The Brogmaker Ladies football senior championship kicked off last week with one game going ahead and Thomastown — beaten finalists of the past three years, set out their stall with an emphatic win over a young Mullinavat side.
This week the Grennan girls made the short trip to Tullogher to face last year’s junior champions and came away with a second win on a 2-12 to 2-2 scoreline. Joanne Cotterell and Marie Ryan grabbed Tullogher’s goals but these were cancelled out by scores from Sheila Sheehy and Jenny Reddy before a string of points from Aine Lannon, Sheila Sheehy, Lisa Carey, Jenny Reddy and Shauna Carroll gave Thomastown a well deserved victory.
A tight encounter was on the cards when Railyard and Freshford met at Moneenroe in a repeat of last year’s semi final. On that occasion Railyard ensured victory with a goal in the closing stages and a tough battle on Monday evening saw Freshford gain revenge with a one point victory in a low scoring game. Railyard have claimed the senior championship for the past four years but an understrength side were under pressure from the start with Freshford’s Aine Connery, Sinead Corrigan and Cora Dowling laying siege to the Railyard goal. Laurena Murphy opened the scoring for the hosts with a goal from twenty metres and Helen Quirke and Ger Roche followed up with two points.
A mix up in the Railyard defence saw Sinead Corrigan grab a goal to bring Freshford back into the game and both defences were under constant pressure until the break with Majella Colclough dominant at full back for Freshford. Aine Connery put Freshford ahead with a goal midway through the second half but Railyard struck again when an Alice Farrell free went straight to the Freshford net. With both sides going in search of a winner Jamie O’Sullivan struck the all important point after a good run from midfield to ensure a Freshford victory on a 2-3 to 2-2 scoreline.
Freshford are undoubtedly the most improved side in the ladies football championship and their victory over Railyard will give them plenty of confidence when they face Mullinavat in the next round. Railyard will expect an equally tough battle when Tullogher travel to Moneenroe next week in a repeat of this year’s league final. Despite Railyard’s winning margin on that occasion they will be under no illusion that the girls from the south mean business at senior level and the champions will have to be at their best to claim victory. Round 3; Wednesday 14 July — Mullinavat v Freshford, Railyard v Tullogher. Round 4; Wednesday 21 July — Thomastown v Railyard, Tullogher v Mullinavat.
