Championship Winners 2010
Moorefield vs. Robert Emmets
September 2010
Captain: Dearbháil Kelly
Referee: Seamus McKernan
Moorefield Team
- Niamh Doyle
- Éadaoin Cummins
- Shauna Doyle
- Fionnuala Kelly
- Amber Masterson
- Gina Rogan
- Niamh Mc Mullen
- Sheena O’ Brien
- Dearbháil Kelly
- Leanne Whiteley
- Ciara Conaty
- Aisling Curley
- Eliza Kelly
- Barbara Nugent
- Michelle Curley
- Sarah Bell
- Aideen Landers
- Lauren Redmond
- Clodagh Cummins
- Hayley Murphy
- Ciara Cusick
- Shauna Doyle
- Laura Hannon
- Lorraine Butler
- Aisling Murray
- Elaine Whitford
- Anna Loughman
- Rachel Mc Namara
Moorefield 5 – 7 Robert Emmett’s 2 – 9
When Moorefield earned and missed a first minute penalty and totally unfazed kicked over 2 early points before Robert Emmett’s managed to draw breath never mind launch an attack it looked like this might be one way traffic. Suddenly the Sallins/Raheens combo realised they were in a match, took an iron grip at midfield through Shelly Campbell and Roisin Dunleavy and their attack orchestrated by Mary Hulgraine kicked 6 points in a row to take a nice 4 point lead into the second quarter. Then the house caved in on them. A long high low from Sheena O’Brien was apparently safely fielded by the RE’s goalkeeper but the umpires deemed she was standing behind the line and Moorefield were awarded a goal. The rattled custodian took a hasty kick out straight to the opposing centre forward Ciara Conaty who placed Leanne Whiteley to bang in the second goal and only 2 minutes later the unlucky Ann McAndrews was again retrieving the ball from the net as a defender missed Aisling Curley’s cross from the right corner and Eliza Kelly was on the spot to drive the loose ball to thee net. Elisa and Dearbhail Kelly added points and then just on the break Mary Hulgraine fielded a short Moorefield kick-out beat the defence and drove a bullet just over the bar. Mary was disappointed not to get the goal but at least her effort shoed her team was still in with a shout as they trailed 3 – 4 to 0 – 7 going for the tea.
When play resumed Robert Emmett’s piled on the pressure but found the Moors defence in top form and it took 12 minutes to get a point, Mary Hulgraine fielding high on the 21 and turning smartly to kick over. The Moors then took action. A couple of switches saw Michelle Curley drop into defence and Gina Rogan going to wing forward and the results were instant. Ciara Conaty founded Elisa Kelly with a long pass and the corner forward drove in her second goal. Barbara Nugent laid off to Ciara Conaty for a point and Aisling Curley dropped a pass over the top for Gina Rogan to run onto and bury another, Moorefield’s fifth goal and Aisling immediately added a point. Just when they seemed dead and buried Robert Emmett’s fought back. Laura Doyle drove up the wing and floated over a point and she then gave a good pass to Mary Hulgraine who sidestepped a defender and blasted a shot high into the net and the margin was down to 9 with as many minutes left. Sheena O’Brien and Elisa Kelly then set up a point for Ciara Conaty but back came Robert Emmett’s and when a defender was harshly penalised for an alleged foot-block, she was so close to the kicker she could not have got out of the way if she tried and she wasn’t trying, Mary Hulgraine drove the penalty low and hard to the corner but time ran out on a gallant Robert Emmett’s effort.
This was a very close game with 12 scores to 11 being a much fairer reflection of the action than the 10 point margin Moorefield enjoyed at the end thanks to their goal scoring efforts. They had sound defenders in the Doyle twins, Niamh in goal and Shauna at full back as well as strong centre half Amber Masterson and Gina Rogan while Niamh McMullen had a great second half. Dearbháil Kelly was the outstanding midfielder on the park and with Sheena O’Brien controlled matters for long spells while the Curley twins, Aisling and Michelle worked well in attack to support the efforts of Ciara Conaty, Leanne Whiteley and the top scorer Elisa Kelly who posed a constant threat when the ball was in her vicinity.
Ann McAndrews recovered well from her early error and played soundly thereafter with good protection from Sheenagh Dillon, Aish Keane, Shelly Kirwan and the non-stop Aimee Bagnall. Shelly Campbell and Roisin Dunleavy were always in the game at midfield while Laura Doyle and Ciara Lawlor were classy wing forwards as Mary Hulgraine excelled and is more than welcome back to Kildare Ladies Football after her 4 year stint at college in the USA.