and Shauna Madden (free) clinched the well deserved triumph. 

CLONGUISH: Chloe Manning; Katie McGrath, Cara Dorr, Emily McVeigh; Katie Reynolds, Shauna Burke, Grace McVeigh; Ella Jackson, Sophia Carey (0-6, 2 frees); Lucy Maher, Shauna Madden (0-3, 2 frees), Darcey Brady (0-2); Isobel Gacquin (0-1), Hannah Burke (1-2), Alisha Manning.

Subs used:- Georgia Brady (22 mins); Holly Brady (50 mins); Sophie McKeon (50 mins). 

KILLOE: Emily Quinn; Jorja Coyle, Bronagh Reilly, Skye Donnelly; Ava Finneran, Ava Fitzpatrick, Aoibhinn O’Brien (0-1); Eimear Igoe, Clodagh Reilly (0-2, frees); Rachel Keogh, Ailbhe Mulligan (1-0), Rachel Quinn; Faye Gibney, Grace Quinn, Sophie Coyle (1-4, 3 frees).

Subs used:- Amber McGrath (51 mins); Sinead Fitzsimons (51 mins); Emily Gilna (58 mins); Mia O’Connor (sixth minute of stoppage time).  

Referee: Gerry Egan (St Mary’s Granard).