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PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior E Club Championship Final
Trinity Gaels 2-15 Fingal Ravens 0-14
Report by Cóilín Duffy
Two goals from Niamh Cummins proved decisive as Trinity Gaels held off a spirited second-half challenge from Fingal Ravens to record a seven-point victory in the PTSB Dublin LGFA Junior E Championship decider in St. Margarets GAA Club on Wednesday night.
Cummins finished with 2-5, including four frees, while Sophie Winkless and Jess Flanagan contributed seven points between them. Fingal Ravens were led by Beibhin Flatley, who registered five points from play, with Niamh Mulvany converting seven frees.
Lauren Plummer opened the scoring inside the first minute before Mulvany levelled from a free. Winkless and Evie Farrell pushed Trinity Gaels ahead, but Flatley and Kelly Shannon responded as the Ravens stayed firmly in touch.
Trinity Gaels created plenty of opportunities and Flanagan and Lexie Myler both found the target before the game's first major breakthrough. Cummins struck the opening goal after 28 minutes and followed that with a free, while Flanagan added another point.
Mulvany converted a free late in the half, but Trinity Gaels went to the interval holding a 1-8 to 0-6 advantage.
Fingal Ravens might have had more to show for their first-half efforts but Trinity Gaels goalkeeper Niamh Byrne produced two important saves from Amy O'Connor, denying the Ravens forward after 12 minutes and again midway through the half.
Those interventions proved particularly valuable as Trinity Gaels established a five-point half-time lead. Winkless landed the opening two scores after the restart, but Fingal Ravens responded impressively. Flatley registered three points during a strong spell, Amy O'Connor also split the posts and Mulvany continued to punish Trinity Gaels whenever they conceded frees.
Byrne again made her presence felt as the Ravens threatened the Trinity Gaels goal, saving from Roseanna Kennedy before producing another decisive stop from O'Connor, with the latter effort being turned out for a 45. Her saves ensured that Fingal Ravens' period of dominance yielded points rather than the goal that could have transformed the contest.
Mulvany's accuracy from placed balls kept Fingal Ravens in contention, with all seven of her points coming from frees.
Lauren Plummer was sinbinned after seeing yellow in the 45th minutes and the Ravens continued to press. Flatley reduced the deficit before Cummins steadied Trinity Gaels with a point.
Mulvany converted successive frees to maintain the pressure, but the decisive score arrived after 54 minutes when Cummins struck her second goal. She quickly followed it with another free, putting Trinity Gaels back in control.
Fingal Ravens continued fighting and Mulvany added two more frees, but Cummins replied from a placed ball before Flanagan completed the scoring as Trinity Gaels secured a seven-point victory.
After the game Dublin LGFA Vice Chairperson Declan Patton presented the cup to Trinity Gaels captain Lauren Plummer.
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