Eastern Gaels Ladies played our first ever home League game today in Gormanston when we entertained Longwood in Division 8A of the Meath LGFA League. The home side ensured a good Friday when a strong first half showing paved the way for a 1-14 to 3-04 win.
Gaels opened the scoring after two minutes when Caoimhe Cairns pointed after good work by Annaleigh McGuinness. Kate Ball and Kate O’Sullivan added to the scoreboard shortly after and a nice point from the right by Megan Murray saw Gaels open up a four point lead with a little over five minutes played.
The home forwards were moving well with Leah and Caoimhe working hard in the inside line. Annaleigh added another point with ten minutes gone, holding off a strong defensive challenge before Alison Boyle snuffed out a dangerous Longwood attack at the other end.
Megan pointed again from the right and then worked a short free with Caoimhe to bring up her third white flag. Caoimhe flashed a shot across goal but it went narrowly wide before Megan struck again on the right hand side with a fine point to open up an eight point gap with twenty minutes played.
Kate Ball and Kate O’Sullivan were dominating midfield and a fine turnover by the latter was worked down field where she finished with her second point. A minute later some good work by Sorcha Cronin on the left saw the ball worked to Megan who finished coolly to the net off the post with the outside of her right foot. An errant kickout was then punished by Megan who gathered possession and pointed.
It was very much all Eastern Gaels at this point but Longwood began to put some passes together and were enjoying possession in our half. A speculative shot seemed to swerve in the wind deceiving our goalkeeper and the visitors had their first score, a goal.
Their next attack almost yielded another green flag but an alert Sorcha Nic an Aba cleared the ball for a 45. The ball was worked short and a high ball delivered towards goal bounced in the square deceiving everyone and ending up over the goal-line for a second Longwood goal.
On the stroke of half-time a driving run by Kate O’Sullivan saw her claim her third point, leaving a half-time score of Eastern Gaels 1-11, Longwood 2-0.
Unain Browne was introduced at half-time for her Gaels debut and immediately made herself busy. It looked like Gaels were off to a great start to the half but the Longwood keeper made a fine stop with her legs to deny Megan.
Immediately at the other end Alison Boyle did similar to prevent a Longwood goal. Megan then opened the second half scoring with a point after fine work by Kate O’Sullivan. Megan Cromwell and Sorcha Cronin were working hard in attack and linking play well.
Longwood then began to ask questions of the Gaels defence where Grace Toolan, Kate Kelly, Ger Doyle, Sorcha, Chloe Hall and Cliodhna Cairns were working hard. Coming toward the end of the third quarter Longwood reeled off three excellent points to cut the deficit to six points.
Megan then finished a fine point under real pressure before Longwood cancelled out the score with a fine point of their own after some good approach play. A nice move by the Gaels put Annaleigh in on goal but the Longwood keeper made a point-blank save to deny her. Longwood were still asking questions and a fine interception by Kate Kelly averted a dangerous situation.
Kate O’Sullivan then scored Gaels last point before some great defensive work from Cliodhna thwarted Longwood. However as injury time loomed Longwood netted again to leave a four point gap. A last dangerous attack by Longwood was halted by Caoimhe’s excellent reading of the situation.
The ref signalled full time and a relieved and tired home side had claimed the points on a scoreline of Eastern Gaels 1-14, Longwood 3-04.
Eastern Gaels: Grace Toolan, Alison Boyle, Sorcha Nic an Aba, Chloe Hall, Kate Kelly, Cliodhna Cairns, Ger Doyle, Kate Ball (0-01), Kate O’Sullivan (0-04), Annaleigh McGuinness (0-01), Megan Murray (1-07), Sorcha Cronin, Megan Cromwell, Caoimhe Cairns (0-01), Leah Maguire, Unain Browne.
29 March 2024
