Senior Team relenquish Crown

Shelmalier Senior team relenquished their County Senior Football crown to arch rivals Clonee on Friday night last in Wexford Park

It will not go down as one of the classics which seem have become an added feature when these two teams go into battle, a lot of people were left disappointed that the free flowing football was not on show. Take nothing away from Clonee they were deserving winners on this occasion. Clonne opened the brighter and settled quicker Clonee had the ball in the net inside just 50 seconds of the throw-in, as they broke quickly before Josie Dwyer found herself in acres of space to coolly slot home what proved to be the game’s only goal.

Leona Tector steadied the ship with a point after five minutes for Shelmaliers after a fine attacking move saw her drive forward from Left half back. Clonee applied a lot of pressure with there half back line pushing forward creating overlaps, the Shelmalier half forward line seemed slow to react to counteract this. Clonee put points on the board through Mairead Sheehan and Josie Dwyer. 2

Shelmaliers slowly but surely began to get a grip on the game, and hit two very good points on the trot the first a curling effort from Deirdre McMahon, and the second a good point from captain Michelle Hearne after a pass from Deirdre Fox – to enliven their challenge. However, Ali Evered had the final say of the half as she pointed for Clonee, to leave them leading by 1-4 to 0-3 at the interval.

Both sides swapped pointed frees on the restart, with Josie Dwyer (Clonee) and Tara Maloney (Shels) finding the range for their respective sides. Dwyer was again on hand to point before lively wing-forward Georgina Moore got in on the scoring act by adding two fine points of her own.

Mave Quill and Martina Murray were playing sweeping rolls effectivley for their respective teams. Kelly-Ann Kearney and Kate Kelly in particular both had chances to grab a goal for the Shelmaliers, but they saw their efforts fall short, as their side failed to find the required life-line.

Marrion Brownrigg came to Clonee rescue as an over the top ball hung in the air as the on rushing Leona Tector approached.

The game continued to be dominated by Clonee but not out of site from Shels perspective as Mairead Sheehan added her second personal point, and Georgina Moore got the final point of the game, with her third in total, as Clonee went on the claim the title. Many Questions as with all games will be asked and answered but questions will remain re the mindset of the Shelmalier girls facing into this game.

CLONEE Marian Brownrigg, Deirdre Burke, Mary O’Neill, Martina Murray, Orla Furlong, Mary Leacy, Linda Burke, Ciara Scallan, Caroline Murphy, Liz Evered (capt.), Mairead Sheehan (0-2), Georgina Moore (0-3), Catriona Murray, Josie Dwyer (1-4 0-2 frees), Ali Evered (0-1).

SUBS: Cleona Dunne for Mary O’Neill; Marguerite Doyle for Ciara Scallan; Rachel Collier for Georgina Moore; Miriam Smyth for Martina Murray; also, Aideen Nolan, Amanda Davitt, Una Leacy, Trish Murphy, Maire McDonald, Ceri McNicholl, Helena Murray, Megan Murray, Bridin Doyle, Aoibheann Schwartz, Amanda Murphy, Danielle Hayden, Charlene Hayden .

SHELMALIERS Sandra Carr, Ceara O’Brien, Laura Corrigan, Maeve Quill, Fiona Cullen, Michelle Doyle, Leona Tector (0-1), Nikki Scallan, Lisa Quill, Deirdre Fox, Tara Maloney (0-1 free), Kate Kelly, Deirdre McMahon (0-1), Bridget Curran, Michelle Hearne (0-1). SUBS: Mags Kelly for Tara Maloney; Martina Pender for Laura Corrigan; Siobhan Cloake for Deirdre McMahon; Kelly-Ann Kearney; also, Andrea Furlong, Clara Donnelly, Caroline Curran, Ann-Marie Cullen, Mary Cullen, Katie Duggan, Roisin Cloake, Jean Devoy, Aimee Fox, Michelle Murphy, Aine Barron, Josephine Buttle.

REFEREE – John Denton