Kiltimagh's rapid ascent continues with junior A title

Kiltimagh 2-14

St. Brigid's 1-12

By Stuart Tynan

KILTIMAGH ladies will be playing intermediate football next season after they saw off a spirited St. Brigid's side by five points in blustery conditions to win the junior A championship at Swinford Amenity Park.

Despite playing against the breeze, it was Kiltimagh who started the stronger of the two sides, leading 1-3 to 0-1 with less than ten minutes played. Dayna Finn sent over each of the three points (two from frees) while sister Hazel got a helping hand from the wind as her point attempt looped into the net.

Despite the early domination, Kilitmagh would then not register another score for 21 minutes. Two more Munnelly frees brought the gap back to three points. Megan Bilbow's goal attempt was superbly blocked down by Kiltimagh's Mairead Charlton before Munnelly pointed again from a free just before the first water break.

Two more scores from Munnelly (from a free and her first from play) would draw St. Brigid's level. Lara Shannon put Kiltimagh back in front but it would be St. Brigid's who would finish the half stronger. Ava McDonnell levelled the game for the third time before she saw a huge goal opportunity for herself cannon off the crossbar. But another Munnelly free would give St. Brigid's a slender 0-8 to 1-4 lead going into half-time.

Hazel and Dayna Finn (a free) pointed either side of Munnelly's eighth effort of the day to keep the sides deadlocked, with a fine effort from Hazel then edging Kiltimagh back in front. St. Brigid's would reagin the lead as the impressive Munnelly held off Grace Conroy and finished soccer-style into the net to put St. Brigid's in front by two.

A free from Caoimhe Hession and a point from Hazel Finn would level it again for the sixth time coming to the second water break and efforts from Munnelly (a free) and McDonnell were each cancelled out by Hazel Finn and Lara Shannon going into the home stretch.

St. Brigid's were dealt a huge blow following Hazel's point after Aisling Bilbow was sinbinned for the remainder of this gripping contest following a hard challenge on Hazel Finn. Kiltimagh would make the advantage count as Dayna Finn scored a superb second goal for her side and points from Lisa Ruane, Caoimhe Hession (free) and Maggie Byrne put six between the sides with precious time remaining.

Grace Conroy was sinbinned for dissent in the closing moments for Kiltimagh and Munnelly pointed from a free once more, bringing her final tally to an impressive 1-10.

But it would be Kiltimagh's day and they will now go on to the Connaught junior championship in pursuit of provincial glory.

Kiltimagh: E. Lavelle, G. Conroy, M. Charlton, S. Lavelle, C. Forkan-Blake, M. Regan, A. McNicholas, H. Finn (1-3), D. Finn (1-5, 0-3f), E. McNicholas, E. McLoughlin, C. Hession (0-2f), L. Shannon (0-2), M. Byrne (0-1), A. Shannon.

Subs: S. Guinnley, S. McCaffrey, L. Ruane (0-1).

St. Brigid's: E. Munnelly, S. McGee, A. McHale, K. Loftus, A. Bilbow, S. Gallagher, Michelle Moyles, A. Moyles, Melanie Moyles, A. McDonnell (0-2), M. Bilbow, K. Lawlor, R. O'Boyle, C. Collins, A. Munnelly (1-10, 0-8f).

Subs: C. McHale, O. Loghney, A. Egan, C. Murphy.

Ref: G. Canny (Kilmaine).

*Full match report in tomorrow's print edition.*