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Sports : GMIT Sports Last Updated: 2, Apr 2018 - 10:02


Donaghy Cup Victory for GMIT Ladies Footballers
By Nigel Jennings
1, Mar 2004 - 11:21

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Donaghy Cup Victory for Ladies Footballers

The limelight this week firmly belongs to the Ladies Gaelic football team. Twice runners up in national finals last year, the Donaghy Cup is their last remaining change of reward for 18 months of hard work.

This was a test of character in many ways as the winter wind started to bite and the night-time temperatures in Sligo, (the game was under lights) plummeted. Without influential defenders Kerry McNulty and Emer Rafter and facing a very strong Sligo outfit, the girls were really up against it.

They started well and traded early points with the Sligo girls. Both teams struggled to come to terms with the wind for a spell but when they did it was the castlebar side that was coping better. Sharon Mahon added a point, and a great move from Helen Grealis to Maeve Murphy ended up in the hands of Melissa Casserly as she was bearing down on goal, the Sligo tackle that stopped the goal was deemed illegal, and Melissa coolly dispatched the penalty to take the lead. Brave defending from Anne-Marie McNamara prevented a Sligo goal from the next break away and when Melissa lofted a high free on the swirling wind it eluded the keeper to find the net, and set the girls up with a slender half time lead.

Though they steeled themselves for it, the Sligo onslaught at the start of the second half was formidable and effective. Moving their influential and strong running Centre-half back to midfield they started to dominate and within ten minutes had recovered the two goals they were down and tacked on a point for the lead. They were looking almost unstoppable at this stage, and were it not for the courageous defending of Tara Kilbane Aishling Ni Griofa and Helen Grealis; the game could well have slipped beyond reach at this point. These heroics inspired those ahead of them and when the next clearance found Sarah O’Regan who lifted the siege with a great run up-field before offloading to Ailish McGinty. Ailish who played a captain’s role throughout kept her head to beat two players before slotting and excellent point.

Further pressure had to be endured, and Keeper Mary Bourke emerged the saviour from this passage. Not mentioning her dashes from Goal for timely interceptions which, we have at this stage all come to expect, she pulled off two world class saves; before facing up to a penalty which she duly pushed around the post. When the resultant 45 was cleared it found its way to Melissa Casserly not much inside the Sligo half, from here she embarked on a run leaving defender after defender in her wake. It seemed as if the distance and physical exertion had drained her as she approached the 21 yard line, somehow she found the strength to unleash an explosive shot which beat the keeper and left the Sligo girls reeling.

To their credit they refused to give in and the pressure they applied was matched all the way. Catherine McGuire had been outstanding in midfield throughout and though Maeve Murphy was having one of her quieter games, she came up with three match saving interceptions and blocks. Bernie Kelly who had come on for Evelyn Bonnar added a point to keep the cushion of a three point lead. This looked like it would not be enough however when further pressure resulted in the games third penalty. When a thunderous shot came back off the crossbar Tara Kilbane was first to react and gather the loose ball.

It seemed unbelievable that when she was subsequently rugby tackled, to find herself at the bottom of a pile of bodies, the referee deemed her to have played the ball while on the ground, and awarded yet another penalty.

Was it to be the same old story? A valiant effort; faultless to a player having done everything asked only to have hopes dashed at the dying moment? Not if Mary Bourke had a breath left in her body! Diving to gather she was quick to her feet to ensure her lines were cleared and as the ball swept up-field Deirdre Harman added the insurance point. The final whistle was greeted with scenes of delight worthy of this fantastic team performance, which may have gone a long way to burying last years ghosts, and has certainly brought a feeling that this team has now got the belief in itself to go with its undoubted ability. Next up is a home tie with University College Dublin which the girls will look forward to with cautious enthusiasm.

