Mitchels shown no mercy by Galway girls
The Castlebarteam who came up short against Ardrahan in their 12-a-side final last Saturday.
A devastating opening quarter by Ardrahan saw Castlebar Mitchels fall to a heavy defeat in Saturday’s Galway Camogie Junior ‘B’ 12-a-side championship final.
The two clubs played out a thrilling draw in the opening round of the championship but Ardrahan, who also found the net on five occasions in that aforementioned encounter, got off to a lightning start. Following an opening free by Aoife Morris, Ardrahan raised their first green flag when Brenda Kerins unleashed a piledriver into the top corner.
Kerins added another goal on five minutes. A free from distance by Morris dropped short and fell kindly to the forward, reacting quickest to fire home.
Ardrahan almost added a third major in similar circumstances when another long-range placed ball from Morris fell short, but Aoibhinn Moran sent her effort wide.
The relentlessness of the Ardrahan attack continued to overwhelm Mitchels, who struggled to get out of their own half, and Kerins completed her hat-trick. That, combined with a pair of singles from Kerins and one from Amber Lynskey, left a shellshocked Mitchels 3-3 to 0-0 down inside ten minutes.
Before the end of the first quarter, Mitchels received a glimmer of hope when Brona Joyce found the net and she almost found another only for a last-ditch block by Morris. However, that goal would be the only score for Mitchels in the first half as Elaine Dolphin (three), Grace Creedon, Moran and Kerins extended their advantage further to end this game as a contest at the break, 3-9 to 1-0.
Ardrahan picked up where they left off, with Moran pointing once again, but Mitchels responded with a Niamh Kennedy free. The Galway side were showing no signs of slowing down and added a fourth goal on 32 minutes through Elaine Dolphin.
Mai O’Sullivan tagged on a pair of singles, the latter a stunning effort from a tight angle, before substitute Saoirse Bourke fired over a wonderful to increase their lead even further.
Mitchels battled to bitter end, with Kennedy tagging on two more frees, but Ardrahan signed off on their victory in style when Bourke found the net late on.
Scorers – Ardrahan: Brenda Kerins 3-2, Elaine Dolphin 1-3, Saoirse Bourke 1-1, Mai O’Sullivan and Aoibhinn Moran 0-2 each, Aoife Morris (f), Grace Creedon and Amber Lynskey 0-1 each.
Castlebar Mitchels: Brona Joyce 1-0, Niamh Kennedy 0-3f.
Ardrahan: Teagan Stewart; Claire Higgins, Emma Callanan, Katie King, Grace Creedon, Mai O’Sullivan, Aoife Morris, Amber Lynskey, Aoife Broder, Aoibhinn Moran, Elaine Dolphin, Brenda Kerins. Subs used: Saoirse Bourke, Bronagh Gilmore, Ellie Leyden.
Castlebar Mitchels: Trease Conway; Megan Deeley, Alannah Donaghy, Shauna Peoples, Aisling Dooley, Niamh Kennedy, Ella Deeley, Ava Dooley, Brona Joyce, Ciara Kennedy, Marie Beirne, Rachel Peoples. Subs used: Kaitlyn McNally, Mary Ellen Ruane, Eadaoin Egan.
REF: Paschal Sheehan
