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PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior C Club Championship Final
Naomh Barróg 3-03 Naomh Mearnóg 0-10
Report by Cóilín Duffy
A dramatic late surge carried Naomh Barróg to a two-point victory over Naomh Mearnóg in a gripping PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior C Club Championship final, with Jodie Doyle’s second goal in the 64th minute crucial under the floodlights at St. Margaret’s GAA Club on Wednesday night.
It was a case of the Late Late Show from the Kilbarrack side at the Fingal venue, with PTSB Player of the Match Doyle’s injury-time goal and an unanswered follow up point from Aoife McGinley securing silverware.
Barróg made the ideal start when McGinley pointed after only 32 seconds, but Lauren Waters quickly replied. The opening exchanges were untidy and heavily punctuated by frees, with Barróg ultimately conceding 30 and Mearnóg 19. That disrupted rhythm suited Mearnóg for long periods, although Doyle struck the first major blow when she found the net in the 11th minute.
Ciara Mullin was sent to the sinbin in the seventh minute after receiving a yellow card, but Mearnóg responded impressively while reduced to 14 players. Ciara Holland landed two points from play, Naomi Crilly added another and Holland converted a free just before Mullin returned.
Holland subsequently added two more frees, completing a run of six unanswered Mearnóg points and sending her side in ahead by 0-7 to 1-1.
Barróg emerged with greater purpose after the interval. Their early pressure initially yielded only a succession of saves, wides and frees, but substitute Anna McTeigue made an immediate impact. Introduced for Chloe Byrne in the 37th minute, she scored a goal less than two minutes later to bring the sides level at 2-1 to 0-7.
Mullin restored Mearnóg’s lead with a point from play in the 43rd minute, only for McGinley to answer four minutes later. Mullin then converted a free before Cadhla Nigfhloinn put Mearnóg two clear, 0-10 to 2-2, with seven minutes of normal time remaining.
Mearnóg had made the first change after 21 minutes, Alannah Tuite replacing Sophie McDonnell, and later introduced Naomi McCullagh, Abigal Gogarty and Ellen Morgan. Barróg sent on Róisín Nolan and Ella Walsh following McTeigue’s decisive intervention. Despite the fresh legs, neither team could establish sustained control as possession repeatedly changed hands.
Mearnóg appeared well placed entering added time. Their shooting had been more efficient, producing ten scores from 18 attempts, while Barróg finished with six scores from 21 shots. The Mearnóg defence also forced several rushed efforts during Barróg’s search for a route back into the contest.
The decisive moment arrived in the fourth minute of added time. Doyle, already Barróg’s first-half goalscorer, finished clinically with a rasping shot from distance for her second goal to transform a 0-10 to 2-2 deficit into a one-point advantage. McGinley then converted a free in the 65th minute, providing the insurance score and completing her personal tally of three points.
It was a remarkable win for Barróg, whose three goals compensated for Mearnóg’s greater consistency and accuracy. McGinley gave them their early foothold; McTeigue changed the momentum from the bench and Doyle supplied the decisive finishes.
After the game Dublin LGFA Chairman Joe Keane presented the cup to Naomh Barróg captain Megan Donegan.
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