McHugh and Harney goals guide Garrycastle to victory

Garrycastle 4-5 Loughnavalley 1-3

Garrycastle’s greater scoring power eventually told as they overcame Loughnavalley in the Westmeath LGFA Under-14 Division 1 Championship final at Castledaly GAA last Saturday.

No doubt, Garrycastle were deserving winners in the end but the final scoreline is somewhat harsh on Loughnavalley. Early in the second half, there was just a single point between the teams after Éile Jackson struck for the Loughnavalley goal. Loughnavalley also had the aid of the wind at this stage, but two goals from the impressive Dearbhla McHugh helped to guide Garrycastle to victory.

Garrycastle substitute Lucy Harney also scored a brace of goals, while the Valley girls failed to raise a flag after Jackson’s 38th-minute strike.

With both teams wearing predominantly green jerseys, surprisingly neither team changed jerseys on the day. Castledaly GAA hosted this final (and the U14 Division 2 decider which followed) in capable fashion, though occasional showers of heavy rain made conditions difficult for the players.

Although Garrycastle had wind advantage in the first half, Loughnavalley opened the scoring with an early point from Lauren Ennis. Mia Bednarek was an influential figure for Garrycastle in the first half and it seemed the lively centre-forward had scored a goal in the eighth minute, with some supporters and the scoreboard operator momentarily deceived. However, her effort hit the side netting and the umpire duly waved it wide.

Several Garrycastle fans felt their side as unlucky with some refereeing decisions, with the vastly experienced Michael Gordon applying a strict policy on ‘steps’. Amber Keyes supplied Garrycastle’s first point (15th minute) following good work from Laoise Glennon and Bednarek, and this helped to settle the green and red outfit.

For Loughnavalley, a lot of ball was going through Lauren O’Connor, Ava Daly and Emily Thompson, but they found scores against the breeze very elusive.

At the other end, Bednarek continued to be a threat and she sent over a fine individual point on 26 minutes. Shortly afterwards, Dearbhla McHugh’s effort dropped short but Bednarek returned the clearance with interest and the ball flew over the bar.

The industrious Nicole Greene quickly followed up with a point from the right to put Garrycastle 0-4 to 0-1 ahead and so it remained at half-time.

Although scores were scarce commodities in the first half, there was plenty of good tackling and defending on display with Garrycastle’s Robyn Mulvihill sweeping up to good effect, while Lauren McLoughlin was a forceful presence in the Loughnavalley defence.

Aimee Greene, who was unable to start due to soccer commitments with Athlone Town, was introduced to the Garrycastle team for the second half and her presence was an obvious boost to their challenge.

A 34th-minute point from substitute Sophia Callaghan raised Loughnavalley hopes, but they were soon rocked when an alert Lucy Harney pounced on a rebound off goalkeeper Roisin Elliffe to finish to the net from close range.

Éile Jackson responded with a point after Callaghan had threatened a goal. Better was to come from Loughnavalley’s perspective when Jackson fired the ball to the corner of the net for a splendid goal.

Yet despite having a decent share of possession, the Valley girls just couldn’t build on this boost and they failed to score for the remainder.

Dearbhla McHugh’s 2-1 salvo then proved decisive in winning the game. Her first goal (43rd minute) may have had an element of good fortune attached, but there was no doubting the quality of the finish for the second (53rd minute). In between, the corner-forward sent over a point and it was the type of finishing Loughnavalley sorely lacked on the day.

McHugh’s creative play gave Harney the chance to embellish Garrycastle’s victory with a fourth goal and Harney obliged in style (55th minute).

Despite some driving runs forward from Lauren O’Connor, even consolation scores proved beyond the Loughnavalley girls. Afterwards, Garrycastle captain Laoise Glennon was presented with the trophy amid scenes of great jubilation, while the disappointment among the Loughnavalley players was also very evident.

Player of the match: Dearbhla McHugh (Garrycastle). Though still an under-12 player, McHugh’s scoring ability proved crucial in deciding this final. McHugh also set up Lucy Harney’s goal with some excellent play.

Scorers - Garrycastle: D McHugh 2-1; L Harney 2-0; M Bednarek 0-2; A Keyes and N Greene 0-1 each. Loughnavalley: É Jackson 1-1; L Ennis and S Callaghan 0-1 each.

Garrycastle - Zoe Hewitt; Robyn Mulvihill, Éabha O’Neill, Ella Mai Holly; Grace Ganly, Eliza Crosbie, Nicole Greene; Lillyrose Galvin, Laoise Glennon; Maryam McCabe, Mia Bednarek, Sinead Onalaja; Dearbhla McHugh, Amber Keyes, Laoise Costello. Subs: Aimee Greene, Emily Hanlon, Lucy Harney, Eve McCourt, Aoibhinn Nugent, Ella Nohilly, Batouly McCabe, Cadhla Heneghan, Erin O’Neill, Niamh O’Connor, Aoife Clyne.

Loughnavalley - Roisin Elliffe; Ella Whelan, Lauren McLoughlin, Nancy Shaw; Muireann Feery, Lauren O’Connor, Lucy O’Connor; Éile Jackson, Ava Daly; Emma Favier, Emily Thompson, Hazel Bennett; Grace Claffey, Cara Thompson. Lauren Ennis. Subs: Sophia Callaghan, Kayla Kiernan, Sophie Favier, Michelle Wallace.

Referee - Michael Gordon.