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PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior A Club Championship Final
St Vincent’s 2-13 Naomh Olaf 2-09
Report by Cóilín Duffy
St Vincent’s withstood a determined second-half comeback from Naomh Olaf to claim a hard earned four-point victory, after an entertaining PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior A Championship final in St. Margaret’s GAA Club on Saturday.
Vincent’s did much of the damage during a productive opening half, with back-to-back goals from Caitlinn McKenna and Robin Fitzpatrick in a three-minute spell helping them establish a seven-point interval advantage before Olaf mounted a spirited response after the restart.
However, it was the Southsiders who struck the opening blow when Lucy Fitzpatrick found the net after just three minutes with a dipped effort from distance. Laura Corbally quickly added a point and Olafs had established a four-point advantage.
Vincent’s soon settled, however. Róisín Gilmore opened their account before McKenna struck their first goal after hard work by the Vins attack in the tenth minute to level matters. Three minutes later Fitzpatrick found the net and suddenly Vincent’s had taken control.
Corbally responded with her second point, but Vincent’s continued to look dangerous. Gilmore added another score before McKenna landed two points and Fitzpatrick also raised a white flag.
Aoife Gallagher completed the first-half scoring for Vincent’s, leaving them 2-6 to 1-2 ahead at the interval.
Olaf’s emerged with renewed purpose after the break. Grace McCoy converted a free before Sophie Cunningham scored from play. Corbally then converted another free to reduce the deficit to four.
Fitzpatrick answered for Vincent’s, but Cunningham’s second point and another Corbally free ensured Naomh Olaf remained within striking distance.
Vincent’s responded through Ava Lambe, whose free was followed by a point from substitute Isabelle Dunne. Olaf’s continued to press and McCoy converted her second free before Corbally kept the scoreboard moving.
Lambe became increasingly influential as the contest entered its closing stages, landing successive points to give Vincent’s breathing room.
The closing minutes were eventful. Hannah Murphy was dismissed after 57 minutes with a red card following a yellow card, leaving Vincent’s to negotiate the finish with reduced numbers.
Corbally converted another free as Olaf attempted to capitalise, and they were handed further hope when substitute Aobha Phelan struck a goal approaching the hour mark, cutting the margin and setting up a tense finish.
Vincent’s refused to panic. Lambe immediately responded with her fourth point before Éabha Murray added another score deep into added time.
Olaf’s continued attacking until the final whistle, with McCoy forcing a save from the Vincent’s defence, but the Marino side had done enough.
Vincent’s finished with seven different scorers and their greater attacking efficiency proved decisive. McKenna and Fitzpatrick contributed 1-2 apiece, while Lambe finished with 0-4, including one free.
For Olaf’s, Corbally led the scoring with 0-5, including three frees, while Fitzpatrick and substitute Phelan supplied their goals. Cunningham and McCoy contributed two points apiece.
Olaf’s second-half improvement turned what had appeared a comfortable Vincent’s advantage into a competitive finish, but the first-half goals and Vincent’s ability to find scores when under pressure ultimately separated the sides.
After the game St. Vincent’s captain Ava Lambe had the double honour of accepting the cup from Dublin LGFA Secretary Paul Manning and the ‘PTSB Player of the Match’ award.
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