Thriller as Tyrrellspass survive Loughnavalley fightback

Tyrrellspass 4-5, Loughnavalley 3-5

Two goals from Ellie Scott and a penalty from Grace Murphy were enough for Tyrrellspass as they managed to get out of Milltown GAA last Thursday evening with the Division 3 U14 title despite a sensational attempt at a fightback from Loughnavalley in the dying minutes.

In a very warm and humid Seán Doolin Memorial Park, an eight-point half-time lead for Tyrrellspass, which extended to fifteen heading to the final quarter, was almost pegged back by the sheer attacking determination of the Valley.

Early frees from both sides got Tyrrellspass going as the left-footer from Katie Rigney-Brennan was followed by the one from the opposite side by Grace Murphy after Ellie Scott had been fouled on both occasions. Loughnavalley responded through a double of their own coming from Grace Claffey and the always-available Rosie Rami. Tyrrellspass hit the front again when Murphy added her second just before both sides took a short water break in the searing heat. When the contest restarted, Scott and Rigney-Brennan both hit the net and the half-time whistle saw Tyrrellspass well ahead on a scoreline of 2-4 to 0-2.

Despite Loughnavalley’s best efforts early in the half through Rami in particular, it was Tyrrellspass who kept the foot on the pedal. Ellie Scott took on Ella Whelan and Ava Daly leaving them in her wake before rifling to the roof of the net. A stunning save from Roisín Elliffe in the Valley goals was eventually recycled to Scott who pointed. When Mollie Daly was upended and Scott scored the resulting penalty to make it 4-5 to 0-2, few could have given much hope to the trailing Loughnavalley.

Rami did get their first of the half from a nice free on 38 minutes and following a string of saves from Tyrrellspass goalkeeper, Kate Molloy, Hazel Bennett eventually found the net for the first Valley goal. With tails up, the side behind went on a rampage of attacks and were it not for some shooting inaccuracies they could have been right back in it. As it was, they continued the trend and with fifteen remaining Rami hit the net to leave it 4-5 to 2-3. Grace Murphy did her defensive duties for the Pass clearing Bennett’s goal-bound free off the line. A quick double of points from Deirdre O’Brien raised the spirits a little as Tyrrellspass sensed the need for them to be careful not to throw away the huge lead they had amassed earlier.

Incredibly, Bennett kicked to the net in a scramble to leave it 4-5 to 3-5 in the dying seconds. Both Deirdre O’Brien and Kitty Kirby Filipo were unlucky to be stopped for steps in separate attacks going in search of the equaliser late on. One last-ditch launch into the mix yielded nothing.

Westmeath LGFA Chairperson, Geraldine Giles, presented the shield to winning Tyrrellspass captain, Mollie Daly.

Scorers – Tyrrellspass: E Scott 2-1, G Murphy 1-3 (1 pen, 1f), K Rigney-Brennan 1-1 (1f).

Loughnavalley: H Bennett 2-0, R Rami 1-2 (1f), D O’Brien 0-2, G Claffey 0-1.

Tyrrellspass: Kate Molloy; Cara O’Reilly, Laura Coyne, Ella Bartlett; Sarah Coyne, Ciara Coyne, Aoife Clarke; Mollie Daly, Katie Rigney Brennan; Pippa Cuffe, Grace Murphy, Anna Coyne; Katie Connell, Ellie Scott, Alex Egan. Panel: Kayla Jessop, Sophie Donoghue, Emily McDonnell, Lydia Maxwell, Muireann Robinson, Lily Authur.

Loughnavalley: Roisín Elliffe; Michelle Wallace, Lauren O’Connor, Ella Whelan; Lauren McLoughlin, Ciara Dalton, Kitty Kirby Filipo; Deirdre O’Brien, Emily Thompson; Emma Favier, Hazel Bennett, Faye Gorman; Lauren Ennis, Rosie Rami, Grace Claffey. Panel: Ava Daly, Nancy Shaw, Lucy O’Connor, Éile Jackson, Éibhle Corcoran, Sophia Callaghan, Arianna Kelly.

Referee: Vinny Cox (Rosemount).