Corrib Oil Senior Club League, Division 4 Final
Report by Aidan Clifford
Laune Rangers 1-8
Abbeydorney 1-6
Laune Rangers showed no signs of the post-Puck blues on Tuesday evening as they overcame their hosts Abbeydorney to win the Corrib Oil Club League Division 4 title.
Abbeydorney struck for a goal by Maura McDonald in the first minute, but Laune Rangers soon settled to manage the game against the breeze. The scores were tied by the 6th minute as Sara Leslie added two frees to her first from play, while her sister Laura put Rangers ahead shortly after.
The triumvirate of Kayleigh McGlashan, captain Meadhbh Johnston & Rachael Evans were beginning to gain an advantage, and the latter added an excellent point to double the lead before Sara Leslie put Rangers three ahead – the score 0-4 to 1-1 with fifteen minutes played.
Sara Leslie pointed a free to cancel out one at the other end in a low scoring second quarter, while Sarah O’Connor pulled off a great save from point blank range to keep Laune Rangers ahead at the break
Half Time Score:- Laune Rangers 0-7, Abbeydorney 1-1.
Defences continued to dominate and scores were hard to come by at the start of the second half, although Abbeydorney were level by the 40th minute with three well taken points. However, parity was short-lived and Laune Rangers soon restored their three point lead. Sophia Doherty drove out of defence on a great run before passing to Fodhla Houlihan, who in turn fed Sara Leslie in space who made no mistake with an excellent finish. With fifteen minutes to play, Laune Rangers led by 1-7 to 1-4.
Abbeydorney laid siege to the Laune Rangers goal in the final quarter, but the defence were equal to the challenge time and again. Two points from the hosts (one free) left the minimum between the sides but Laune Rangers did clear their lines to create a couple of chances, and Fodhla Houlihan slotted a crucial free to leave Abbeydorney in need of a goal with time expiring. That goal would not come though, and Laune Rangers held out to claim victory.
Full Time Score:- Laune Rangers 1-8, Abbeydorney 1-6.
Laune Rangers:- Sarah O’Connor, Laura Patton, Andrea Nolan, Milly Foley, Sophia Doherty, Orla O’Brien, Jacquelyn Owens, Rachael Evans (0-1), Meadhbh Johnston (capt), Laura Leslie (0-1), Kayleigh McGlashan, Hannah McGeever, Áine Hassett, Sara Leslie (1-5, 3f), Ailbhe Clifford. Subs: Sarah O’Brien, Riadh O’Sullivan, Fodhla Houlihan (0-1f); Isabella Doherty, Olivia Moriarty, Aisling O’Connor, Saoirse O’Shea, Kate Costello, Éabha Dolan, Nessa Healy.
