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PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior F Club Championship Final
Naomh Olaf 3-11 St Maurs 2-7
By Cóilín Duffy
A powerful second half display, which saw them score 2-5 unanswered in a 15-minute spell helped Naomh Olaf’s to PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior F Club Championship silverware at Fingallians GAA Club on Wednesday evening.
In ideal conditions, and in front of a large crowd at the Swords venue, only two points separated the sides at half-time, but a decisive spell midway through the second half, when Naomh Olaf struck two goals in little over two minutes, ultimately settled the contest, although St Maurs rallied late on.
A goal each from Kate Scannell and captain Roísín Kelly paved the way to victory.
Kelly was a powerhouse for her side throughout and really led by example, in a game which was entertaining throughout.
St Maurs made the brighter start and Leah Burke opened the scoring from play after 10 minutes following a number of early wides at both ends.
Naomh Olaf quickly found their rhythm, however. Ev Kearns levelled matters before Kelly and Aoife McLoughlin added further points. The first major breakthrough arrived in the 16th minute when Kirsten Finn found the net to put Olafs firmly in control.
Aisling Ní Raghallaigh followed with another point, although St Maurs remained very much in contention. Tara Brady converted a free and then scored from play before Caoilinn O'Leary replied for Olaf.
St Maurs received a major boost in first-half injury-time. Substitute Izzy Bold made an immediate impact by firing home a goal which reduced the deficit to 1-5 to 1-3 at the interval.
Kelly stretched Olaf's advantage within 15 seconds of the restart after a powerful burst forward, but Brady responded with two points from play and another from a free as St Maurs continued to apply pressure.
Kara O'Callaghan converted a free for Olaf, but with the contest still delicately poised, the decisive period arrived between the 20th and 22nd minutes.
Kate Scannell struck Naomh Olaf's second goal before Elsa Dalton followed with a point. Kelly then delivered the crucial blow, finding the net for her side's third goal and suddenly opening a commanding advantage.
Ní Raghallaigh added two points from play either side of a Kelly free as Olaf ensured St Maurs faced a difficult task heading into the closing stages.
To their credit, St Maurs continued to battle. Bold scored a point before finding the net for the second time in injury-time. Her 2-1 contribution ensured the final margin did not fully reflect how competitive St Maurs had been for long periods.
Naomh Olaf's greater scoring threat ultimately proved decisive, however, as they finished with 3-11 from 28 attempts.
Kelly was the standout scorer with 1-3, while Finn and Scannell supplied the other goals. Ní Raghallaigh contributed 0-3, while Kearns, McLoughlin, O'Leary, O'Callaghan and Dalton also got on the scoresheet.
Bold led the St Maurs challenge with 2-1, while Brady was consistently dangerous and finished with 0-5, including two frees.
After the game Naomh Olaf B captain Róisín Kelly, a Mayo native received the Cup from Dublin LGFA Vice Chairperson Declan Patton.
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