Eastern Gaels excellent League campaign came to an end at the semi-final stage in Stamullen this evening after a battling display by our Ladies. The team trailed by three at the break but a strong substitutes bench saw St Patrick’s take over as the second half progressed and they ran out winners on a scoreline of 2-11 to 0-06.

The hosts were out of the blocks quickly with a point in the opening minute.  Gaels were playing well but only had a couple of wides to show before a great intercept by Grace Toolan led to Megan Murray opening our account with a pointed free after a foul on Emma O’Sullivan on nine minutes.  

A couple of minutes later a great stop by Isabelle McDonnell Murphy rebounded in the area before being fortuitously prodded home for a goal for St Pat’s.  From the next play the home team were awarded a penalty but it was struck just wide of the left post for a let-off for the Gaels. 

The defence was working hard with Alison Connolly Boyle, Sorcha Nic an Aba and Rachel Boyle coping well with a lively full forward line and Cliodhna Cairns, Kate Ball and Grace Toolan defending well on the half back line and linking well with midfield.

Nearing the halfway point of the half Isabel made another important interception and soon we started exerting some pressure on the opposition.  Caoimhe Cairns had a shot deflected for a 45 and a clever interchange between Megan and Caoimhe saw Megan register her second point.  

St Pat’s mounted the next attack but some great defending by Sorcha Nic an Aba snuffed out the danger.  The home side registered the next point however, sandwiched between two wides for us. Megan got the scoreboard moving again with a fine score from the right.  

As usual Kate and Emma O’Sullivan were putting in a huge shift in the middle, helping in defence and carrying the ball forward at every opportunity.

As halftime approached a driving run by Emma resulted in an excellent individual score to cut the margin to two points.  The next attack saw St Pat’s extend their lead and only some excellent defending prevented a second goal for the home team who had to settle for a point.  Half time, St. Patrick’s 1-04, Eastern Gaels 0-04.

The second half began as the first with an early score for St. Pat’s.  A couple of wides for us were then punished with another score for St. Pat’s from play. A foul on Emma saw Megan add a pointed free from the right to bring the score to 1-06 to 0-05.  

Our next two frees did not find the target and soon there was more trouble as Grace picked up an ankle injury and had to be replaced by debutant Lottie Murphy.  Midway through the half St Pat’s pounced on a kick-out and registered their second goal.  

Still Gaels worked hard to hang in there and the two Megans, Aoibhinn Butler, Annaleigh McGuinness, Caoimhe and Unain Browne were tireless in defending from the front and tracking runs 

On a warm evening however, the fresh legs from the St Pat’s bench were now beginning to tell and in a five minute spell the home side scored three unanswered points.  Our last score came following a driving run by Kate O’Sullivan which earned another free which she duly pointed.  

As we approached the last five minutes St Pat’s pointed from play again to push the margin to ten points.  In the last minute attack Isabelle made a stunning point-blank save with Pat’s then settling for a point with the final score of the game.  Full time, St. Patrick’s 2-11, Eastern Gaels 0-06.

So an excellent League campaign comes to an end following some excellent results and performances.  Much to be proud of for the Ladies and plenty to build on ahead of the Championship.  Well done all!

Eastern Gaels: Isabelle McDonnell Murphy, Alison Connolly Boyle, Sorcha Nic an Aba, Rachel Boyle, Grace Toolan, Cliodhna Cairns, Kate Ball, Emma O’Sullivan (0-01), Kate O’Sullivan (0-01f), Unain Browne, Megan Murray (0-04, 2f), Annaleigh McGuinness, Megan Cromwell, Caoimhe Cairns, Aoibhinn Butler, Lottie Murphy.