Junior D final Monasterevin 4-12 Athy 1-8
From the onset Monasterevin meant business, even at the warm up you could feel the tension and see there steely determination. After losing a league final you could sense that this one was not going to slip out of their grasp. At the first blow of the whistle the Monasterevin ladies made their intensions known by winning the throw in and immediately registering a point thanks to the cool head of Simone Bell. From the restart Athy go on the attack but Helena Murphy and Sinead Melia neutralise their run. Tracey Greed was pulled down for a free that was taken quickly and fed into Sarah Freeman who slotted it over for another point. Athy try to come back at Monasterevin again and send the ball up the wing but Amanda Whelan sticking close to her marker runs her opposition into a dead end. Monasterevin on the attack again show great skill with quick lay offs on link up play between Vicky Kelly Sinead Melia, Therese Martin and Simone Bell that in turn frustrates the Athy defence and wins them a free that Simone converts into a goal. Cherie Gammell leading yet another wave of attack is fouled and Sinead Melia converts the free into another point for Monasterevin. Shortly after Cherie is cynically brought down in front of the post and is awarded a penalty that is converted to another goal by Simone Bell. Athy try to build up some momentum and go on the offensive but the Monasterevin keeper Caroline Gorry and back line of Sharon Melia, Gemma Hurley and Tracey Greed hold strong and keep Athy at bay. Just before the half time whistle Joanne Kelly stops a sure score from Athy with an immense block down to stop any chance of Athy making up some ground in the first half. Monasterevin keep the umpires busy with more points coming from Therese Martin, Sarah Freeman and with Simone Bell getting her hat trick to leave a score at half time of Monasterevin 3-6 Athy 0-5.
Monasterevin started the second half as they did the first if not even a little more hungrily. They were determined not to let Athy back into this game. Vicky Kelly storming through the centre laid off to the forward line and Monasterevin win a free that was converted by Simone. A change was made as Gillian Lawlor comes on for Marie Dunne who as usual put her body on the line and defended every blade of grass in her domain. A brilliant run from Vicky Kelly, Sinead Melia linking up to the safe hands of Joanne Kelly, who narrowly misses another point. Helena Murphy soon gets the Monasterevin score board ticking over again with a fine point from play. Athy began to press hard once more and registered a number of points, but again with superb defending from Amanda Whelan, Gillian Lawlor, Helena Kavanagh, Gemma Hurley, Sharon Melia and Tracey Greed the shutters were firmly closed. Simone Bell spurred Monasterevin on again with a rasper of a point from distance. Carole Keenan came on for Sarah Freeman and immediately set to the task of creating space and threatening every time on the goal line. Athy sensing that the game was coming to a close stepped it up a gear held possession for a period that rewarded them with a goal, but as Monasterevin had played all game they almost immediately answered that score with Joanne Kelly rattling the back of the net.
A special mentions needs to go out to the entire panel who throughout the season have given everything (literally blood, sweat and tears), also to the dedication of the management team Niall Colgan, Craig Ennis, Ann Christy and Alan Bell, who gave up so much of their time to train and guide this team to victory.
Monasterevin panel: Caroline Gorry, Sharon Melia, Gemma Hurley, Tracey Greed, Gillian Lawlor, Maria Dunne, Amanda Whelan, Vicky Kelly, Sinead Melia, Helena Murphy, Simone Bell, Therese Martin, Sarah Freeman, Joanne Kelly, Cherie Gammell, Sabrina Harrison, Jenny Gleeson, Deborah Gleeson, Ciara Kelly, Jenna Meredith, Amy Kelly, Karen Mangan, Carole Keenan, Shannon Harrison, Helena Kavanagh, Brid Riordan, Keyleigh Harrison, Antonia Harrison, Jenny Robinson, Caroline Morrissey, Triona Gleeson, Caroline Cleary, Sarah Flaherty, Emily Cleary, Debbie Coughlan
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