Bednarek and Fallon fire Coosan to victory over Tang

Coosan NS 6-11 Tang NS 2-11

Three players lit up this Cumann na mBunscol Division 2 girls' football final, two of them from Coosan CS, and that was a crucial factor in their victory over Tang NS amid glorious sunshine at TEG Cusack Park recently.

Any one of Mia Bednarek, Coosan NS teammate Aisling Fallon or Tang NS joint captain Alannah Murray would have been a worthy player of the match recipient. Bednarek just about got the nod, thanks to her tally of 2-9 in addition to some wonderfully creative play.

The match began with a goal from Aisling Fallon, following a sidestep and left-foot finish that her father, former Athlone and Westmeath star Joe, would have been proud to claim as his own. Four points from Mia Bednarek (one free) gave Coosan a 1-4 to 0-1 lead by the seventh minute.

Alannah Murray got Tang NS right back in contention when she blasted a rebound to the net for a tenth-minute goal, having already scored three points.

Coosan NS quickly responded with brilliant play from Fallon setting up Bednarek for a goal. Mia followed up with another goal and a point, in a sequence of play bookended by points from Murray.

Tang's Laura Gardiner raised a green flag which was all her own work, before Fallon ended the first half with an excellent point, making it 3-7 to 1-6 at the interval.

Murray lifted Tang with two points early in the second half, either side of good defending at the other end from Emily Groarke. The Athlone outfit replied with four points, one from Fallon, followed by three from Bednarek, leaving the score at 3-11 to 1-8.

Alannah continued to carry the fight to Coosan, with another brace of points, one after her goal attempt was blocked.

Coosan's Holly McCaul was unlucky to crash a shot off the crossbar, with Tang goalie Isla Taplin possibly getting a touch. But Fallon then made no mistake by firing home her second goal to finally break Tang's brave resistance.

Fallon increased her side's lead by completing her hat-trick, before the irrepressible Murray replied with her second goal to bring her tally to a whopping 2-10.

Bednarek's superb pass set up McCaul for the final goal of an entertaining 11-a-side contest, before Coosan NS joint captains Emily Fahy Kelly and Julia Zamirowska were presented with the trophy.

Player of the match: Mia Bednarek (Coosan NS).

Scorers - Coosan NS: M Bednarek 2-9 (0-2 frees); A Fallon 3-2; H McCaul 1-0. Tang NS: A Murray 2-10 (0-3f, 1 '25'); L Gardiner 0-1.

Coosan NS - Hanna Starkowska, Méabh Kelly, Aoibhinn Nolan, Danielle Greene, Emily Fahy Kelly (joint captain), Julia Zamirowska (joint captain), Faye Higginbotham, Aisling Fallon, Laoise Costello, Holly McCaul, Mia Bednarek, Brónagh Dooley, Fia Murtagh Ryan, Pia Aymerich Becerra, Tara McLoughlin, Sophie McCallon, Bláthnaid Macken, Alanna Quinn, Ellie O'Brien, Isla McEnroe, Sophia Sabatini O'Rourke, Elena Rizza, Amy Naughton, Sofia McLoughlin, Robyn Mulvihill. Teachers/coaches: Tomás Keogh, Shane Kenny.

Tang NS - Isla Taplin, Emily Groarke, Judy Murray, Laura Gardiner, Eva Hickey (joint captain), Ella Carey, Isabella Murphy, Isabella Mannion, Sarah Goulding, Alannah Murray (joint captain), Vanessa Groarke, Florence Henry, Elena Lennon, Sophie Marlow, Layla Concannon, Ruby Galvin, Fiona Concannon, Mia Coughlan, Emma Groarke, Anna Mulvihill, Isabel Rhatigan, Laura Scanlon, Ava Ward, Grace O'Rourke. Teachers/coaches: Alan Murray, Eithne Feeley.

Referee - Michael Gordon.