Strong second half display secures the county title for the Killoe ladies

15.09.10 | Ladies SFC Final | Killoe 0-11 Clonguish 1-4 | By Padraic O'Brien

Killoe produced a strong second half display in eventually getting the better of fierce rivals Clonguish in the Ladies Senior Football Championship Final that attracted a big crowd to the floodlit McGann Park, Kenagh on Wednesday night of last week.

These clubs have been involved in a number of cracking county finals in recent years and while the title holders Clonguish held a slender 1-3 to 0-4 lead at the break with the goal coming from Siobhan McGowan, they only managed to register a solitary point on the changeover.

That score came from a free converted by corner-forward Una Flynn in the 52nd minute and while the girls in green were still very much in contention as they only trailed by 0-9 to 1-4, Killoe regained the upper hand in the closing stages and a point apiece from Sabrina Hackett and Anne Marie Bratten (free) clinched a well deserved success.

While it was a fine team effort by the winners, particularly impressive at midfield in the second half was Elizabeth Brady who received good support from her sister Jacinta while resolute defenders Sharon Treacy, Niamh Devaney and Orlaith Doherty played consistently well throughout the game.

Most prominent in the Killoe attack was full-forward Anne Marie Bratten who fired over a total of six points (five frees) and while the gallant losers Clonguish enjoyed some good spells in the first half with Siobhan McGowan and Anne Burke providing the biggest threat, they generally found the going tough against the better-balanced opposition who were well drilled by their manager Ger Carberry.

Killoe could afford the luxury of squandering several good chances during the course of this lively encounter and completely dominated the early exchanges to lead by 0-3 to 0-0 with their opening score coming from Edel Quinn in the 3rd minute.

Anne Marie Bratten then cut in from the left to land a fine point from a tight angle and the same player converted a free in the 8th minute following a foul on Fiona Fox. That slick start was really putting it up to Clonguish but they gradually got going to close the gap with a brace of excellent scores from Ailbhe McGowan and Anne Burke in quick succession.

Una Flynn was then off target from a free before Clonguish got back on level terms in the 17th minute with a well struck point from Siobhan McGowan.

Anne Burke and Una Flynn then linked up to put McGowan through for a good goal in the 19th minute and all of a sudden Killoe were under pressure.

While they hit back with a point from another Anne Marie Bratten free, Killoe had a lucky escape in the 24th minute when their keeper Marie Carrigy came to the rescue in saving a close range goal attempt from Una Flynn who was through after latching on to the breaking ball.

Clonguish then missed another couple of good chances as they went into the second half two points in front but Killoe, powered by Elizabeth Brady at centrefield, took over completely even if the vital scores were slow in materialising.

With two minutes gone on the changeover, Lizzie Brady shot over the bar and four Killoe wides on the trot followed before Anne Marie Bratten had a shot saved by the opposing keeper Lorraine McCloughrey in what was a decent attempt to find the back of the net.

Maggie Brady then landed a well struck point in the 38th minute to leave the sides all square and Killoe continued to control the game as three more scores were registered between the 41st and 49th minutes with Jacinta Brady (a fine strike from play) and Anne Marie Bratten (two frees) on target.

Clonguish tried to stage a comeback but substitute Catherine Ross kicked a bad wide and all they could manage was a point from a free as the superior Killoe side went on to make the title triumph secure with a couple of late scores and can now look forward to the Leinster Club campaign.

KILLOE: Marie Carrigy; Fiona Toher, Sharon Treacy, Niamh Devaney; Orlaith Doherty, Antoinette Brady, Katherine Lynch; Jacinta Brady (0-1), Elizabeth Brady (0-1); Margaret Brady (0-1), Sabrina Hackett (0-1), Edel Quinn (0-1); Fiona Fox, Anne Marie Bratten (0-6, five frees), Anna McDonnell.

Subs:- Laura Gallagher for F Fox (57 mins); Alison Kenny for M Brady (62 mins).

CLONGUISH: Lorraine McCloughrey; Cathriona Moore, Yvonne Barden, Mairead Moore; Marie Brady, Eileen Hegarty, Sinead Macken; Cliona McGowan, Siobhan McGowan (1-1); Anne Burke (0-1), Alice Magan, Ailbhe McGowan (0-1); Oonagh Shanley, Aoife Nolan, Una Flynn (0-1, free).

Subs:- Catherine Ross for A Nolan (47 mins); Mary Burke for O Shanley (60 mins).

Referee: Patrick Maguire (Granard St. Mary's).

The Killoe ladies team pictured after winning the Longford Ladies County Championship at the Kenagh grounds 

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