Ladies Jun B FC final: Gaeils end years of heartbreak

Celebration time for Gaeil Colmcille at Summerhill

Gaeil Colmcille 2-09 Dunsany 2-06

After years of hurt and heartbreaks, The Gaeil Colmcille Ladies claimed the Junior B title after a thrilling game with Dunsany under the lights at Summerhill. 10 years since Kells were in the Junior A ranks and they'll be back for 2027.

Dunsany got off to the better start and were the hungrier of the teams from the off, despite both teams sharing the opening two points with Sarah McGillick pointing for The Gaeils, and Kells taking the lead with a Gemma Clarke free from way out it was Dunsany who took over scoring a goal and a point in quick succession.

Libby Callaghan in the Kells goals had her uprights to thank for keeping Dunsany at bay a couple of times when a goal effort looked destined for the back of the net but to hit the post and go to safety, while a point effort came off the woodwork also. Kells struck for two points in a row, another free from Clarke and a point from Gaeil Colmcille's nippy corner forward Ella McGlue.

This left the minimum between the teams and Gaeil Colmcille took the lead in the 21st minute after a super run from Captain Emma-Jane McKeon who played through McGillick who fired to the back of the net. The goal was barely chalked down on the scoreboard by the time Dunsany had the ball in the back of the net for the second time of the game to restore their lead.

A third free from Clarke leveled the sides up once more but Dunsany finished the half the stronger tagging on three points to no reply and took a 2-05 to 1-05 lead at the break.

Manager Paul Smith and his team of Barry Smith, Andy Delaney, Catriona McKeon and Catherine Fox must have said the right things as Gaeil Colmcille came out for the second half a different team and looked more lively right from the off as the 50/50 balls that was going Dunsany's way in the first half was falling the Kells way.

That bright start was complimented by Sarah McGillick's second goal of the game, McGillick was looking to add a Football Junior B Championship to the Camogie she had won with Wolfe Tones earlier in the month. Dunsany took the lead once again in the 35th minute but at the time no one thought that this would be the last score they would manage for the game as the Kells back line was immense at keeping them out.

Sisters Loren and Gemma Clarke scored back to back points in the 41st and 49th minute to take the lead and shortly after there was a bizarre decision not to award Gaeil Colmcille a penalty after McGlue was pushed in the back as she tore down on goal, everyone stopped including the Dunsany backs but the Referee Henri Clifford did not see the incident and play on was waved.

As Dunsany went on the charge to get on level terms, the Kells backs were turning over possession and played brilliant counter attacking football and one of those attacks led to McGlue doubling The Gaeils lead to two points. McGlue was involved once again in the insurance point after she was fouled out near the sideline and as she went to take a quick tap and go she was stopped in her tracks and a 14 yard free was awarded in which Clarke made no mistake. There was over four minutes of injury time but as Dunsany went in search of a goal Kells stood string including an excellent block to seal the win and end the years of hurt.

Gaeil Colmcille: Libby Calaghan, Emily Sheridan-Fox, Issey McKeon, Eleanor Reilly, Aoibhe Sheridan-Fox, Emma-Jane McKeon, Eadaoin Morgan, Niamh Halpin, Abbie Cameron, Grace Gibney, Aifric Larkin, Gemma Clarke (0-05), Ruth Carry, Sarah McGillick (2-01), Ella McGlue (0-02).

Subs: Zoe Farrelly, Loren Clarke (0-01), Rachel Kumar, Chloe Delaney, Leanne Connell, Aine Smith, Caroline O’Rorke, Tara Fitzgerald, Anna Reddy, Abbie Harte, Amy Keating, Jasmine Tegetmeier, Sophie Griffin, Katie O’Reilly