16s: O'Neill Inspires Laois to Victory
16s: O'Neill Inspires Laois to Victory
July 30, 2021
Laois 6-04
Longford 2-14
A Player of the Match inspired performance from Ciara O’Neill paved the way for a Laois victory in the U16 B Final on Wednesday evening in Hogan Park, Moate. Ciara hit a hat trick for Laois and was a constant threat in attack. Holly Hanway found the net twice for the O’Moore County while Tara Byrne also raised a green flag.
Laois got off to the perfect start with just thirty seconds on the clock putting the ball in the back of the Longford net straight from the throw in. Longford did reply with three quick points, but the Laois girls went on to score three more goals in the first quarter leaving Longford with more catching up to do.
Longford did eventually settle down in this game and went on to score two goals themselves one from Ella Duggan from the penalty spot and the other from their midfielder Ella O'Reilly. Longford steadied the ship and a further five points left the teams all square at half time; Longford 2-07, Laois 4-01.
Laois came out strong again at the start of the second half adding 2-03 to their tally before the second water break, restricting Longford to two points in that period. Adrift by seven points, Longford to their credit dug in and started their comeback, scoring some lovely long-range points. Substitute Eimear McDonagh hit a long-range effort from near the sideline, which curled over the bar to bring Longford back to within two.
Longford held Laois scoreless in the last fifteen minutes of the game, but the Laois defence stood firm making it very difficult for Longford to get in for the all-important goal needed to secure a win as the game approached its conclusion. However, time ran out on the Longford team, and it was Laois who held on to victory.
Laois: B Dunne, A Hoary, A Brennan, E Dunne, M Donnelly, C Malone, O McNamara, S Fitzpatrick, F McEvoy, T Byrne, H Hanway, A Cummins, C O’Neill, K Donohue (C), A Ryle.
Subs: A Shanahan, G Cunningham, A Kerins, E McNulty, E Byrne, A Dalton, R Donagher, H McEvoy, K Wall, L Hooney, L Dunphy Kealy, R Duff, J Ramsbottom, M Murray, A Byron.
Longford: S Egan, A Kennelly, E Boyle, C Crossan, E Duggan, F Talabi, K McEntire (C), E O’Reilly, S Gallagher, K Shannon, G Cullen, M Glennon, M Shannon, K Brady, S Farrell.
Subs: L Tierney, T Tiernan, E McDonagh, C Morgan, R Briody, M Farley, R Murphy, A Higgins, N Hourican, S Nerney, C Heaney, R Fallon, K Kilduff, N Smith, K O’Connor.
Referee: Jason Corcoran (Kildare)
Report with words taken from Seamus McGuire (Longford PRO)
Photo Credit: Frank McGrath