League Go Ahead Ladies Adult Division 2

Ballinteer St John 3 13 Castleknock 1 17

The Ballinteer St Johns players, coaches and parents drove home from Castleknock GAA pitches with their 5th win of the season making them third in the division with one game to play. The influence of the new coaching team of Michael Ryan, Peter O Curry and Liam O Baoighill is clearly kicking in. This game was played at a very fast pace with 4 goals and 30 points scored in total. The quality of the play was very high with nothing between the two teams. In reverse to their last few games, BSJ scored the bulk of the goals and Castleknock were kept to points by a wall of china like defense. The girls were determined not to let any goals in and moved the very talented Castleknock attack to the sides and back forcing kicks for points.

There was only a point in it at half time, but Castleknock came out like a team possessed. They dominated our kick outs and were finishing with slick passing and accurate kicks. Points clocked up and we were four points behind. A bookie would not have bet on a BSJ win. The girls had to dig deep and make every morsel of possession count. That they did and as the half progress they began to pressure Castleknock kick outs and gain momentum. Once our midfield and forwards got a sniff of a chance, they scored some very sweet points under pressure, with Niamh and Grace leading the charge. With only a few minutes to go we went ahead by two points with centre back Alana Doran charging up the field and knocking over a beautiful point. Just after the kick out the final whistle sounded. A very impressive comeback that was gutsy and clearly their work on fitness has paid off. Rock on the championship in August.

Scorers Grace Dent 1 -04, Niamh Sweeney 2-04 (4f), Rebekah Fitzpatrick 0-03, Katie Fearon 0-01, Alannah Doran 0-01,

Team

1 Niamh Twomey

2 Elaine Egan

3 Laoise Tully

4 Ruth Nolan

5 Catriona O Brien

6 Alannah Doran

7 Derbhla Nolan

8 Katie Fearon

9 Caoimhe Brennan

10 Orla Glancy

11 Niamh Sweeney

12 Nell Breathnach

13 Rachel Kavanagh

14 Grace Dent

15 Rebekah Fitzpatrick

16 Sadhbh nic Uileagoid

17 Emily Adderley

18 Roisin Crowe

19 Emily Naughton

Photo & Write up by Jimmy Fearon - Thank you Jimmy!