[ Originally published in the Gorey Guardian]
ENNISCORTHY LADIES took on Athy in the South-East Plate final recently. Enniscorthy knew it was going to be a tough match with the knowledge that Athy were very determined to win.
However, Enniscorthy were equally as determined and this showed from the start with great play from the side. Enniscorthy took on every opportunity and worked hard to win every ball in the defence to clear it up to the forwards.
Athy did put pressure on the Enniscorthy defence during the firsthalf, winning numerous short corners. Great work from Enniscorthy's defence, in particular captain Jane Peppard who did great work to clear the ball out of the circle, denied Athy any opportunity to have a strike on goal from the short corners.
Athy did land themselves another opportunity for a strike on goal but this proved no problem for goalkeeper Marianne Jackman who cleared the ball with ease, leaving the scoreline at 0-0 at half-time.
With Athy playing quite a defensive game, having an extra player in defence, it was proving difficult for Enniscorthy to get an opportunity to strike on goal. However, some talk at half-time from Fran Rohan discussing tactics to overcome this resulted in Enniscorthy getting some opportunities in the second-half.
Early on in the secondhalf Enniscorthy won themselves a short corner, hit out by Laura Masterson short to Lisa Frayne who struck the ball so well without hesitating, leading to the glorious sound of it hitting the back of the goal. It was a superbly-taken short corner by Lisa with Athy having no chance to save it.
Enniscorthy continued to work hard during the second-half, with midfielders Paula Chapman, Jane Peppard and Linda Masterson trying hard to give the ball up to the forwards to win themselves another short corner which they were unfortunate not to score from.
Athy were determined to bring this game to extra-time and put big pressure on during the final few minutes. A run in on goal from Athy forced goalkeeper Fran Rohan to put in a superb dive and prevent them from striking.
However, this save was defected back on to an Athy stick and they had another opportunity on goal, but defender Helen Galavan did so well to be in the right place to prevent them getting the ball over the goal line.
A short corner was awarded to Athy in the final two minutes. With Athy bringing their whole team up for this final piece of play, it was huge pressure on the Enniscorthy side.
However, the defence of Jane Peppard, Gayle Porter, Helen Galavan and Caroline Ashmore did not let this rattle them and put pressure on the Athy side, forcing them to hit it wide. Well done to all on a great performance.
Squad: Marianne Jackman, Fran Rohan, Caroline Ashmore, Helen Galavan, Gayle Porter, Tara Lalor, Jane Peppard, Paula Chapman, Lisa Frayne, Laura Masterson, Rita Long, Aileen Roe, Hazel Hatton, Denise Nolan, Linda Masterson.
ENNISCORTHY LADIES took on Athy in the South-East Plate final recently. Enniscorthy knew it was going to be a tough match with the knowledge that Athy were very determined to win.
However, Enniscorthy were equally as determined and this showed from the start with great play from the side. Enniscorthy took on every opportunity and worked hard to win every ball in the defence to clear it up to the forwards.
Athy did put pressure on the Enniscorthy defence during the firsthalf, winning numerous short corners. Great work from Enniscorthy's defence, in particular captain Jane Peppard who did great work to clear the ball out of the circle, denied Athy any opportunity to have a strike on goal from the short corners.
Athy did land themselves another opportunity for a strike on goal but this proved no problem for goalkeeper Marianne Jackman who cleared the ball with ease, leaving the scoreline at 0-0 at half-time.
With Athy playing quite a defensive game, having an extra player in defence, it was proving difficult for Enniscorthy to get an opportunity to strike on goal. However, some talk at half-time from Fran Rohan discussing tactics to overcome this resulted in Enniscorthy getting some opportunities in the second-half.
Early on in the secondhalf Enniscorthy won themselves a short corner, hit out by Laura Masterson short to Lisa Frayne who struck the ball so well without hesitating, leading to the glorious sound of it hitting the back of the goal. It was a superbly-taken short corner by Lisa with Athy having no chance to save it.
Enniscorthy continued to work hard during the second-half, with midfielders Paula Chapman, Jane Peppard and Linda Masterson trying hard to give the ball up to the forwards to win themselves another short corner which they were unfortunate not to score from.
Athy were determined to bring this game to extra-time and put big pressure on during the final few minutes. A run in on goal from Athy forced goalkeeper Fran Rohan to put in a superb dive and prevent them from striking.
However, this save was defected back on to an Athy stick and they had another opportunity on goal, but defender Helen Galavan did so well to be in the right place to prevent them getting the ball over the goal line.
A short corner was awarded to Athy in the final two minutes. With Athy bringing their whole team up for this final piece of play, it was huge pressure on the Enniscorthy side.
However, the defence of Jane Peppard, Gayle Porter, Helen Galavan and Caroline Ashmore did not let this rattle them and put pressure on the Athy side, forcing them to hit it wide. Well done to all on a great performance.
Squad: Marianne Jackman, Fran Rohan, Caroline Ashmore, Helen Galavan, Gayle Porter, Tara Lalor, Jane Peppard, Paula Chapman, Lisa Frayne, Laura Masterson, Rita Long, Aileen Roe, Hazel Hatton, Denise Nolan, Linda Masterson.
