LGFA - St Kevins Killians are crowned PTSB Junior J Champions

PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior J Club Championship Final

St Kevins Killians 6-9 O’Dwyers 1-6

Report by Cóilín Duffy

St Kevins Killians produced a powerful attacking display to take PTSB Junior J Dublin LGFA Championship honoured with Amy Connaughton and Ciara Richardson accounting for four of their six goals at St. Margarets GAA Club on Sunday.

O’Dwyers battled hard throughout and improved significantly after the interval, but St Kevins Killians had already established a commanding advantage thanks to four first-half goals.

Richardson opened the scoring from a free after four minutes before Amy Connaughton doubled the lead from play. Another Richardson free followed and the same player then struck the opening goal after seven minutes, giving St Kevins Killians an early 1-3 to no-score advantage.

Leanne McCarton added another point before Niamh Ndongala finally opened the O’Dwyers account after 12 minutes. Katie McGuirk followed with their second score, reducing the gap and giving O’Dwyers some encouragement.

The Balbriggan side were unlucky not to get further scores during this spell as they pressed hard at Kevins/Killians kick-outs.

However, St Kevins Killians took firm control approaching half-time. Connaughton landed her second point before Nicola Staunton Douch found the net in the 23rd minute.

Two further goals in quick succession effectively settled the contest before the break. Richardson struck her second major after 25 minutes and McCarton added another just over a minute later, leaving St Kevins Killians in a commanding 4-5 to 0-2 lead at half-time.

O’Dwyers began the second period brightly, with Ellen Guildea pointing inside 20 seconds. Shannon O’Connor replied before Connaughton struck St Kevins Killians’ fifth goal.

Niamh Orange converted a free for O’Dwyers, while Connaughton added another point at the opposite end. O’Dwyers were rewarded for their persistence after 14 minutes when Ndongala found the net, completing an impressive personal tally of 1-1.

Orange added another free shortly afterwards, but St Kevins Killians remained firmly in charge. Siobhán Behan registered a point before Connaughton completed an outstanding afternoon with her second goal, bringing her individual return to 2-3.

The closing seven minutes provided a real battle for both sides with a deluge of rain prevailing, with scores hard to come by for either side, as St. Kevin’s Killian’s stood firm for an 18-point win.

After the game St. Kevins Killians captain Louise Leonard received the Cup from Dublin LGFA Vice Chairperson Declan Patton, while the talented defender was also honoured as ‘Player of the Match’.

St Kevins Killians: Janice O’Connor; Louise Leonard; Féinne Condren; Nicole Fanning; Katie Conroy; Carol O’Donnell; Chloe Gibson; Millie Ussher; Chloe Conroy; Siobhán Behan (0-1); Ciara Richardson (2-2, 0-2 frees); Shannon O’Connor (0-2); Leanne McCarton (1-1); Amy Connaughton (2-3); Nicola Staunton Douch (1-0).

Subs: Katie Long, Ruby Jane Callery, Aoife Carroll, Lannah Hurley, Caoimhe Jones, Maeve Carney, Rosalind McCashin, Evie Donegan.

O’Dwyers: Abbey McCurdy; Ellen Burke; Chloe Flynn; Lily Kearns; Rebecca Heron; Sophie Foley Darcy; Holly Downes; Hannah Barlow; Ellen Guildea (0-1); Katie McGuirk (0-1); Niamh Orange (0-3, frees); Anaelle Le Saint Costigan; Ciara Bassett; Niamh Ndongala (1-1); Erin McCormack.

Subs: Leah Brady, Clara Flynn, Aoibheann Quinn, Katie Ahearn, Zakia Leonard, Sophia Hartney, Emily Murray, Shauna Bell, Lia Butler, Jasmine Hughes, Leah O’Hara, Rachel Casey.

Referee: Joe Sweeney (Naomh Olaf)

PTSB Player of the Match: Louise Leonard (St Kevins Killians).