Brave show from Davis ladies in final

A SOLID middle third period in the second half provided the basis for St Vincent’s second team to capture the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin LGFA Junior J Club Championship title by 2- 16 to 3-7 at Fingallians GAA Club on Wednesday night, reports Cóilín Duffy.

The Marino based side, who only established Adult Ladies Football in the club three years ago; outscored their Kiltipper Road based opponents by 1-3 to 0-1 between the 40th and 50th minutes; to provide the platform for this win.

Just a point separated the sides when they met in the group stages, after a late Patrice Maguire goal earned St Vincent’s a win; and for long periods of this final a tight encounter ensued.

Thomas Davis drew first blood on the scoreboard after sustained early pressure, with Morgan Berigan netting a goal with just under three minutes gone on the clock.

Vincents rallied well with a trio of unanswered points in a two-minute spell, with Kate McGovern opening their tally, before a brace of Isabelle Dunne scores levelled the tie at 0-3 to 1-0 after six minutes.

Thomas Davis worked the ball well, and broke a five-minute scoreless spell, with Ciara McNally firing them back in front.

Thomas Davis Ciara Nugent watches closely a St Vincent’s attack Photos Maurice Grehan

Scores were starting to come thick and fast at this stage, with Vincent’s first goal of the hour arriving in impressive fashion. Ciana Boland cut through the defence and showed great strength and pace before finishing to the net to put Vins two points ahead.

Soon after it was Thomas Davis turn to find the net, this time from the penalty spot.

Zara Flood slotting the placed kick to the net for the first of her two goals in this game.

This saw Thomas Davis regain the lead with a 2-1 to 1-3 score-line, but Vins quickly equalised through a Ciana Boland point.

The sides swapped scores on two occasions in a seven-minute spell, with Boland and Sarah Ross on target for Vincent’s, while Allanah Sage and Ciara McNally contributed for Thomas Davis.

With 18 minutes gone on the clock the sides were tied for the third time in the game, however Vincent’s hit a relatively dominant spell in the possession stakes, the bulk of their attacking efforts converted to scores.

Isabelle Dunne, Martha O’Malley (2) and Ciana Boland all added to the scoresheet in a spell which saw Vincent’s outscoring their opponents by four points to one before the break.

Ciara McNally contributed Thomas Davis’ lone score during this spell, and at the interval St. Vincent’s led 1-10 to 2-4.

Thomas Davis introduced Emma Ferns and Rebecca O’Connor at half-time and made in-roads early on the restart.

A brace of points from Keelin Galvin inside the first five minutes of the half saw them cut the gap to a point.

Vincent’s pushed hard but Thomas Davis defender Grace Leigh stopped a goal effort from going over the line in the 36th minute, but Vincent’s breached the net four minutes later when 16-year-old Ava Crowley who wasn’t long off the bench fired her sides second goal.

2-10 to 2-6 in front, Vincent’s drove on from this with unanswered points from Patrice Maguire and Martha O’Malley (2) helping them move seven points ahead as the game entered the final quarter.

Allanah Sage registered Thomas Davis’ first score in almost 13 minutes from a free to cut the gap, but again St Vincent’s continued to move the ball well in attack.

Isabelle Dunne restored a seven-point lead, before Thomas Davis were reduced to 14 players in the 55th minute, after Emma Ferns was sin-binned.

Dunne added her fifth point of the game from play soon-after the resumption, with Ciana Boland ensuring a nine-point advantage as injury-time approached.

To their credit Thomas Davis never gave up with Zara Flood registering a goal in the early stages of injury-time, but despite four minutes of injury-time following, Vincent’s stood firm to take the title.

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