Muckalee Ladies show grit to advance to Leinster Football decider

A powerful second half performance when playing against a strong breeze saw Kilkenny senior champions Muckalee qualify for the Leinster LGFA Junior Club Football Final following a deserved one-point victory over Dublin representatives Raheny.

Just like the previous Saturday against St. Mochtas (Louth), Muckalee had to survive a later rally from their opponents who landed two points in injury time to leave the minimum between the sides.

The relief from the Muckalee players and supporters was palpable when referee Eoin O’Neill (Kildare) blew the final whistle.

The finish should not have been as nervous for the Kilkenny champions as they squandered three decent goal- scoring chances in the second half.

The difference between the sides was principally down to a superb work ethic from the winners along with their movement and pace with the ball in hand.

With Muckalee having first advantage of the breeze, it seemed that a healthy lead would be necessary at half-time.

The winners got off to a great start with points from Kate Purcell (free) after Ellen Lawlor had been fouled and Katie Nolan.

Raheny landed their first score on eight minutes when Carla Fitzsimons pointed.

One minute later they bagged the first of their four goals when corner forward Cliodhna McHugh capitalised on some hesitancy in the Muckalee defence to raise the green flag.

The Muckalee reaction to that goal was good with Ellen Lawlor pointing, but almost immediately Anna Murphy scored a second goal for Raheny to give her side real momentum

Muckalee showed great character to get back into the game with points from Kate Purcell (free) and Hazel Moore leaving two points between the sides on 21 minutes.

Muckalee used the wind well to attack their opponents defence and they regained the lead a couple of minutes later when Katie Nolan, although surrounded by four Raheny defenders, somehow managed to find enough space to rifle home her side’s first goal.

Midfielder Siobhan Woods responded for the home side with a point, but Muckalee now had a grip on the game and
two late first half points from Kate Purcell (free) and Jennifer O’Keefe looked like sending the Kilkenny side into the break leading by two points.

But there was to be one late sting in the tale for Muckalee when Cliodhna McHugh availed of more sloppy defending from the winners to score a third Raheny goal and give her side a one-point lead at the interval.

The odds appeared to be stacked against Muckalee when they faced a strengthening breeze in the second half.

But nothing epitomised the character of the side more than the impressive start with early points from Kate Purcell (free) and Katie Nolan (penalty).

That penalty miss - although a point was scored - looked like it might be costly as Cliodhna McHugh scored a fourth goal on ten minutes for Raheny after she intercepted a Muckalee kick-out.

Remarkably the Dublin side would only score two further points in the remaining 20 minutes, both in injury time.

Edwina Keane’s move out the field in the second half was a great call by the Muckalee mentors and along with the hard- working duo of Kelly Comerford and Laura Greene it gave the winners a decisive edge in the middle of the field.

Muckalee were superb in those closing twenty minutes plus the added two minutes of injury time.

The defence which had a few anxious moments earlier in the game played brilliantly, superbly anchored by Edel Coonan and Clodagh Hanlon.

Shone Ruane scored a second Muckalee goal on twenty minutes atoning for an earlier miss.

One minute later powerful midfielder Kelley Comerford blasted over the bar for the winners with a goal at her mercy.

A Sian Bolger point for Muckalee on 55 minutes edged the winners three points ahead, but those two late Raheny points made for a nervous finish.

Muckalee were worthy winners after a great contest and its back on the road again next Saturday as they head to Kinnegad to take on St. Colmcille’s (Meath) in the Leinster Final.

Teams and Scorers

Muckalee- Katie Nolan (1-2, 0-1 Penalty), Kate Purcell (0-4, frees), Shona Ruane (1-0), Jennifer O’Keeffe, Kelley Comerford,
Hazel Moore, Ellen Lawlor; Sian Bolger (0-1, each)

Raheny- Cliodha McHugh (3-0), Anna Murphy (1-0), Siobhan Woods (0-2, 0-1 free); Carla Fitzsimons (0-2, 0-1 free)

Muckalee- Sarah Corcoran, Riona Crowley, Edel Coonan, Amy Ring, Eadaoin Coady, Clodagh Hanlon, Jennifer O’Keeffe, Kelley Comerford, Laura Greene, Hazel Moore, Ellen Lawlor, Kate Purcell, Sian Bolger, Edwina Keane, Katie Nolan.

Subs – Shona Ruane for Moore.

Raheny- Chanice Dolan, Aisling Brassil, Caoimhe McCarthy, Lorena Tome, Cristina Tome-Reyes, Carrie O’Keeffe, Isabel, Beaddie, Siobhan Woods, Bronagh Fagan, Jane Murphy, Carla Fitzsimons, Sophie Keane, Cliodhna McHugh, Aoibhin McCarthy, Anna Murphy.

Subs – Isabel Browne for Kinane, Sophia Langan for Murphy.

Referee – Eoin O’Neill (Kildare)