Longford LGFA: Colmcille cross the first hurdle in Leinster
At home to St Vincent’s (Dublin) in the quarter-final next Saturday
Ladies Football Leinster Junior Club Championship First Round
Colmcille . . . 2-12 Tyrrellspass (Westmeath) . . . 1-8
Inspired by goals from Megan Jobe and Elysia Brady in the early stages of the game, Colmcille scored a comfortable win over Westmeath opponents Tyrrellspass in the opening round of the Leinster Junior Club Championship at Fr McGee Park on Saturday.
The reward for Dermot Murphy’s side is another home match against St Vincent’s (Dublin) on Saturday next but the manager will be wondering what went wrong in the second half as the Longford Junior ‘A’ champions managed just a solitary point.
It would have been a lot closer in the finish but for a string of fine saves from the competent 14-year-old Colmcille keeper Cara Murphy which included a penalty with a minute gone on the changeover.
Tyrrellspass eventually found the back of the net with Amy Alford on target in the 40th minute but they were fighting a losing battle after trailing by 2-11 to 0-3 at the break.
Colmcille were cruising with Michelle Farrell and Elysia Brady particularly prominent in a powerful first half display but the home side were guilty of squandering quite a few chances on the resumption.
The Westmeath Junior champions also created a number of scoring chances throughout the match but made poor use of a lot of possession.
Colmcille laid the foundations for their victory with a dominant first half display and opened their account when Megan Jobe shot over the bar.
Then a speculative dipping shot from Jobe ended up in the net in the 4th minute with the opposing keeper unable to prevent the ball crossing the line and a point from Sarah Macken was quickly followed by a second goal as Elysia Brady burst through to hit the target in fine fashion.
The return of Michelle Farrell from her travels is a big boost for Colmcille and she fired over the first of her five points in the first half after converting a free.
There was just no stopping rampant Colmcille who led by 2-3 to 0-0 against a stunned Tyrrellspass outfit who eventually got their first score from a well struck Rachel Murphy free in the 10th minute.
Further points followed from Murphy (free) and Ruth Daniels while Michelle Farrell, Elysia Brady, Sarah Macken and Megan Jobe kept the scoreboard ticking over for Colmcille.
The best they could do in the second half was a cracking point from Elysia in the 48th minute whereas Tyrrellspass clocked up a total of 1-5 in never giving up the fight in the face of adversity.
COLMCILLE: Cara Murphy; Sarah Jane Murphy, Rebecca Murphy, Emma McKeon; Maeve O’Reilly, Grainne Reilly, Shauna McCabe; Kaela Brady, Shauna McCabe (captain); Michelle Farrell (0-5, 1 free), Megan Jobe (1-2), Elysia Brady (1-3); Kayleigh Brady, Nessa Farrelly, Sarah Macken (0-2).
Subs used (all in second half):- Brooklyn Brady, Aine O’Reily, Ruth Jones, Lauren Murtagh and Katelyn Hall.
TYRRELLSPASS: Aoife O’Brien; Marguerite O’Connor, Cliona Gallagher, Ciara Scally; Briana Alford, Katie Hogg, Alicia Kavanagh; Eleanor O’Connor, Katie Deegan; Rachel Murphy (0-5, all frees), Ruth Daniels (0-2), Amy Alford (1-0); Jemma Seery, Alice Pierson, Chloe Kelly Gonoud.
Subs used:- Roisin O’Toole (0-1) and Ellen Pierson.
Referee: Ciaran Groome (Offaly).