Kathryn Sullivan leads Na Fianna girls home

Annie Kearney Cup Final

Na Fianna 1-12 Cavan 0-13

Na Fianna took home the Annie Kearney Cup on the heels of a dominant second half display when they stormed into the lead and should have been much further ahead but for wayward shooting. A brilliant display from midfielder Kathryn Sullivan in this period set the foundation for the victory. They had been behind at the break 0-09 to 0-05 after Cavan dominated t final fifteen minutes of the opening half.

The sides had been tied after 11 minu7tes at three a piece but two waves of superiority change the game. Na Fianna with Aine O’Dwyer prominent had three of the next four points with Nora Kilkenny also denying Kelly McCormack on a goal effort.

Cavan then began to dominate with Alisha Jordon and Linda McKeon taking control in the middle. A stream of points, six without reply pushed them into the lead. While the sides swapped points to open the second half the control of the game was changing. A slew of chances in front of goal for the winners came up short before they finally got the all important breakthrough goal.

Aine O’Dwyer set up Mary O’Rourke and then player of the game Sullivan followed with two points from play. Nora Kilkenny made another fine stop but the pressure was intense. Dwyer followed with a pair of points from a free and play to extend the advantage to 1-12 to 0-11. Cavan tested Alison Leyden with an Alisha Jordon shot and they did add two points from a free and play but it was as close as they could get as Na Fianna held on for the first silverware of the year.

Cavan 1 Nora Kilkenny 2 Aileen O’Reilly 3 Nicola O’Reilly 4 Kate Kilkenny 5 Katie McEvoy 6 Caroline McBrien 7 Tina Lenihan 8 Linda McKeon (0-01) 9 Alisha Jordon (0-04)10 Maraid Ruane 11 Mary Hanley 12 Rosie O’Reilly 13 Catherina Rafferty 14 Emma Clarke (0-06)15 Nicola King (0-02) Subs Kelly Donaghue

Na Fianna 1 Alison Leydon 2 Shannon Spillane 3 Jessie Garcia 4 Imelda Mullarkey 5 Stephanie Tierney 6 Catherina Lynch 7 Bridget Judd 8 Fiona O’Dwyer 9 Kathryn Sullivan (0-03) 10 Brianna Tierney 11 Aine Dwyer (0-06) 12 Natasha Barrwell (0-01) 13 Jeannine Rynn 14 Mary O’Rourke (1-02) 15 Kelly McCormack

Referee Alan Hearty

Player of the Match Kathryn Sullivan (Na Fianna)

Penalty secures win for Offaly

Junior Football

Offaly 5-06 Kildare 4-07

Offaly won the points in a lete breaking fashion when Jason Kelly slotted home a penalty after Pa Tracey was fouled in the second to last minute. Kildare were ahead until that moment 4-07 to 4-06 and would have been further ahead but for a brilliant save by Pat Kelly on Kevin Daly.

Kildare had the lead at the break 3-02 to 1-05 with Daly getting one of the goals when he linked with Donnacha O’Dwyer. Offaly were shooting from distance with Kieran Mannerings and Jason Kelly both hitting the mark. Both sides had 1-01 in the first five minutes of the second half with Paddy Moran on fire in the full forward line.

A timely shoulder by Ger O’Brian stopped further damage. O’Dwyer, Daly and Moran had further points but then Offaly made their comeback. Two goals in quick succession were followed by a three player move that resulted in Pa Tracey being fouled for a penalty. Jason Kelly stepped up and slotted the ball to the net for the clincher with time in injury time.

Referee Eugene Kyne

Cavan steam roll Orchard

Senior Football

Cavan 2-19 Armagh 1-07

The sides swapped scores to open the game but then Cavan went on a point scoring spree. They had seven in a row with the dominance of Paddy McCullough and Eoghan Carew around the middle allowing for numerous chances. Indeed the way they moved the ball quickly up the field was impressive with wing backs Barry McGinn and Paul Lambe the teams first scorers.

Armagh had a mini reprieve when Richie Morgan grabbed 1-01. The goal was a fisted effort on the end of a long ball in to the square by Seamus McDaid. Cavan cancelled that out with a further 1-04 before the break with Mike Kennedy getting the goal on the end of a six player move that carried the ball 100 yards up the center of the pitch. It left the Breffni Boys holding a 1-12 to 1-02 half time advantage.

Both sides had three points each in the first fifteen minutes of the second half. It was the calm before the final storm as the winners outscored their opponents 1-04 to 0-02 as the game wound down. As it finished ten Cavan players had got on the score sheet. Complete dominance.

Cavan 1 Gavin Joyce 2 Ronan McGinley (0-02) 4 Ciaran Martin 5 Paul Lambe (0-01) 6 Ciaran Shields 7 Barry McGinn (0-02)8 Paddy McCullough (0-02) 9 Sean Kelly (0-01)10 Ciaran Clarke (1-01)11 Eoghan Carew (0-03)12 Sean Munnelly (0-02)13 Michael Kennedy (1-01)15 James Connolly (0-04)

Armagh 1 Alan Hearty 2 Patsy Martin 4 Collie Fearan 5 Stuart Stokes 6 Caolan Short 7 Aiden Morton 8 Brian Patton (0-02)9 Kevin McGeeney 10 Seamy McDaid 11 Richie Morgan (1-03)12 Gary Nugent (0-01)13 Raymie Kane 15 Liam Collins Sub Kenny Cox (0-01)

Referee Tommy Fahey

Man of the Match Eoghan Carew (Cavan)