Moate CS Ladies Denied a Double Leinster As Wexford Take U16 Title

"Moate CS ladies denied a double Leinster as Wexford take u16 title"

Moate CS U16 girls had a very tough task ahead as they played Loreto S.S. Wexford in the Leinster B final last Monday in Athy, Co. Kildare. They went into the match prepared and determined led by their trainers Patrice Smyth, Fidelma Quinn and Michelle Delaney. The match began at 12 noon sharp with Wexford winning the throw up and they got off to a very strong start scoring a free followed by a goal. Moate replied with a point, a free scored by centre forward and captain Tara Hughes. Wexford, however, continued to dominate the game scoring a goal and two more points. Moate again fought back with a point from corner forward Ailbhe Sheridan and another free scored by Tara Hughes. Moate CS had a chance to lessen to divide as they were awarded a penalty when Tara Hughes was pulled down in the square, but that was not to be as the shot was saved. Moate’s defenders tried to keep loreto’s forwards at bay but it was a task that proved extremely difficult with Wexford ending the first half very strongly with another goal and four points even though they had a player sin binned with 5 minutes to go in the first half. The first half ended with a score of 3-7 to 0-3 to Wexford. Young Leinster player of the year, Emily Coakley proved to be a huge thread operating at centre forward for Wexford.

Moate came out a changed team in the second half. They began the first half with Mary Harkin winning the throw up and passing it off to Roisin Ennis who launched the ball into the square which resulted in a goal from full forward Chloe Butler but Loreto quickly followed that with two points. Moate tried their best to come back with Tara Hughes scoring yet another two points. Despite a more competitive second half it was evident that Loreto were never going to relinquish the lead. Moate made two changes with Claire King coming on for Roisin Ennis and AineGuinan replacing Emma Kelly at corner back. Moate CS tried their best to keep Wexford away from their goal for the rest of the game but it was an impossible feat as they managed to score another four points before the end of the game. It did not help that midfielder Mary Harkin was sin binned just before the end of the game which put Moate down to fourteen players. Ailbhe Sheridan had two shots on goal near the end of the game but luck was not on her side and the game ended on the score of 1-5 to 3-13 to Loreto.

Despite the disappointment after the game, the future is bright with 9 of the team U16 again next year. Furthermore, numerous members of the panel have the Senior B All Ireland semi final to look forward to on February 20th when they take on the Connaught champions.

Team: Hannah Lynam, Therese Robbins, Annemarie Moran, Emma Kelly, Therese Geoghan, Ciara Heavin, Niamh Palmer, Rachel Keane, Mary Harkin, Roisin Ennis, Tara Hughes (Capt), Maria O’Donoghue, Ailbhe Sheridan, Chloe Butler, Leah Quigley

Subs: AineGuinan, Claire King, Aine Healy, Orla Robbins, Emily McCabe, Lorna Boland, Rachel Butler, Dearbhla O’Reilly, Fiona Fox, Lauren Claffey, Claire Sheerin, Jenny Fox, Alannah Carey, Aisling Gaynor, Aoife King.

Report: Niamh O’Connor