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Written by DonAsh Admin   
Thursday, 30 April 2009 09:15
U-19 Ladies Final
Donaghmore / Ashbourne Vs Royal Gaels

Venue:        Sean Eiffe Park, Ratoath
Date:        26 April 2009
Referee:    Tom Lorton

HT:    Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-7    Royal Gaels    0-4
FT:    Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-14    Royal Gaels    2-5

Team:
Ciara Dixon, Grainne Field, Sarah Curran, Aoife O’ Rourke, Karen Menton, Shauna Hutton, Anna Reidy, Jenny Moran, Mary-Kate Benville, Catriona O’ Shaughnessy (0,5) , Maire O’ Shaughnessy, Hayley Lawton (1, 8 )  (Captain ), Aisling Doherty, Ailish Moran (0,1) , Rachel Fenton. Subs Hayley Jenkinson, Lisa Macken, Kyna O’ Connor, Aideen Kenny, Jeannie Donnelly, Elaine Finnegan, Sarah Mc Evoy, Alison Leahy.

The inaugural U-19 Ladies’ Final between Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Royal Gaels got off to a brisk start, with Don/Ash ladies winning the break. Good movement between midfield and Aisling and Hayley ended in the first score of the match, with Hayley putting the ball over the bar. This was followed quickly by a goal from Hayley,  with Catriona scoring a point, followed by another from Hayley to put Don/Ash six points clear.  Royal Gaels then won, and converted, a free on the edge of our square, to register their first score on fifteen minutes.  We won the kick-out and with the speed of Mary- Kate, Jenny, Maire and Catriona running parallel through midfield finished with Catriona putting over her second point. Points from Ailish and Hayley increased Donaghmore Ashbourne’s lead to eight points on the half hour mark. There were a few  injuries during the course of the first half, resulting in the referee adding some five minutes of injury time – during which Royal Gaels  put over another point from a free. We regained possession, and got the ball back to Hayley, who scored another point from play. Before the referee blew for the break,  Royal Gaels scored two points, to leave the half-time score at Donaghmore / Ashbourne 1-7 to Royal Gaels 0-4.

The second half started with Kyna coming on for Aisling, and the Don/ Ash ladies kept up the pressure. A lovely one-two between Caitriona and Hayley produced our first score of the half when Hayley slotted over from close range. A superb pass from Kyna led to Hayley adding another point before Royal Gaels caught the break, getting the ball into our half.  In their attempts to repel the oppostion,  there was a goal-line scramble which resulted in a penalty being awarded to Royal Gaels. Ciara got a hand to the ball,  but it squirmed into the net – goal for Royal Gaels to reduce the margin to five points with twenty minutes left. Both teams were galvanised by this score,  with first Catriona and then Hayley clocking up points.Hayley’s point came after what seemed a perfectly good goal was disallowed and a free in awarded instead. This was followed by an opposition point from a free, then the impetus returned to Donaghmore / Ashbourne, with some neat passing between Mary-Kate, Catriona, Kyna and Hayley,  resulting in a point each for Catriona and Hayley.  At this point, Elaine came on for Shauna, Ali came on for Ailish, and Aideen for Rachel .  Jenny was sin-binned with one minute of normal time to go for an innocuous challenge – despite a few challenges on her and Aoife which went unpunished.  Our excellent defence was determined to withstand the siege of our goal by the opposition , which became more insistent as we went into stoppage time, when Royal Gaels were awarded another penalty, this time on pretty dubious grounds. Again, Ciara was unfortunate as she had dived in the right direction, but the goal went in. the last score of the game was a point for Catriona, and when the referee blew for full-time, the score stood at Donaghmore / Ashbourne 1-14 to Royal Gaels 2-5.

Our defence, marshalled by Aoife, was magnificent. Our midfield were pacy and accurate, with great passes, our forwards were dogged in supplying ball and scoring – golden boot for Hayley ? The inaugural U-19 trophy was presented to Captain Hayley Lawton by Geraldine Sheridan, manager of the Meath Minor team. Hayley then made a very eloquent and gracious speech, thanking the mentors, teammates and opposition for a great game, and wished Karen a Happy Birthday  !  It was then back to the club for celebrations and filling the trophy !