Late Goal Denies
New York Ladies Historic Win
(Kieran O’Sullivan for the Irish Emigrant)
Underdogs 1-11 New York 2-6
What is it with goals and New York teams this year? They have certainly not been kind to either the men’s team or the ladies. Saturday afternoon in Gaelic Park the New York ladies looked to me on their way to a famous victory, when their opponents the Underdog team from Ireland hit them for a late goal, which sealed the win for the visitors. The goal came with less than five minutes on the clock, not enough time for the New York team to strike back to try to at least tie the game. While the win was not forthcoming every thing else went off like a dream for the ladies division on Saturday afternoon in a sunny but cold Gaelic Park.
The opening five minutes of the game was very entertaining with both sides attacking at every chance. New York were in no way over awed by the fact that they were playing a team that had the pick of Ireland to choose from. The underdogs did open the scoring with a good point from Aisling NiAnnaidh. New York replied smartly with a point from the ever reliable Rosie O’Reilly. New York fans were then sent wild with joy when Joanne McKenna rattled the underdog’s net with a tremendous shot to give the home side a one goal edge.
The underdogs showed their mettle when they shook off this setback and took control that saw them score four unanswered points to take a one point advantage. Laura Buckley had two with Geraldine Norton and Emma Kilduff scoring one each. Buckley was to prove herself a handful for New York all game long. Joanne McKenna tied the game with her second point after a quick pass from Denise Dunnion. New York went ahead when Linda McKeon came storming into the game and after a great solo run fire over a point that could very easily have been a goal. Both sides had a point each before New York had a great chance to put some distance between the sides when Sue Bennett won possession. Sue went soloing goal ward with nothing in her mind except a goal. Her shot looked to be going to the back of the net but unfortunately the crossbar got in the way and the chance went a begging. Ciara Moore tried her luck for a goal from the rebound but that also failed to find the target and the Underdogs were able to breathe a sigh of relief. Just before the break the underdogs tied the game with a point from Ciara NiBrugha and that’s how the first half came to a close New York 1-4 the Underdogs 7 points.
The all out action continued unabated as the opening five minutes of the second half again saw both sides continue their attacking ways. But the Underdogs hit their best spell of the match soon after and hit the home team for four more unanswered points. Three cam from full forward Geraldine Norton although two of these were from frees that were a little harsh on the home team.
New York refused to panic and they slowly worked their way back into the game with two points from the reliable Joanne McKenna. The kick out from her second free was won by Mary Maguire she quickly fed Kelly McArdle who sent a beautiful shot from thirty five yards out over the head of the retreating keeper and into the net. One of the best goals scored in the park this year.
New York were now back in front by one and again playing with confidence. The underdogs went all out for the equalizer but New York’s defense was razor sharp and forced the visitors into some wayward shooting.
The pattern of the game had been the underdogs applying a lot of pressure on the home team. The home team would soak up these attacks and then go on the offense themselves. That looked to be the case as the game was winding down but just when it looked like the underdogs were a spent force they sucker punched the New York ladies with one last desperate attack that saw Geraldine Norton win possession feed the ball to the ever dangerous Laura Buckley who fired home the winning goal. New York to their credit tried to rally with time running out but it wasn’t to be and at the final whistle two points separated the sides in what was a trilling game of football.
Laura Buckley was player of the game for the Underdogs with Geraldine Norton Katie Ni Loinsigh, Deirdre O’Riordan and Ciara Ni Brugha also good.
All of the New York ladies can hold their heads high after this tremendous effort against a team that had its pick from the thirty two counties. Tina Dingler was soundness personified in goal. The entire defense hustled and harried all day long. Midfielders Linda McKeon and Mary Maguire dominated the game for the most part. McKeon was tremendous with some great runs while Maguire held the forth just in front of the defense. Up front Joanne McKenna was a revelation and was even seen helping out her defense while also chipping in with a score of 1-3. Rosie O’Reilly, Kelly McArdle and Ciara Moore were also very effective for the hour. With the success of this game hopefully this game can become a permanent fixture on the G.A.A calendar.
Scorers Underdogs: Laura Buckley 1-3 Geraldine Norton 0-4, Ciara Ni Brugha 0-2 Aisling Ni Annaidh, Emma Kilduff 0-1 pt each.
New York: Joanne McKenna 1-3 Kelly McArdle 1-0, Rosie O’Reilly Linda McKeon Joanne Courtney 0-1 pt each.
Underdogs: Amy Martin, Sorcha Furlong, Eimear McGlade, Deirdre O’Riordan, Aoife Wynne, Blaithin Brennan, Aoife McGovern, Katie Ni Loinsigh, Marla Candon, Emma Kilduff, Aisling Ni Annaidh, Laura Buckley, Ciara Ni Brugha, Geraldine Norton, Eadaoine Lenihan. Subs: Brenda McCormack, Aimee Molloy, Amy O’Callaghan, Martina Hoye, Laura Buckley, Lynn O’Callaghan, Clodagh O’Sullivan, Christine Shortt, Cliona Mc Gowan, Katie Murphy.
New York: Tina Dengler, Katrina Lynch, Joanne Monaghan, Joanne Courtney, Tracy-Ann McCullough, Aoife Gibson, Imelda Mullarkey, Linda McKeon, Mary Maguire, Rosie O’Reilly, Joanne McKenna, Ciara Moore, Denise Dunnion, Sue Bennett, Kelly McArdle. Subs: Shuvaun Neville, Caroline Murphy, Nuala Carroll, Claire McElroy, Mary O’Rourke, Katrina Coyle, Anita McKenna, Michelle Brennan, Michelle McVann, Justine Clifford, Allison Traynor, Jeannie Heinsohn.
