Swinford Killasser Ladies Win U16 A County Championship

Posted By Swinford Killasser LGFC on Sep 29, 2014

Swinford Killasser U16s Girls Win County A Championship

Swinford Killasser 3-15 Burrishoole 1-05

Swinford Killasser U16 A County Champions

Swinford Killasser Ladies GFC continued their triumphant month of September when they followed up their County Intermediate Championship success and reaching the County Minor A Final by winning the County Under 16 A Championship. Led by their captain Roisin Durkin, the Swinford Killasser Under 16 forwards put on an exhibition of fine scoring that left Burrishoole trailing in their wake and they deservedly brought the silverware home for the second time in ten days. Under the bright lights of The Connacht Centre of Excellence this group of thirty young footballing stars celebrated wildly for having achieved the title that twenty nine other Clubs in the County could only wish for; County A Champions.

Michaela Walsh

Swinford Killasser set the scene for the night and raced into a three point lead with scores from Roisin Durkin and Grainne O’Neill. Burrishoole replied to level matters with a goal after ten minutes to set up what looked likely to be a keenly contested final involving two very lively sets of forwards. But, thanks to some excellent defending by Rebeccca McHugh, Maeve Peyton and Bronagh Molloy, this was to be the only time when Gemma Kellys goal would be threatened. Although both sides enjoyed some good spells in the first half, the Swinford Killasser forwards were lethal with their finishing. Michaela Walsh and Aishling Forkan set up countless attacks with their speed around the middle third and Durkin and O’Neill were on fire up front. Both scored goals in the half and Michaela Walsh added a third to leave Swinford Killasser already looking like champions with a half time lead of 3-07 to 1-01.

Maeve Peyton

The second half was a much cagier affair as Burrishoole surged forward in search of goals to rescue the title that was drifting beyond their reach. But, time and again

the green wave from west Mayo floundered on the rocks before reaching its destination. Vanessa McHugh at the heart of the Swinford Killasser defence was unmoveable and with Anna

Tierney, Orlaith Lynskey and Aishling Forkan mopping up everything loose there was never going to be a green flag raised. With their defences secure

Roisin Durkin

Swinford Killasser could break forward with ease. Geraldine Walsh, Orna O’Brien and Aoife O’Neill were carrying the ball through the middle to set up attacks. These attacks were unerringly finished off by the marauding Michaela Walsh, Grainne O’Neill, Melissa Devaney and Roisin Durkin, as they added to the Champions tally.

Grainne O’Neill

Practice makes perfect and the Swinford Killasser girls, having played a deluge of games in the last few weeks, certainly had enough practice in the lead up to this game. Since September 3^rd a large percentage of these girls have played two County Quarter Finals, three County Semi-finals and now three County Finals. With this amount of important matches in such a small timeframe, even a professional athlete would be forgiven for showing signs of tiredness coming into this final. Tiredness was definitely not the way one would describe Wednesdays performance. Instead this brilliant young team thrived on the experience gained. Teamwork flourished through the strong bond that comes from through working together constantly. They showed coolness when needed that comes from a trust in each other’s ability to deal with any situation thrown at them. But above all they played with energy; the energy of a group of friends with an ambition to write themselves into history.

Orlaigh Lynskey & Anna Tierney

And as the final whistle sounded with Swinford Killasser 3-15 to 1-05 in front; they had written themselves into history. Family, friends and others bestowed congratulations on them, not just for becoming Champions, but for their performance in a final that was sheer class. Mayo Ladies County Secretary, Anne Clarke, presented the Cup to a beaming Swinford Killasser captain Roisin Durkin. With the cup now securely in their hands the girls wild celebrations showed just what it meant to them. Their dancing and singing continued off the field, into the dressing rooms, onto the bus, and all the way back to a reception at Swinford Amenity Park. These girls have emphatically written themselves into history as County Champions in the most competitive ladies team sport in Mayo and through this they have formed a common bond of friendship for life. Friends who are the 2014 County Under 16 A Champions.

Swinford Killasser U16 A Champions 2014

Team: Gemma Kelly, Orlaith Lynskey, Maeve Peyton, Anna Tierney, Bronagh Molloy, Vanessa McHugh, Rebecca McHugh, Michaela Walsh, Aishling Forkan, Geraldine Walsh, Orna O’Brien, Aoife O’Neill, Grainne O’Neill, Melissa Devaney, Roisin Durkin, Caoimhe Hennigan, Aoife Groarke, Alanagh Durkin, Grace Mullaney, Roisin Prendergast, Leanne McShea, Emilee Attewell, Chloe Higgins, Shauna Fallon, Edel Nestor, Ciara Henry, Nicole Spain, Chloe Moore, Kelly Walsh, Vicky Higgins and Claire Walsh.

