St Michael's 5-8 Bride Rovers 3-10

Our minor campaign for 2012 ended in semi-final defeat at the hands of St Michael's at their pitch last Wednesday. This was a very hard match throughout and there was little between the sides for most of the proceedings. A Jen Barry goal just before half-time meant we trailed by only 2 points at the break and we felt the game was there for us in the second half. However, they scored 2 goals early in that half and that put us on the back foot. We were picking off the points though and when Grace Culloty arrived in the box from midfield to finish off to the net, we were back in business. Our hopes were dashed though when they then scored 2 of the quickest goals you could see and we faced a huge challenge to reel back an 8 point lead in the last 10 minutes. Our girls do not know how to give up though and we fought back bravely. A Jen Barry point that scraped the crossbar from a 20 metre free and a goal from Elaine Culloty brought the lead back to 4 points and there was still hope. The turning point came seconds later when we were awarded another 20 metre free. Jen Barry buried the ball in the net but the free was ordered to be retaken because of encroachment by the defenders. This hammer-blow was compounded when the retaken free was cleared. We were finishing very strongly and a goal at that point would have been crucial but it was not to be. Best of luck to St Michael's in the final.

Panel : Madison Parle, Aine Cashman, Claire Murphy, Margaret Kearney, Aoife O'Riordan, Mary Hazelwood, Lauren Friel, Jen Cahill (0-4) Jen Barry (1-2), Trish O'Sullivan, Katie Connor, Karen Sheehan, Elaine Culloty (1-3), Grace Culloty (1-0), Erin O'Keeffe (0-1), Niamh Murphy, Aoife Deasy.