Walterstown 1-13 St Pat's 3-5

A point in injury time from the boot of Ali Browne, followed by another post splitter courtesy of Sarah-Jane Lyons gave the Skin & Bodyworks sponsored Walterstown a sweet two point victory over St Pat’s in Stamullen in the Meath LGFA Football League Division 3 Final last night.

Stamullen hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for Walterstown, indeed cast your mind back to that 2022 Masita Cup final at the same venue when a last gasp extra time goal broke black hearts, but alas, last night’s final sure did mend hearts.

Walterstown were dominant throughout and led by eight at the interval (1-10 to 1-2) having played with the advantage of the wind but despite that wind, it was a much deserved lead. After the break we continued to dominate but on occasions our shooting let us down, while St Pat’s gnawed their way through our lead. It took the Stamullen outfit some 24 minutes of the second half to even it up and as serious pressure came on the girls in black, they stood up to be counted, finished it out and brought home that bacon.

Sarah-Jane Lyons, who nabbed herself five from play, scored the winners first three points of the evening inside the opening seven minutes, while her attacking comrade Lisa O’Neill did what she does best from placed balls, as the visitors led 0-4 to 0-1 early on.

A goal against the run of play brought St Pat’s back in to the hunt in the 12th minute and that certainly triggered a superb response from Joey Farrelly’s charges. Jennifer Lynch and Lisa O’Neill split the post before the latter stepped up and tucked away a penalty with aplomb to see the lead increase to 1-6 to 1-1 just after the end of the opening quarter.

Walterstown continued apace at the Pat’s defence for the remainder of the half and points from captain Antonia Brady, Lyons, Lucy Reynolds and Lisa O’Neill saw us 1-10 to 1-2 to the good at the interlude.

Walterstown only scored three points for the duration of the second half but it was the character shown in the face of pressure that stood out most from for the winners. St Pat’s, as expected, pushed hard and they pushed close. So close, in fact, that this game was very much so in the balance as normal time came to a conclusion.

But with depth comes strength. And it came from the bench in the shape of young Ali Browne who coolly slotted the ball between the posts in the 31st minute to nudge Walterstown back in front. That little waft of blood had been detected. Perhaps the Masita Cup final defeat of 2022 flashed before them or maybe it was that 3-13 to 3-5 beating Pat’s gave them in last year’s Junior A Football Championship replaying in their minds. Whatever it was, it worked a treat because Browne’s point was followed by another from SJ Lyons three minutes in to time added on and it was the final nail in the St Pat’s coffin on this occasion.

The victory will see Walterstown’s name etched on that Division 3 trophy as they depart now for the pastures new of Division 2 in 2025 and Division 1 of the forthcoming Jacksie Kiernan Cup. Not a bad start to the year for this bunch. Not a bad start at all!

Walterstown scorers: Sarah-Jane Lyons 0-5, Lisa O’Neill 1-3 (2f, 1 pen), Jennifer Lynch 0-1, Antonia Brady 0-1, Lucy Reynolds 0-1, Kate McCarthy 0-1, Ali Browne 0-1.

Walterstown: Méabh McCarrick; Niamh McGuinness Óg, Sophia Gillooly, Lucy Reynolds; Niamh McGuinness, Mollie Browne, Rosie O’Neill; Izzy O’Connor, Ella Farrelly; Antonia Brady (c), Sarah-Jane Lyons, Zoe Harte; Jennifer Lynch, Kate McCarthy, Lisa O’Neill. Subs: Ali Browne replaced J Lynch, Julie Donnellan replaced E Farrelly; Helen Lenehan, Abbie Farrelly, Michaela McMahon, Sarah Hussey, Muireann Traynor, Sophie Montgomery, Amy Behan, Eva Stewart, Eleanor Hussey, Bella Hamilton, Áine Downes, Emma Kelly.

Report and Photo - Walterstown GAA

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