Cumann na mBunscol Finals... Gurmin shoots Rathfeigh to thrilling win
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Rathfeigh’s Stevie Gurmin was in sensational form during Sunday’s Girls Div 5 Shield final against Drumbaragh NS at Pairc Tailteann. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 5
Rathfeigh captain Lucy Larmer receives the Girls Div 5 Cup from Maire Ni Ghealbhair. Gerry ShanahanImage 3 of 5
Rathfeigh’s Stevie Gurmin receives the Spirit of the Final award from the Meath Chronicle’s Fergal Lynch. Gerry ShanahanImage 4 of 5
The Rathfeigh players (from left) were: back - Nicola Quinlan, Katie Doyle, Eve Geraghty, Jane Smyth, Emily Mayumi Nomiyama Faria, Lucy Larmer, Sophie Kacprzak, Stevie Gurmin, Faye Smith and Jessica O’Dwyer; front - Sophie Cromwell, Georgiana Flynn, Rosie Smith, Isabelle Nolan, Leila Moffat, Ella Fitzsimons, Aoibhinn Laverty and Mia Kavanagh. Gerry ShanahanImage 5 of 5
The Drumbaragh players (from left) were: back - Mia Balfe, Brianna Muldoon, Eabha Mae Connolly, Molie Fox, Michaella Ryan, Hannah McGivern, Eacha Lynch and Sinead McKeown; front - Kayla Renehan, Sophie Blackburn, Kayla Muldoon, Lola Campbell, Feileadh Walsh, Hollie Curran, Naoise Muldoon, Maebh O’Rourke, Isabelle Costello. Gerry ShanahanGIRLS DIV 5 SHIELD FINAL
What an absolute thriller. Rathfeigh looked to be coasting to the Girls Div 5 Shield title, but Drumbaragh came storming back to set up a dramatic finish before Rathfeigh held on at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.
Leading by 3-4 to 1-0 at the break, Rathfeigh were pegged back to 4-5 each with two minutes remaining, but in a storming finish Stevie Gurmin hit her fourth and Rathfeigh's fifth goal to seal the win.
Drumbaragh did have one late chance to win it, but heroic defending by Eve Geraghty saved the day for Rathfeigh.
Drumbaragh started well with the outstanding Eabha Mae Connolly setting up Feileadh Walsh for a second minute goal, but once Rathfeigh settled they took their scores brilliantly with Gurmin unstoppable.
After waiting seven minutes to open their account with a Gurmin goal Rathfeigh scored another 2-2 in the next seven minutes with Gurmin accounting for a further 1-2, while Leila Moffat also found the net to make it 3-2 to 1-0.
The onslaught eased somewhat because of excellent Drumbaragh defending, but Jane Smyth clipped over two points from distance to ensure a 3-4 to 1-0 interval lead for Rathfeigh.
It took a while for both sides to get the scoring going again after the break, but when they did it was relentless.
Walsh poached her second goal before Gurmin pounced again to restore Rathfeigh's 10 point lead. That gap remained after Naoise Muldoon and Gurmin (free) traded points, but then Drumbaragh came roaring back.
Two goals in a minute from Walsh made it 4-1 to 4-5. Connolly opened her account with a pointed free and in the 46th minute Michaela Ryan pointed to leave just two between the teams.
Connolly made it a one-point game following a mesmerising run and when she added her second pointed free the sides were level.
Rathfeigh looked rattled, but Gurmin settled them with a fine goal and despite a point from Ryan closing the gap to two again there was no way back again for Drumbaragh as Rathfeigh held on.
Scoil Mhuire Naofa Rathfeigh - Nicola Quinlan; Eve Geraghty, Sophie Cromwell; Sophie Kacprzak, Jessica O’Dwyer, Jane Smyth (0-2); Lucy Larmer, Mia Kavanagh; Leila Moffat (1-0), Faye Smith, Stevie Gurmin (4-3 one free). Subs - Ella Fitzsimons, Rosie Smith, Aoibhinn Laverty, Isabelle Nolan, Katie Doyle, Georgiana Flynn, Emily Mayumi Nomiyama Faria. Mentors - Ciara O’Donoghue, Stephanie Reynolds, Seamus Tansley.
Drumbaragh NS - Hollie Curran; Féileadh Walsh (4-0), Kayla Renehan; Brianna Muldoon, Hannah McGivern, Kayla Muldoon; Michaela Ryan (0-2), Naoise Muldoon (0-1); Lola Campbell, Éabha Mae Connolly (0-3 two frees), Mollie Fox. Subs - Isabelle Costello, Sinead McKeon, Mia Balfe, Éabha Lynch, Sophie Blackburn, Maébh O’Rourke. Mentors - J Connolly, S Clarke.
Referee - Mary Coyne (Bohermeen NS).