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An Cheathrú Rua girls out of luck
An Fhairche 3-6 An Cheathrú Rua 2-6
(see photos on Irish language side of this section. Click "Leagan Gaeilge")
An Cheathrú Rua may have been beaten on the scoreboard in this Under-16 women’s county football final but injury may well have beaten them down earlier when their star player Katie Ní Neachtain had to leave Páirc an Phiarsaigh in Ros Muc in the first half.
An Cheathrú Rua were favourites for this encounter having beaten the same opposition, An Fhairche, in a meeting earlier in the year. But any presumptions were blown to the wind when An Fhairche led by 1-1 to no reply within just seven minutes of the start. Aoibhinn Ní Seoige was doing most of the damage for An Fhairche.
However, gradually players like Niamh Ní Chonchubhair got control of centrefield and by the 13th minute the sides were level. Katie Ní Neachtain had amassed 1-2 with Niamh scoring the other point.
But then Katie got injured and was forced to leave the pitch. An Fhairche exploited the opportunity and scored two goals. The score then at half time was 3-3 to 1-3.
An Cheathrú Rua didn’t lose heart, however, and early in the second half Caoimhe Ní Chonchubhair scored a point and a goal came from a penalty when Róisín Ní Neachtain was taken down in the 15th minute. Niamh Ní Chonchubhair scored from the spot. Only a goal separated them, 3-5 to 2-5 at this stage.
But despite all An Cheathrú Rua women’s efforts they were unable to cancel the margin. Katie Ní Neachtain was brought back on in spite of her injury to try to close the gap. But the girl who starred in the semi-final when she scored 3-3 couldn’t repeat those heroics in Ros Muc. Both sides tacked on a point each to leave the score at full time at 3-6 to 2-6.
It was an obvious disappointment therefore for the An Cheathrú Rua girls. They have got through to six finals in three years but have been only triumphant in one of them, this year’s league final. But that feat alone of reaching six finals shows that the team have the ability to make that breakthrough. “Ten of those girls will still be under the age limit for the next season," commented their manager Michael Phetey Mac Donncha afterwards.
An Cheathrú Rua will be keeping their fingers crossed and we wish them the best in making that breakthrough.
