St Anne’s ladies secure junior football championship silverware in style

ST ANNE’S delivered Go Ahead Ireland Dublin LGFA Junior F Championship silverware, despite a determined second half comeback by Clann na nGael Fontenoy 4-11 to 3-8 at St Margarets on Thursday night, making it three wins from three in 2023 against the Ringsend side, reports Cóilin Duffy.

With a league victory, and a group stages win under their belts, St Anne’s were coming into this game as favourites, but it wasn’t all one-way traffic, certainly in the opening quarter.

Indeed Clanna Gael grabbed the opening score through Ali Henry, but their lead was short-lived as less than four minutes later Caragh Jones equalised.

When Katie Maher put St Anne’s ahead for the first time 45 seconds later it gave the Bohernabreena side a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Despite that burst of points, scores were at a minimum in the opening quarter, and it took St Anne’s five minutes to claim their only other score, with Mya Clare on target after her shot was deflected over by Clanna Gael keeper Sarah Bossier.

St Anne’s were dominating possession, but following Clare’s point Clanna Gael rallied hard.

Katie Callery takes on the Clanna Gael defence during the final

They cut the gap to the minimum with a point from Clodagh Frankie, but they could have been in front, but for a well placed save from Anne’s keeper Maryjane Douglas following a Grace Dolly effort, after initial good work by Frankie.

At the opposite end Anne’s registered the first goal of the hour when Mya Clare palmed to the net, after Caragh Jones had sent the ball inside.

Referee Orla Simpson consulted with her umpires to check all was in order with Clare’s close range effort, before the green flag was raised.

Anne’s drove on from this with Katie Mahon registering her second point of the tie, to hand her side a 1-4 to 0-2 advantage after 18 minutes.

Sarah Byrne and Maria Lee traded points, as did Caragh Jones and Ali Henry, with the gap at five points entering the closing six minutes of the half.

Caragh Jones weighs up her options for St Anne’s

Annes were powerful until the interval, dominating midfield, and controlling the ball well from Clanna Gael’s kick-outs.

Mark Pollock’s charges won the next 10 unanswered kick-outs, yielding 1-4 from this, and helping move into a 2-10 to 0-4 lead. That 1-4 came inside five minutes, with points from play from Maria Lee and Caragh Jones (2) inside a 100 second spell, before a couple of missed efforts.

Jones added another close range effort from play and also had an effort come off the crossbar. St Anne’s rattled the net for a second time, when an Orla Walsh effort from 25 metres out finished in the top corner.

Twelve points ahead, St Anne’s again powered forward but registered two wides from the next two attacks, including an effort which saw the cross-bar deny them once again.

To her credit also Clanna Gael full-back and captain Helen Barron led by example over the hour, and was involved also on many occasions in trying to keep St Anne’s at bay.

Clann’s were determined to bounce back, and won their first kick-out in seven minutes, which yielded a point from Ali Henry deep in injury-time to ensure a 2-10 to 0-5 interval score-line.

St Anne’s got off to a powerful start on the resumption, and found the net just 19 seconds in, with Mya Clare flicking to the net to grab her second goal.

Points followed in a 30 second spell in the 35th minute, with Megan Doran and Caragh Jones on target as St Anne’s moved 16 points clear.

Amazingly St Anne’s wouldn’t score again for almost 19 minutes, as Clanna Gael really hit a purple patch.

Half-time substitute Olivia Hanley fired to the root of the net in the 39th minute for their opening goal, with pressure now on the Anne’s defence.

A Maria O’Donoghue goal effort was denied following good work by MaryJane Douglas close to the post, before Clanna Gael grabbed their second goal.

This time it was from the penalty spot, as Grace Dolly sent a low and hard shot to the net.

She followed up with a point less than 90 seconds later, before finding the net once again – this time from play; to ensure just six points separated the sides entering the final quarter.

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