Ladies Senior Football: Boston Shamrocks v Tir na nOg

Tir na nOg 3-9 Boston Shamrocks 3-7

Tir na nOg and the Boston Shamrocks played a very exciting game with the Shamrocks looking for their first win of the season.  They almost got it and in hindsight will look back at some wayward shooting as being their Achilles heel.  The key to the win for Tir na Nog was some great play from the half back line, as well as some great running from Louise Bergin and Rebecca Stapleton.  Tir na nOg tallied 2-6 to 2 points over the first 20 minutes of the second half during a period that was key to the game, and a great comeback effort in the latter stages from the Shamrocks fell just short.

Shauna Jackson was a driving force for Tir na nOg.

It was a competitive first half, with each side generating plenty of chances to score, and each side pulling off some timely defensive stops.  With 15 minutes played it was all square at 1-2 each before Chloe Ryan put the Brighton side ahead with a rasping shot that barely cleared the crossbar.  Shamrocks fired a warning shot shortly after, however Niamh Hynes was alert to Ciara McCormick’s close range shot. 

A goal did come a minute later when McCormick made no mistake and fired home.  Each side had chances to add another in the goals column, however Shauna Jackson’s well struck penalty shot was a shade too high and came back off the crossbar, and on the stroke of half time Anna Finnegan shot just wide.  At the break it was a 1-3 to 2-2 Shamrocks lead.

Sinead Woods tries to turn the tables in the Shamrocks favour.

The second half saw the Shamrocks go 2 for 8 with their shooting.  There were plenty of chances generated in the early part of the half, however, the Shamrocks failed to add to their advantage.  When Tir na nOg had their period on top, they made it count.  The Brighton based side started to drive through the Shamrocks defence.  Louise Bergin led a charge that resulted in a goal after a give and go with Fiona Morissey.  Bergin then followed with a point and the Brighton side were on top.  The Shamrocks struggled to clear the ball from their own half as Tir na nOg were first to the kickouts, and had their opponents pinned inside their own half.

The game took another swing as the Shamrocks took the initiative for the final stretch.  Behind by seven points the green and gold pointed through Rebecca Mongan and then won a penalty following a foot black in the penalty box.   Rebecca Kelly made no mistake and the excitement grew as there were now just 3 points in it time almost up.  Bernie Murray made it a two point game, and a final chance that fell to the Shamrocks drifted wide.

Tir na nOg: N. Hynes, R. Stapleton, L. Brick, J. Davoran, N. Daly, A. Taylor, F. Ni Bhriain, F. Morrissey, L. Bergin, R. Stapleton, C. Nee, R. Flanagan, C. Ryan, N. Horan, S. Jackson.  Shamrocks:  L. Brick, L. Larkin, S. McLaughlin, B. Devlin, G. Kelly, B. Murray, A. Finnegan, S. Delahunt, S. Woods, R. Mongan, A. Montague, L. Lavin, C. McCormick, L. Flynn, L. McCrystal.

By Rory O'Donnell