While this was a marvellous team effort certain performances have to be acknowledged. Mary Bourke’s goalkeeping heroics and Melissa’s excellent hat-trick of course, but the defending of Helen Grealis and Aishling Ni Griofa in particular, when everything was on the line and nothing but 100% commitment would suffice, was inspiring. I feel that it was some of these challenges that eventually inspired a general belief that this was going to be the day, that ultimately inspired Victory.

Basketball

The women’s Basketball team also came up with an excellent performance to finish their league campaign. In an absorbing encounter they saw off their near neighbours and great rivals G.M.I.T. Galway. Joanne Fitzpatrick’s hope’s; to finish her college career with a performance worthy of her effort through the years, were dashed when she picked up an injury which limited her court time to a few minutes when desperately needed to steady the ship. This she did admirably but it looked like her loss might prove too much as the Galway girls asserted themselves, taking an early lead that they held until half time. Sarah Syron, Lisa Barrett Ciara Griffin and Sandra Lynn all had the scoring touch in the first half to keep the girls in contention.

Ciara and Lisa took the game to Galway in the third quarter with Jo and Sarah O’Regan stepping up with timely scores. With the previous point takers continuing their accuracy this led to an unanswered blitz that would give them the lead they would ultimately hold until the end. The fourth quarter again saw them outpoint the Galway girls but it was not without it’s difficult moments. Excellent defending from Helen McGee and Trish Mannion in particular stopped the lead from changing hands and when Ciara , Sarah Syron and finally Sandra broke away to score there was no response and the girls celebrated anexcellent victory.

A great result and just reward for a season of hard work; where a couple of results went against them by a single point, but spirits never dropped. The future looks very bright for what is essentially a very young time. They will however be losing one player, she will be a massive loss, and has been at the heart of Basketball in the college throughout her time here. Joanne Fitzpatrick will be graduating this year and everyone associated with the team wishes her the very best of luck, and would like to thank her for all she has done throughout her time here.

Soccer

The men’s soccer team unfortunately couldn’t come up with an equally happy ending to their season. Their good run in the Colleges F.A.I. cup was always in jeopardy when they drew Waterford I.T. However if it were not for their traditional generosity,( this time not one but two goals were gifted within fifteen minutes), before settling down to play the football they were capable of, they might have brought this premiership outfit down to earth with a bang. When they finally settled they comfortably matched the South-eastern outfit. The half time decision to push Christy Kearney on from midfield to a more attacking role immediately paid dividends, as his direct style had the Waterford defence in all sorts of trouble. His first few runs produced crosses which just needed a touch, when he next cut in to rifle a right footed shot against the crossbar the warning signs were there. They obviously took note of them, as next time Christy ghosted past his marker he was instantly levelled , unfortunately for Waterford he was already inside the box at this stage. Eoin Robbins neatly dispatched the spot kick and the game was back in the balance. Waterford did have their attacks but excellent defending from Dave Murphy and Dave Lee as well as some top class saves from J.T. Leneghan kept them at bay.

Pushing for an equaliser Castlebar pushed all their resources forward and with three minutes to go it looked as if it might pay off. A defence splitting ball from Colin Walsh found Leon Vaughan on the right, he steadied himself and placed the ball past the keeper only to see it come back off the post. with players committed to attack they were stretched and as the break came there were no bodies to plug the gaps and the Waterford men made it 3-1.

It’s hard to argue that it wasn’t a fair result but the last goal gave it a slanted appearance. Throughout the year this team has given itself mountains to climb, largely unnecessarily, this time it was just too high. They can be proud of the football they played in the second half and Christy’s performance was as good an individual display as you are likely to see in a while.

Hurling

The Hurling club have been enjoying top billing of late but the cold snap put paid to their Maher Cup semi-final last Thursday. It has been re-scheduled for Tuesday 2nd so depending on how matters fared yesterday, they will be looking forward to a final in Athlone on Saturday, (where they will be sharing the bill with the Firtzgibbon Final), or looking back on what has been a very memorable season, lets hope there is one more story to tell.

 



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