Paul's prove best in battle of the saints

GIRLS DIV 1 FINAL

IT took some time for St Paul's NS, Navan to find their scoring range in this Girls Div 1 football final encounter at Pairc Tailteann early on Sunday morning but once they did there was no stopping them as they marched to a 2-8 to 0-4 victory over a gallant, battling St Mary's NS, Trim side.

The low-scoring rate of the first-half (the sides were level 0-2 apiece after 16 minutes) might suggest this was a kind of a snoozefest. Nothing could be further from the truth. This was a right old, rip-roaring encounter, the play flowing this way and that.

At the break the teams were still relatively close, 1-2 to 0-3. We don't know what magic formula St Paul's tapped into at half-time but they came out an even more formidable unit and surged clear as the finishing post approached.

St Paul's had the knack of putting together incisive moves and one of those on 17 minutes led to them scoring their opening goal. Croi Traynor and Lucy Melia were involved in working the ball to Molly Quinn Rogers who finished smartly. Their second strike was fashioned early in the second-half. This time Quinn Rogers crossed for the alert Beth Murphy to fist to the net. That left it 2-4 to 0-3 and St Paul's were on their way.

The Navan side, who had a number of efforts rebound off the post, had richly talented players all over the pitch, particularly in the forwards with Traynor, Meadbh McDermott, Isabel Brady, Quinn Rogers, Lucy Melia and Murphy all landing points.

Murphy, who had a titanic tussle with St Mary's full-back Saoirse Barry, also had a shot rebound off the post. Early in the second-half only a brilliant, memorable save by Trim netminder Emma Cottrell prevented another St Paul's goal. St Paul's 'keeper Sadhbh Gavin also made some smart stops.

St Mary's were brave and heroic in sticking with their task. Zoe May Cashell was outstanding for them and she landed one of their points with Aisling Canty skilfully firing over two, including their only second-half score, while Saibh McMorrow also did very well indeed to fashion a score. St Mary's just couldn't get the goal they so badly needed. Molly Flattery went close in the closing stages with a shot that went inches wide.

Even if she had found the net at that stage it's extremely doubtful St Paul's would have been stopped from claiming the silverware in the remaining minutes. They were just too far ahead. Looking too much like true champions.

St Paul's NS Navan - Sadhbh Gavin; Sadhbh McDaid, Zara Chambers, Katie O’Kane; Aoibheann Nolan, Annabelle Foley, Saibh Kenny; Croí Traynor (0-2), Meadhbh McDermott (0-2); Isabel Brady (0-1), Holly Quinn Rogers (1-1), Lucy Melia (0-1); Grace Flanagan, Beth Murphy (1-2), Emily Naughton. Ríadh O’Sullivan, Annie Plunkett, Emily McCabe, Kyla Traynor, Keelin O’Donoghue, Sophie Boyle, Olwyn Maguire, Heather Geoghegan, Niamh Fox, Emma Holland; mentors - Rosalind Hennessy, Erin McMorrow, Sadhbh McElearney.

St Mary's NS Trim - Emma Cottrell; Eleanor Fox, Saoirse Barry, Maggie Murray; Ava Flattery, Zoe May Cashell (0-1), Amy Watters; Lexie Corkish, Katelyn McLoughlin; Molly Flattery, Aisling Canty (0-2 one free), Olivia Forde; Kyla McHugh, Saibh McMorrow (0-1), Elizabeth Clarke. Éilis Canty, Millie Morgan, Grace Coogan, Rose Mullin, Isabel Ryan, Mollie Leonard, Sophie Lynch, Emily Gantley, Lucy Canty, Sarah Clavin; mentors - Cormac Madden, Tom Carmody.

Referee - Laura Bagnall (St Nicholas’ NS, Longwood).