Silvermines win County Junior 'B' Ladies Football title

St. Odhrans/Silvermines 2-7

Gortnahoe/Glengoole 0-3

Report: Thomas Conway in Tipperary Town

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Niamh Cunneen (St. Odhrans/Silvermines)

SCORERS – St Odhran’s/Silvermines: Ellen Cunneen 1-3 (0-3 frees); Niamh Cunneen 0-3; Ciara Grace 1-0; Ciara Ryan 0-1.

Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Aisling Langton 0-2 frees; Trisha Holohan 0-1.

As North Tipperary’s leading representative in adult ladies’ football, St Odhran’s/Silvermines could be described as trailblazers. They’ve certainly worked hard enough to earn that title, and on Saturday they earned another - the County Junior ‘B’ Football title. This one was more easily secured, with the North side cruising past Gortnahoe/Glengoole in a largely one-sided affair.

A cynic might say that this ‘Mines team is just a group of camogie players trying their hand at ladies’ football, but if that's the case, they've converted their skills brilliantly, playing a fast-paced, fiery brand of football which is both entertaining and effective. It took them 23 seconds to register their first score - a fortuitous goal making the perfect start, as Ellen Cunneen’s effort from twenty metres slipped through the hands of Gortnahoe keeper Kaylyn Burke. It was one of those wincing moments in which anyone with a conscience felt sympathy for the Gortnahoe net-minder, and though she had plenty of reason to feel despondent, Burke’s strength of character quickly emerged, with the keeper pulling a number of superb saves throughout the first-half.

From Ellen Cunneen’s perspective, that early goal acted as an immediate confidence-driver, sending the full-forward straight into full-on game-mode. Two minutes later, she clipped over her first free, and come the eighth minute, she broke through the centre, marauding straight towards goal before being double-teamed by two Gortnahoe defenders just as she was about to pull the trigger. A penalty looked certain, but following consultation with his two umpires, referee Paul Carew awarded a kick-out. The reaction of the Silvermines supporters was one of confusion, amongst other emotions.

For much of this game, Gortnahoe were outplayed by the energy and athleticism of their opponents, but the Mid-Tipperary side still showed potential, particularly across their inside-forward line. Aisling Langton, Trisha Bulfin, and Trisha Holohan each demonstrated their individual ability, but stylish and smooth as they were, the trio found themselves compressed by a Silvermines defence which poured bodies back in numbers.

Saoirse Burke slipped over a nice point from a tight angle in the tenth minute, but the ‘Mines continued to dominate midfield, with Niamh & Ellen Cunneen combining well before the former pierced over her first point in the thirteenth minute.

Tom Cunneen’s side should probably have had the game dead and buried by half-time, but the interventions of Gortnahoe keeper Kaylyn Burke ensured that some hope remained for the losing side. Having won a free seconds earlier, corner-back Caoimhe Carey almost made the most of a calculated journey up the field, skidding the ball low towards the bottom corner, only to see it deflected away by Burke’s outstretched boot. As half-time approached, she was called into action once more, showing quick-instincts to parry away a powerful Anna Stapleton effort, after the wing-back had found a diagonal route towards goal. Ellen Cunneen slotted another free just before the interval, but really and truly the half-time scoreline, 1-4 to 0-1, could have been far more favourable to the North side.

Having looked lethargic during the opening thirty minutes, Gortnahoe abandoned the conservative approach and started pressing forward from the half-back line, Lorraine Healy bringing the game to the ‘Mines. It seemed to work temporarily, with Holohan hooking over a left-footed strike following a clever short free from Langton, but the scores never really started to flow. What’s more, Gortnahoe looked increasingly vulnerable from the counter-attack and given Silvermines’ pace and athleticism, it was only a matter of time before they started to inflict damage.

A disallowed goal in the 38th minute caused frustration to simmer, but Silvermines stole the momentum at that point, with Niamh Cunneen kicking the score of the game some moments later. Having gathered possession outside the twenty-metre line, the midfielder feinted, dummied, and then curled over with right-foot - a virtuoso point to put Silvermines seven in front. She would kick another four minutes later, but in between Silvermines would manage to wrap up the game.

A 44th minute goal, bundled over the line by Ciara Grace, effectively sealed the win, with the corner-forward reacting quickest after Miriam Murphy had fizzed in a shot from the wing. Cunneen would add another free during the final quarter, as would Langton at the other end, but this was always going to be Silvermines’ day.

Captain Sarah Madden had the honour of lifting the trophy, and with it elevating Silvermines to the Junior ‘A’ ranks. One club will never be enough to truly promote the ladies’ game in North Tipperary, but that one club has provided a blueprint. It’s now up to others to follow in their footsteps.

TEAMS - St. Odhrans/Silvermines: Aoife Ryan (7), Ellen Maher (7), Annie Ryan (7), Caoimhe Carey (8), Miriam Murphy (7), Maria Moroney (8), Anna Stapleton (7), Niamh Cunneen (9), Sarah Cunneen (7), Nessa Murray (7), Sarah Madden (7), Ciara Ryan (7), Cliona Kennedy (7), Ellen Cunneen (9), Ciara Grace (8).

Subs: Eileen Gleeson (8) for Carey (25), Katie Murphy (7) for Kennedy (25); Rachel Shanahan for Grace (29-HT blood).

Gortnahoe/Glengoole: Kaylyn Burke (8), Stephie Holohan (6), Helena Bourke (6), Emma Dunphy (6), Laura Power (7), Sophie Pembroke (7), Lorraine Healy (8), Hayley Costello (7), Maria Ryan (7), Saoirse Bourke (7), Lucy Brennan (7), Katie Dooley (7), Aisling Langton (8), Trisha Bulfin (7), Trisha Holohan (7).

Sub: Jessie Newman (7) for Dooley (HT).

Referee: Paul Carew (Lattin-Cullen).