Currabaggan break Brack’ hearts
David Gordon, Cumann na mBunscol secretary, presents the Division 2 cup to Ava Kneafsey, captain of Currabaggan NS.
Currabaggan National School produced a powerful second-half display to defeat Brackloon National School by seven points in an absorbing Division 2 Girls showdown.
Both schools arrived to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park last Tuesday with strong recent pedigree, having reached county finals in the past, and they served up an open and lively contest from the first whistle.
Brackloon made the brighter start and surged 1-4 to 0-2 in front during the opening stages, with Maely Hegarty finding the net and Chloe Albers, Lily Hegarty and Aoife McGing, twice, adding the points.
Currabaggan stayed in touch through an excellent long-range point from Elaina Ferguson, and that score appeared to lift the Knockmore side.
Ferguson then struck for a goal on 11 minutes after being picked out by Ailbhe Sweeney, and she followed up with a point a minute later to leave Currabaggan very much in the contest.
Brackloon responded well, however, and a goal from Ella Broderick followed by an Aoife McGing point sent them in at the break with a 2-7 to 1-4 advantage.
The Currabaggan girls, however, came flying out for the restart and quickly turned the game. Anna Cawley goaled within two minutes of the throw-in, before Ailbhe Sweeney added a point to cut the gap to two at 2-8 to 2-6.
With momentum now firmly behind them, the Knockmore outfit began to dictate matters and Cawley struck again to edge them in front, although Maely Hegarty replied with a point to bring Brackloon level once more.
There was little to separate the teams entering the closing stages, with Aoife Walsh pouncing a goal for Brackloon before Cawley answered in kind at the other end.
The decisive score arrived on 26 minutes when Elaina Ferguson converted a close-range free to the net to put clear daylight between the sides and leave Currabaggan in control.
Brackloon kept pressing in search of a way back, but Currabaggan defended with real resolve as the final minutes ticked away.
Any lingering doubt was removed late on when Sweeney finished for Currabaggan’s sixth goal, sealing a memorable win for the yellow and blue.
Currabaggan NS: Mia Coldrick, Ella Fox, Amanda Barrett, Ava Kneafsey, Elaina Ferguson (2-4, 1-0f), Sarah Kenny, Lily Allen, Anna Cawley (3-2), Ailbhe Sweeney (1-2), Aoife Coleman, Lauren Walsh, Eva Walshe, Grace Reddington, Clodagh Duggan, Caitlyn Bourke, Lily Reape, Natalie Bourke, Hollie Forde, Sophie Fox, Meadbh Gillard, Aoibhe Goggins, Ciara Hughes, Aimee Kneafsey, Lauren McHale, Ella O’Hora, Emma Reddington, Jasmine Reilly, Ríona Walsh.
Brackloon NS: Hazel McLoughlin, Ruth Kelly, Alice Burrows, Alannah Robinson, Chloe Albers (0-2), Aoife McGing (0-5, 3f), Ella Broderick (1-0), Maely Hegarty (1-3), Aoife Walsh (1-0), Alannah Bourke, Daria Bourke, Elia Grimes, Grace Hughes, Katie Navin, Eliza O’Malley, Orla Petrie, Ameila Ryan.
REF: Vincent Neary
