DISAPPOINTMENT AS LATE LATE RALLY FALLS SHORT
The Young Irelands Intermediates produced a late late rally that ultimately ended in disappointment as they lost 5-20 to 4-20 against Mooncoin in Inistioge last Saturday.
Amazingly, they were 12 points down(5-18 to 2-15) with just 5 minutes to go, but they kept battling right to the bitter to the end & two late goals somehow gave them a chance of grabbing a last gasp goal to force, but alas it wasn’t to be & the Suirsiders deservedly marched on into the Quarter-Finals.
The Gowran lads made the most perfect start with a goal in the very first minute, but Mooncoin took over afterwards & by the 8th minute a brace of goals had given them a 2-4 to 1-3 lead.
The Suirsiders stretched their lead by the midway point of the first-half to six points(2-8 to 1-5), but Young Irelands replied with a purple patch to trail by just two points coming towards half-time(2-9 to 1-10), but Mooncoin replied with a third goal to give themselves a 7 point cushion at the interval. 3-12 to 1-11.
They added a 4th goal in the 35th minute to put themselves in further command(4-12 to 1-11) & they were still in control when the Gowran men added a 2nd goal. 4-16 to 2-14.
Victory appeared a formality with a 5th goal, but Young Irelands like they did for the majority of the year rallied right to the bitter end but unfortunately for them they couldn’t salvage the situation.
BRAVE FIGHTBACK FROM CAMOGIE GIRLS FALLS SHORT
It was a strong fightback during the final quarter, but ultimately Thomastown’s whirlwind third quarter where they scored 2-5 without reply proved the ultimate decisive difference.
In a tight first-half, the teams were level at 0-6 apiece after the Gowran girls made the brighter start to lead 0-3 to 0-1 after 7 minutes.
Thomastown began to take over & four consecutive points gave them a 0-5 to 0-3 by the 21st minute, before the Young Irelands girls through the free-taking accuracy of Steffi Fitzgerald took the lead approaching half-time.
Thomastown began to take a stranglehold after half-time & a brace of points gave them an 0-8 to 0-6 lead before a goal from a free in the 36th minute stretched their advantage further. 1-8 to 0-6.
A second Thomastown goal in the 38th minute gave them a 9 point lead(2-9 to 0-6) & that was followed by two further points that gave them a commanding 11 point advantage in the 42nd minute. 2-11 to 0-6.
It appeared that it was curtains for the Young Irelands girls, but to their eternal credit they battled ferociously right to the very end.
A brilliantly taken goal by Julie Lennon in the 45th minute gave them a glimmer of hope(2-11 to 1-6), before Young Irelands goalkeeper Hannah Brennan brilliantly saved a Thomastown penalty.
Both sides exchanged points from frees, before the Gowran girls added a second goal in the 54th minute to narrow the gap to just 5 points(2-12 to 2-7).
Could the impossible somehow happen?
No, as they couldn’t find a third goal that would in anyway threaten Thomastown’s aspirations & the winners closed the game with a point from play in injury-time to run out 6 point victors.
Fair play though to Young Irelands for the way they should be very proud of the way they kept battling right to the very end, after it appeared that Thomastown might run away from them similar to the County Semi-Final clash two years.
Despite the obvious disappointment of defeat, they can take a lot from the match against a highly experienced outfit who have mostly dominated the Senior Championship in recent years & use that to spur them on in their pursuit going forward.
Hannah Brennan, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Mia Murphy & Nicole Carter did their utmost to try & curtail the influence of the Thomastown forwards, while further afield Steffi Fitzgerald, Ciara O’Keeffe, Julie Lennon & Grace O’Donnell never stopped trying that epitomized the fighting spirit of the team.
Elsewhere, the Young Irelands Camogie U-12s qualified for a County Final showdown with Erins Own Castlecomer following victory over Barrow Rangers in the Semi-Final last week, but unfortunately there was disappointment for the Young Irelands U-16s who lost 6-4 to 3-9 against Ballyhale Shamrocks in the Championship Quarter-Final while the U-14s lost to Glenmore in The Shield Semi-Final.
U-13 HURLERS QUALIFY FOR COUNTY FINAL
The Young Irelands U-13 13-a-side team qualified for the County Final following a 2-10 to 2-7 win away to Ballyhale Shamrocks in Ballyhale last Saturday morning following a thrilling contest.
They will play John Lockes who easily defeated Danesfort 4-8 to 0-0.
Meanwhile, the U15 A Hurling Team easily defeated Carrickshock 4-20 to 0-10 in Hugginstown also Saturday morning in the Shield Quarter-Final & they will now play O’Loughlin Gaels in the upcoming Shield Semi-Final.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOOTBALL
Gowran National School won by a point (3-4 to 4-0) against St. Patricks De La Salle in Round 2 in the Cumann Na mBunscoil Mick Crotty Roinn A Competition.
They are in Country Cup action again on Wednesday away to Carrickshock at 3.30pm.
