February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Patricia Sheridan
On Sunday, Cavan and Leitrim will contest the Anne Kearney cup in Gaelic Park at 4 p.m.
This clash always provides spectators with plenty of thrills and this final should be no different. They have not met
in the championship this year and are both undefeated so there is the makings of one of the best finals to date.
Cavan are titles holders and will be hoping to hold onto the cup for yet another year. On their way to final they defeated Philadelphia Harps, Mayo and Rockland. Gillian Bennett, Catherine McAteer, Louise Fox, Denise Maher and Deidre Feeney joined their panel this season and have made quite an impact on the field.
Added to the veterans of the team, Rosie O’Reilly, Olive Wilson, Justine Clifford, Caroline O’Sullivan, Karen Shalvey to name but a few. Cavan’s lineout is strong at every position and managers Phil Sheridan and Dessie O’Reilly will be looking for another win.
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Leitrim will be hoping to upset the Breffni ladies reign and regain the title they won in 1996 and 1997.
Leitrim met Chiarrai and Na Fianna on the way to the final, having convincing wins over both. They have built a strong panel this year with plenty of skillfull players in Ann Marie McMunn, Sadie Bolger, Tracey Rice, Pat Meade, Eibhlish Dineen, Clare Tracey, Una Burke and Collette McElligot.
Cavan is probably their strongest opponent to date but from watching their progress this year they will give the title holders a run for their money and both teams will give spectators an
hour of entertaining football.
Ulster tops Munster
Railway Cup replay Tuesday June 22 in Van Cortlandt Park: Ulster 4-8, Munster 1-2.
This was a hard fought game with no mercy given on either side.
Munster finished strongest in the drawn game and Ulster were lucky to keep the game at a draw. This time Ulster meant business and were strong throughout the game, particularly in the second half.
In the first half, both sides enjoyed plenty of possession. Ulster were first to score with a point from Rosie O’Reilly which she followed with a goal.
Munster’s forwards had a hard time getting through a solid Ulster defense and were eventually able to put over three points, one by Ann Marie McMunn and two by KerryAnn Galvin.
A point from Ulster’s Kathy McKenna put them ahead at the break 1-2 to Munster’s 3 points.
In the second half, Munster got an early goal from Eiblish Dineen. However, Ulster then pulled away with scores by Joanne McKenna (2-1), Catherine McAteer, Tracey Rice, Monica Slevin, Varina Carey and a late goal from Mary Kearney.
Munster finish of the half with points by Pat Meade, Marie Curran and Eibhlish Dineen.
Best for the Ulster gals were keeper Catherine Flood, Olive Wilson, Pauline Coleman, Louise Fox, Justine Clifford, Varina Carey and Sharon Gallagher.
For Munster, best were Paula Corbett, Joan Vaughan, Debbie Murphy, Shauvan Neville, Kathleen Hickey, Ann Marie McMunn, Kerry Ann Galvin, Mags Dineen and Eibhlish Dineen.
Ulster scorers: Rosie O’Reilly 1-1, Cathy McKenna 0-1, Joanne McKenna 2-1, Catherine McAteer 0-1, Tracey Rice 0-1, Colette McGoldrick 0-1, Monica Slevin 0-1, Varina Carey 0-1, Mary Kearney 1-0.
Munster: Ann Marie McMunn 0-1, KerryAnn Galvin 0-2, Eibhlish Dineen 1-1, Pat Meade 0-1, Marie Curran 0-1
Mayo win
On June 27 in Van Cortland Park, Mayo defeated Monaghan 4-11 to 2-2.
This was a make-up championship game. Mayo opened strong, putting plenty of pressure on the Monaghan defense. They took their early scores which in hindsight were enough to win the game for them.
It took Monaghan a while to settle into the game and when they did they enjoyed plenty of possession and were unlucky not to convert the many chances they had to scores.
At half time Mayo had 3-9 to Monaghan’s 1-1.
Monaghan began the second half with an immediate goal from midfielder Norma McCarthy which lifted their spirits and they looked set to increased their scores even more. However, tight marking in both defenses kept second half scores to a minimum.
For the winners stars were Ellen McGrail, Sharon Gallager, Mary Toolan, Ann Barcoe, Colette McGoldrick, Teresa O’Malley, Kathy and Joanne McKenna.
For Monaghan, Norma McCarthy, Trina Wall, Liz Collins, Catherine Flood, Sandra Swinburne, Catherine Donohoe, Breda McCrohan and Kate McEntee were best.
Mayo scores: Kathy McKenna 2-2, Joanne McKenna 1-3, Camie O’Shea 0-2, Colette McGoldrick 1-1, Ann Barcoe 0-1, Sharon Gallagher 0-1, Ellen McGrail 0-1.
Player of the Game: Sharon Gallagher
Monaghan scores: Norma McCarthy 1-1, Catherine Donohoe 0-1, Sandra Swinburne 1-0.
Player of the Game: Trina Wall.