Swinford Killasser Minor Girls Reach County A Final

Swinford Killasser U18 A Championship

Swinford Killasser Minor girls team qualified for the County A Championship final with an extraordinary win over Castlebar in the semi-final played on Saturday evening at Swinford Amenity Park. Castlebar deservedly sit at the top of Division One of the County Minor League and with their array of stars were odds on favourites to capture this year’s title. Throughout the county no one gave the home team any chance of putting an end to their impressive run. No one, that is, except a group of girls from a proud East Mayo Club; a group of girls who believe in their own team and were not in the mood to just lie down and be trampled over by their much vaunted guests. This was a win fashioned out of pure passion, determination and no little skill as the Swinford Killasser girls put in the effort of a lifetime to upset the all the odds.

Melissa Devaney

Swinford Killassers newly crowned Intermediate Champions got off to a flying start and went four points to nil ahead before the visitors registered a score in the fifteenth minute. Castlebar rallied as they now came to realise that they were going to be made to work for the right to play in a county final. The lead was clawed back to a single point with five minutes remaining. These five minutes were dominated by Swinford Killasser who scored the game’s opening goal and tagged on a point for good measure to go in leading by 1-05 to 0-03 at half time.

Boosted by these scores and perhaps the traditional oranges and Jaffa cakes during the break, Swinford Killasser burst into action in the second period. The

Rebecca Lenehan

Castlebar net was rattled again within minutes of the restart. Hopes of pushing on to a comfortable home win did not last long though. The visitors replied with a goal of their own within seconds to set up a titanic battle for most of the second period. The game flowed from end to end and accurate shooting on both sides kept the margin at about two to three points. This was until Swinford Killasser substitute, Caoimhe Hennigan, ran onto a pass and lashed it to the back of the net. The goal was followed up by three unanswered points to open up an eight point lead for the East Mayo girls with five minutes remaining. It was time to lock up shop and lock up shop they did; thwarting attack after attack for these five minutes and the additional eight minutes of injury time. With thirty seconds remaining Castlebar did break through and score their third goal, but it was to be little more than a consolation at this stage.

The excitement and quality of football played is a credit to both Clubs and both sets of players deserve praise for this. Both sets of players put absolutely every ounce of energy they had into this game. When the final whistle blew and thirty physically shattered players left the field it was the Swinford Killasser girls who walked tall on the elation of having deservedly qualified for the County Minor A Final.

Geraldine Walsh

The County Final was played a mere seventeen hours after the semi-final and the exertions of the previous day appeared to take their toll on Swinford Killassers first half performance. Throughout the field the team was that split second off the pace that allowed their opponents Crossmolina to get through for scores at ease and lead by eight points to two at half time. Another point was added on the restart, but from then to the end Swinford Killasser dominated the game. The first couple of points would make the score respectable, the next couple gave them belief, and when they brought it to nine eight, Swinford Killasser were in complete control and looked to be the most likely winners. With only minutes remaining the referee made two very dubious calls. His decisions were greeted by dismay and anger from the Swinford Killasser supporters. These events brought an end to Swinford Killassers chances for the game as Crossmolina broke down field in the final seconds to score a goal; securing the title for the North Mayo team.

Reaching a County Minor A Final is an incredible feat. The brilliant performance on the previous day to win the semi-final was one to behold. But,

Amy McNicholas & Alanagh Durkin

dubious decisions aside, the first half of this game was to ultimately prove to be their undoing. Although devastated by the defeat and the nature of it, the girls can be very proud of their second half comeback. While tired and emotionally drained, Swinford Killasser showed great heart to go within a kick of the ball of winning this final. There is no doubt that this team will regroup and will be serious contenders for the County League in the coming weeks.

Swinford Killasser: Amy McNicholas, Ciara Durkin, Maeve Peyton, Alanagh Durkin, Bronagh Molloy, Vanessa McHugh, Anna Tierney, Michaela Walsh, Hayley Moore, Geraldine Walsh, Aishling Forkan, Orna O’Brian, Rebecca Lennehan, Melissa Devaney, Roisin Durkin, Niamh Ansboro, Caoimhe Hennigan, Rebecca McHugh, Grace Mullaney, Andrea Jordan, Aoife Groarke, Gemma Kelly, Ciara Henry.