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PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior G Club Championship Final
Geraldines P. Moran 1-09 Raheny B 1-07
Report by Cóilín Duffy
Geraldines P. Moran survived a determined late fightback from Raheny B to claim a two-point victory and with it PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior G Club Championship silverware at St. Margaret’s on Wednesday evening in what was yet another closely contested encounter between the sides.
Geraldines had beaten Raheny by just three points in the group stages. Another close contest followed this time around under the Fingal floodlights, with the winning margin reduced to two points.
In a high paced final, the Cornelscourt side made the perfect start when Sarah Farrell netted in the third minute and Geraldine’s would move six points clear of their opponents nine minutes into the second half, but to their credit Raheny never gave up. However, 10 wides and other missed chances over the hour would come back to haunt them
.
Olivia Andrews replied to the early goal concession with two points for Raheny, but Sophie McDonnell opened her account in the tenth minute to keep Geraldines ahead.
Andrews registered her third point before McDonnell replied with scores in the 15th and 18th minutes. Sadhbh Kelly then brought Raheny back within a goal, but Geraldines finished the half strongly.
Orla Kavanagh opened her account before McDonnell kicked her fourth point of the contest, sending Geraldines into the interval with a four-point advantage, 1-5 to 0-4.
PTSB Player of the Match McDonnell extended the lead with another point shortly after the restart. Niamh McCormack answered for Raheny, but further scores from McDonnell and Kavanagh, the latter from a free, moved Geraldines seven points clear.
Raheny continued to create opportunities but were unable to make enough of them. They registered ten wides from 23 scoring attempts, while several other efforts were kept out by the Geraldines defence and goalkeeper Geena Behan.
The contest was punctuated by frees, with Geraldines conceding 22 and Raheny conceding 16. Despite that, each team managed just one point from placed balls.
Raheny’s persistence was rewarded when Andrews struck a goal in the 52nd minute. She followed it with a pointed free less than two minutes later, reducing the deficit to two points and ensuring a tense finish.
Substitute Sisi Kelly delivered a crucial response for Geraldines in the final minute of normal time, restoring their three-point cushion. Caoilinn Hayden replied for Raheny during added time, but Geraldines held firm to secure another narrow victory over their group-stage opponents.
McDonnell finished as Geraldines’ leading scorer with six points from play. Farrell’s early goal proved decisive, while Kavanagh contributed two points. Andrews led the Raheny challenge with 1-4, including a point from a free.
After the game Dublin LGFA Fixtures Administrator Stephen Harbron presented the cup to Geraldine's P. Moran captain Lauren Foster Ryan.
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