8/11/2024 - Ladies Football – Boston Shamrocks vs St Brendan’s
By Neil McEnaney
Full Time Score:
Boston Shamrocks: 2-13
St Brendan’s: 2-15
We were treated to an exceptional game of ladies football between St Brendan’s and Boston Shamrocks on Sunday. Both teams refused to give an inch in a game that could have went either way.
It was the Shamrocks who started the brighter as straight from the throw up, Roisin Lee broke through and kicked a high ball into the square which landed in the back of the net. St Brendan’s didn’t panic, and the accurate free taking of Kaitlyn Nugent as well as a well taken point by Nancy Gelina brought them back into the game.
The ball broke kindly for Nugent who had a rocket of a shot on goal saved expertly by Nadine Mullery in the Shamrocks nets. Two excellent scores from Catriona O’Hagan and Erin Murphy for the Boston Shamrocks extended their lead to 3 points again.
Nugent responded with a free and another from play. O’Hagan broke through for the Shamrocks before getting fouled which she herself converted. Nugent responded with another free before setting up her teammate Nancy Gelina for a well taken point from the top of the D to level it up. Nugent brought the Brendan’s ahead with a free.
O’Hagan scored a point after some good build up play. A high ball into the Shamrocks goal fell kindly for Ciara Delaney, who made no mistake from close range and buried it into the net. From here, St Brendan’s kept the pressure on until half time, extended their lead to 5 points with some great work being done around the middle of the field.
Half Time Score:
Boston Shamrocks: 1-5
St Brendan’s: 1-10
Nugent broke through the Shamrocks defence shortly into the second half and fist passed it through to Ciara Delaney who finished with a great goal to extend their lead to 8. Shamrocks responded immediately with a few points in quick succession.
The game continued with both teams going point for point in a free flowing game. Boston Shamrocks battled back hard from their 8 point deficit with some great long range points by Roisin Lee helping them claw their way back into the game.
O’Hagan picked the ball up on the 45 and made a blistering run through the Brendan’s defence. She dummied and dipped until she was through on goal and finished her great solo run with a goal to bring the Shamrocks within 4 of the Brendan’s. The Shamrocks were unlucky not to make it 2 goals in quick succession as a high ball landed kindly for O’Hagen again in the full forward line but she was denied by the post.
A full press by Boston Shamrocks on the Brendan’s kickouts put the pressure on and they brought the game back to within 3 points. St Brendan’s needed to win a kickout and Nugent stepped up to not only win it, but bring it up the field and score a great point from a free.
Some great goalkeeping by Clodagh Horan and an excellent block by Bevin Doherty denied some last minute Shamrocks attacks as they pushed hard to get the goal to get back into the game.
Best of luck to both teams as they travel to San Francisco to represent Boston Northeast GAA!
Thank you to Andrew Gelina who streamed the game live on YouTube. I would highly recommend you watch the game back via the link below to see what Ladies Football in Boston is all about!
https://www.youtube.com/live/y_NFOoDpNp0
Boston Shamrocks: Nadine Mullery, Niamh Doherty, Sarah Newell, Oonagh Shields, Bridget Carroll, Maire Slaine, Caitriona O’Hagen, Erin Murphy, Claire Noughton, Roisin Lee, Hailey McKeever, Aoife Gillespie
Subs: Allison Hunter, Caoibhne McSweeney, Annie McKenna, Caitriona McGinley, Silvana Doherty, Cara Segal, Aishling McGrane, Maire Kelly
St Brendan’s: Clodagh Horan, Sarah McKenna, Stephanie Connelly, Victoria Barry, Bevin Doherty, Ava O’Donnell, Maureen Howard, Kiara O’Sullivan, Ella Lynch, Caitlyn Nugent, Molly Duignan, Ciara Delaney, Nancy Gelina
Subs: Megan Fahy, Kerrie O’Sullivan, Kate Green, Aisling Hough, Aishling Kelly, Laura Donahue
Player of the Match: Caitlyn Nugent
Referee: Michael Moylan
