Templeogue take off in second half to land title
By Fergus Balfe
A CLINICAL second-half display from Templeogue Synge Street saw them take home the Under 18 Division Five title after a convincing victory over Ballyboden St Enda's at Pairc Ui Mhurchu on Saturday afternoon.
The first half brought a glut of goal chances for both sides, but poor shooting prevailed as opportunity after opportunity went begging.
Templeogue Synge Street hit the burners in the second half
Two Ciara Cassidy efforts had Templeogue up by five at half-time, but it was the consistent point-taking from Cassidy and the free scoring of Sophie Quinn in the second half that made the difference as the visitors came away with the win.
An early Emily Healy effort after less than two minutes needed clawing off the Boden line by Sheena Morris as the first chance signalled the way the half would go on.
Katie Kavanagh and Ellen Dunleavy both flashed goal chances wide for the home side before the opener came after seven minutes, when Cassidy’s superb spin turn took two Boden defenders out of the game before she fired home powerfully.
Lilly Hoolahan had another chance blocked down for Templeogue before Boden broke and struck just wide of the goal through Dunleavy.
A scrappy game all across the pitch naturally led to an open contest, and the goal chances kept coming: Quinn fired wide of the far post after beating three Boden defenders, Dunleavy pointed after Cassidy hit the post, before Rachel Hall benefitted from a clever Boden overload down Templeogue’s right to finish well across goal.
With the score tied at 1-1 each, Dunleavy hit the crossbar with a shot, before Laura Kelly denied Georgina Carolan with the rebound on the line.
Quinn pointed a free with five minutes to go before Cassidy snatched her second goal off a key interception by the towering Quinn, and another pointed free had Templeogue up 2-3 to 1-1 at the break.
Cassidy and Quinn would dominate the second half with three points each as Templeogue pulled away decisively, more accurate and more clinical than their hosts after a scrappy second half.
In the 42nd minute the third goal arrived off the boot of Sinead Smith who collected a tremendous Chloe Doyle pass, while Saoirse Hoban was unlucky not to convert another great opportunity.
Boden were swamped but did manage a late consolation goal through Hannah O’Gorman, yet they were decisively beaten by Templeogue in the second half after Cassidy and Quinn took control.
TEMPLEOGUE….3-12
BALLYBODEN…..2-2
TAGS Sport
