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Cleary inspires Craobh Chiaráin comeback victory
PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior I Club Championship Final
Craobh Chiaráin 3-10 St. Mary’s Saggart 1-9
Report by Cóilín Duffy
Craobh Chiaráin produced a powerful second-half display to overturn a three-point interval deficit and defeat St Mary’s Saggart by seven-points in an entertaining PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior I Club Championship Final at St. Margaret’s GAA Club on Friday evening.
Ciara Cleary led the winners’ charge with 2-3, while Grace Fitzgerald contributed 1-4 as Craobh Chiaráin outscored St Mary’s by 2-7 to 0-3 after the restart.
St Mary’s were eager early on and were awarded three early frees, although none produced a score. They were punished in the fifth minute when Cleary struck the opening goal after a dipped effort. Keelyn McCarville answered with a point before Sadhbh Walsh found the net in the tenth minute, pushing St Mary’s in front.
Fitzgerald and Cleary responded with points for Craobh Chiaráin, and Fitzgerald then converted a free to give her side a 1-3 to 1-1 advantage. ~
Craobh had some goal misses also during that spell with efforts from Cleary and Abbey O’Brien, the latter denied by a Lauren Healy save in the 17th minute.
Mary’s controlled the closing ten minutes of the half. Ella O’Keeffe and McCarville raised white flags before Davina Strumble, Aoife Goodwin and O’Keeffe added three more unanswered scores. That burst sent St Mary’s into the break leading 1-6 to 1-3.
Craobh Chiaráin emerged transformed after half-time. Within three minutes, Cleary had fired home her second goal to bring the sides level. Kate Englishby then edged Craobh Chiaráin ahead, although Amy Rose Nugent replied for St Mary’s.
The decisive spell followed. Fitzgerald drove home Craobh Chiaráin’s third goal in the 12th minute and Clare Malone quickly added a point. Fitzgerald converted two frees in succession, opening a seven-point advantage and leaving St Mary’s with a steep climb.
O’Keeffe halted the run with a free after Ava Lowry received a yellow card, but Craobh Chiaráin remained composed. Cleary converted a free following Sophie Strumble’s booking, restoring their seven-point cushion. O’Keeffe landed another placed ball with nine minutes remaining, yet St Mary’s could not turn pressure into scores.
Their tally of 13 wides ultimately proved costly. St Mary’s had 24 attempts compared with Craobh Chiaráin’s 22 but converted only 41 per cent of their chances. Craobh Chiaráin were considerably sharper, scoring from 59 per cent of their efforts and making their three goals count.
Fitzgerald’s accuracy from placed balls helped the eventual winners better manage the key passages. That composure separated the sides when the pressure rose.
The exchanges remained competitive, with both teams conceding numerous frees and evenly sharing the turnover battle. Cliodhna Murphy became the third player booked late on as the contest entered a lengthy period of added time.
Substitute Rubie Deegan made an immediate contribution by scoring from play in the 35th minute. Cleary supplied the final flourish two minutes later, completing her outstanding 2-3 haul and confirming a deserved seven-point victory.
Craobh Chiaráin’s response after half-time was the defining feature of the game. Their greater accuracy, Fitzgerald’s influence and ‘Player of the Match’ Cleary’s ruthless finishing transformed a difficult position into an impressive win.
After the game Craobh Chiaráin captain Abbey O’Brien received the Cup from Dublin LGFA Vice Chairperson Declan Patton.
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