Salthill-Knocknacarra manager Donal O’Connell was thrilled with his players as they claimed the currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football Championship with victory over Naomh Abán.
The Cork outfit had been All-Ireland intermediate champions in 2003 but that was almost two decades ago and mattered little as their Galway opponents looked the fresher outfit in Fethard Town Park, after Cahir was deemed unplayable.
Alyssa Manley scored the winning goal late in the game after Salthill-Knocknacarra had taken a 0-6 to 0-0 advantage into half-time.
“A final, it’s a tough day because there’s a winner and a loser, you forget the journey that both clubs have made. We’re county champions, we’re provincial champions,” said O’Connell.
“I’m delighted. We’ve had a long day, early set-up but the girls just kept their eye on the ball. They opened up a little, they were very good.
“We didn’t make it easy for ourselves for a period in the second half but they were very good. We knew there was going to be a sting there somewhere.”
It was the first ever Ladies football All-Ireland final for Salthill-Knocknacarra, with Caltra Cuans the only other Galway club to win this particular competition, when they were victorious back in 2010. Donoughmore, Glanmire, and Aghada had all tasted success for the Rebel County in the junior decider in recent years, but Naomh Abán couldn’t bring that confidence and momentum in the opening quarter.
Salthill-Knocknacarra were 0-3 to 0-0 ahead by the 12th minute with efforts from Kate Thompson, Laura Kelly, and Lauren O’Donnell. Thompson (two) and Kelly added further points before the break and Salthill-Knocknacarra looked in complete control.
But Naomh Abán had been impressive in their journey to the final and scored the first three points of the second half. Eimear Murphy, Grace Murphy, and Lydia McDonagh were all on target.
Kelly stopped the rot for Salthill-Knocknacarra and with Naomh Abán pushing to get back on terms, the leaders broke before Manley finished off a swift move to seal the win in the 60th minute.
“Everyone wanted to play it today. People wanted the business done before Christmas, I think that highly motivated them,” said O’Connell.
“It was a slightly unsettling day and maybe it just worked better for us for whatever reason.”
Scorers: Salthill-Knocknacarra: A Manley 1-0, K Thompson 0-3 (1f), L Kelly 0-3 (1f), L O’Donnell 0-1.
Scorers: Naomh Abán: G Murphy 0-2 (1f), E Murphy 0-1, L McDonagh 0-1.
Salthill-Knocknacarra: L Carroll; A Mullen, E Madden, O De Bairead; S Donnellan, Z Rather, R Reddington; S Divilly, A Finnerty; L Kelly, L O’Donnell, K Thompson; D O’Connell, A Manley, A Nash.
Subs: D Brennan for Reddington (58), A Kelly for Divilly (60), M Mulligan for Madden (60).
Naomh Abán: L Hughes; U Twohig, M Dineen, A Creedon; E Kelly, R Corkery, ME Kelleher; A McDonagh, G Lucey; A Hoare, E Murphy, C Phelan; G Murphy, L McDonagh, A Maher.
Subs: J Kelly for Maher (35), C Murphy for Phelan (50).
Referee: S Mulvihill (Kerry)
Article by Darren Kelly.
