County finals played the week previous in strong winds and driving rain, This Intermediate final thankfully took place on a crisp sunny afternoon on Saturday last in Hawkfield between Sarsfields and Maynooth ladies, whom in recent years both teams have struggled at times but on saturdays performances can give inspiration to other clubs around them not to throw in the towel and work hard and the rewards are great and having reached this final is certainly proof of this.

The game didn't disappoint and both teams set about the task at hand from the off. Maynooth were 1st on the scoreboard with a point from Elaine Dillion managing to pop over a point as her initial 2 shots were brilliantly saved by Sash keeper Jessica Whelehan.Roisin Byrne leveled matters after receiving a pass from a free by Sara Sheridan, she turned quick to fire over her 1st score of the day. Maynooth were soon into their stride and putting great pressure on the sash girls back line of Earley, Dempsey, Symonds, Lyons Donnolly and Ni Ghoghain.The sash keeper was strugling with distance on her kickouts and this resulted in Maynooth forwards of Murray, McMahon Heneghan, Farrell, Dillion And Kirwin turning over possession and to allow Ciana Heneghan in for 2 pts. This was soon followed by 2 more points from Elaine Dillon, The 1st after good work from Farrell and Murray winning the ball and working it into Dillon for the score and the 2nd a free from dillon in front of the posts to give her team a 4 points advantage.
Sarsfields girls on the break were dangerous and a great save from Maynooth keeper Aibhinn Conway denied the sash girls a goal a shot from Byrne and Pamela Martin connected with the ball on the rebound to watch it Narrowly go wide. The next attack from Maynooth didnt produce a score but from the sash kickout disaster struck as the ball fell straight to Heneghan and with great vision to lay off a quick hand pass over the sash defence to the on rushing Dillon she shot low past the keeper for the 1st goal of the game and to the delight of her teammates and supporters.
Maynooth had a healthy lead 1.06 to 0.01 but the sash girls didnt panic, they worked the ball up the right hand side of the pitch and the pass received by Byrne allowed her to run directly at the Maynooth goal avoiding tackles as she got closer and unleashed an unstoppable shot past the keeper.
This score gave her team a boost and while both teams traded more scores 2 for the sash girls from McGhee and Byrne and 3 from Maynooth girls Murray(1) and Dillon(2). The sash Girls were gaining in confidence themselfs as the ref blew for half time their was 6 between them. Maynooth 1.09 Sarsfields 1.03

Sarsfields made some changes at the break and introduced Shauna Kendrick and she had a immediate impact Dispossessing Louise Walsh and laying of the pass for byrne to score the point and from the resulting kickout she won the ball cleanly and ran directly at the Maynooth goal unleashing a unstoppable shot passed the outstretched hand of Conway. In a few Short mins the deficit had been reduced to 2pts. sarsfields could have went in front for the 1st time but only for the outstanding display of goal keeping from Conway in the Maynooth goal as she prevented Kendrick getting in for her 2nd goal of the game.
The turning point in this game came at a stage when Sarsfields were coming more into the game and playing some nice football and creating chances, Maynooth broke from defence and worked the ball into Orlaith Kirwin her shot was initially saved by Whelehan and the rebound came back to kirwin and surrounded by Sash defenders desperately trying to keep her out she was dragged to the ground and the ref awarded the penalty. Dillon duly stepped up to take the spot kick and slot the ball passed The sash keeper and she followed this score up shortly after with another point this time from a free, putting her team back into a 6pt lead.
The Sarsfields girls still determined didnt let the heads drop and carried the fight to Maynooth. Byrne reduced the margin to 5pts with a great solo effort from the wing and Jessica Whelehan pulled off yet another great save to deny Dillon a hattrick. Maynooths Roisin Murray increased the lead to six again as she scored her 2nd point of the day. Sarsfields introduced subs to freshen things up on the pitch as the game pace never relented. with 10 mins of the game left Kendrick got her 2nd and Sarsfields 3rd goal of the game to great applause from her teammates and supporters unfortunately for the sash girls celebrations were short lived as the next Maynooth attack provided a goal a shot by Kirwin came of the backside of Mia Donnolly only for the ball to rebound to Kirwin and at full stretch she managed to get a toe to it and direct the ball goal wards and as if in slow motion watch the ball trickle across the line to the empty net. Sinead McMahon added to this with a point.Sarsfields replied with 2 pointed frees from Byrne but as time ticked on the Maynooth girls could see the finishing line in sight and up popped an unmarked Kirwin again to score her 2nd and Maynooths 4th goal of the game. Into injury time Sarsfields managed another pointed free from Byrne but the final score of the game came from Dillon a free infront of the posts that sealed the victory for Maynooth as they cam out victorious in a pulsating game. Final score Maynooth 4.13 Sarsfields 3.08.
The Sarsfields girls gracious in defeat shook hands and congratulated their opponents and can be commended for a never give up attitude.
The presentation of the cup was a special moment for the Maynooth manager Anto Mooney, The trophy is the Tony Mooney cup named after her father and it Commemorates a man who gave massive service to Ladies football in both Maynooth and Kildare. It was a deserved tribute as Anto stepped up to present the 2013 Intermediate championship winners Trophy to her team Captain Zoe Dunbar.
Maynooth will now represent Kildare in the Leinster Intermediate club Championship where they will play Sarsfields of Laois on the 5th of October, and we all in kildare ladies gaa wish them well ahead of that game.

Maynooth team were as follows. 1. Aibhinn Conway, 2. Louise Walsh, 3. Zoe Dunbar, 4.Eilis Ni Chorcora, 5. Elaine Kelly, 6. Aisling Farrell, 7. Sarah Quinn, 8. Meabh Walsh, 9. Michelle Carey, 10. Roisin Murray (0.02), 11. Sinead McMahon(0.01), 12. Ciana Heneghan (0.02) 13. Annmarie Farrell, 14. Elaine Dillon ( 2.08 1 peno and 4 frees) 15. Orlaith Kirwin(2.00) Subs C Jones, S Murray, R o Neill, M Nelson, M Nolan, A Quinn, S Miller, J Moore, A Kelly, S Dunne, A Lande, N Coghlan, H.Mulligan, E Sweeney, E Murray.

Sarsfields team were as follows 1. Jessica Whelehan, 2. Anne Marie Earley, 3. Eimear Dempsey, 4. Katie Betts-Symonds, 5. Emma Lyons, 6.Mia Donnolly, 7. Cliodhna Ni Ghoghain, 8. Sara Sheridan, 9. Sadhbh Mc Donnell, 10 Fran McGhee (0.01), 11. Anna Lawless, 12. Danielle Clerkin, 13. Orlaith Judge, 14. Pamela Martin 15. Roisin Byrne (1.07) Sub 20. Shauna Kendrick (2.00) J Turner, J Nolan, C Morris, G Hartnett, S Jenkins, K O Reilly, K English, C Fox, R Dempsey, M Fisher, C Mc Connell, L Scales.

Championship results from yesterday.
Intermediate Final Maynooth 4.13 Sarsfields 3.08

Junior B Semi Finals
Rathangan 1.19 (22) Celbridge 5.07 (22) replay to be fixed.
Na Fianna 4.06 Athy 2.05

Junior C Semi Finals
Rheban 4.13 Ballymore 1.09
St Laurences (2) 6.09 Castledermot 3.10 Tweet

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