The condition of the pitch was slick in areas and this gave rise to a lot of loose ball taking both teams some time to settle into the game. Though Monaghan dominated from the start, their scoring shoes were letting them down, kicking four wides before Tyrone native Mena Tuohey opened the scoring. Tuohey went on to put Monaghan 0-3 ahead before Rockland’s Cathy Quinn put a score on the board. Rockland began to come into the game due to some great play by Jenny Kirby and Orla Tuite, who added another point. Tuohey, however, scored again, from a free, then Anita McKenna scored after a solo run.
Monaghan, though seemingly comfortably ahead, continued to shoot a high percentage of wides, and when Rockland scored another 0-2 from Orla Tuite, they were in danger of being punished for it. Rockland had a chance to level matters when Orla Tuite kicked a free that fell short and this seemed to refocus Monaghan.
Rockland’s captain, Jenny Kirby, had to leave the pitch after a collision with her opposite midfielder and Rockland found themselves on the defensive. Teresa Doyle came of her line to clear a ball, which fell to Tuohey, who made no mistake in scoring Monaghan’s first goal. Anita McKenna added another from play, with Aisling McCabe tagging on 0-2. Michelle Ross, who played a strong game in midfield for Monaghan, finished the half with a goal after some scrappy play around the Rockland goalmouth, leaving the halftime score 2-8 to 0-4 in Monaghan’s favor.
Jenny Kirby returned in the second half and Rockland began to distribute the ball better into the full forward line, with Lorraine Kiernan opening her team’s ledger in the second half, but Tuohey continued her scoring spree, tagging on another 0-3 in this half, with Anita McKenna adding another. Lorraine Kiernan eventually got the goal she had been threatening to score, with Michelle Ross scoring another goal and Marie Doogan a point to leave Monaghan winning their first silverware in some time.
Rockland has been close in this competition, winning it in its inaugural year, and playing in the last three finals.
Rockland: Teresa Doyle, Pauline O’Connor, Marlise Fath, Tara Loftus, Kelly O’Keefe, Janet Mordeci, Kerry-Ann Galvin, Lydia Burke, Jenny Kirby, Ann-Marie Maye, Orla Tuite (0-4), Sharon Aiello, Cathy Quinn (0-1), Lorraine Kiernan (1-1).
Monaghan: Olivia Kelly, Catherine Donohoe, Edel Bailey, Kate Coffey, Sharon Doogan, Nicola White, Beth Higgins, Michelle Ross (2-0), Anita McKenna (0-3), Fiona Dardis, Marie Doogan (0-1), Frances Brennan, Aisling McCabe (0-2), Mena Tuohey (1-7), Irene Deehan.
FAHERTY FINAL
Cavan vs. Mayo: Sunday, 4 p.m., Gaelic Park
These teams meet in the championship final, with defending champs Cavan hoping to win their 10th title. The teams have been fairly evenly matched this season, with Mayo winning twice and Cavan prevailing in the most recent encounter, 1-9 to 1-4 three weeks ago.
While the backbones of both teams are similar to last year’s final, Cavan will start this year without Aine Cullen and Pauline Reid, both defenders, with Mayo without Mairead McKenna. Cavan have introduced Alison Traynor to the senior level. In her first season, she has continued to improve and at age 16 looks like she will be a formidable player in years to come.
Both teams have strong defenses making scores hard to come by. Mayo has Eleanor Fox and Fiona Ward marshalling things in their backline, with Louise McKeever and Mary Maguire in theirs. Louise McKeever has the ability to make runs into her oppositions half and has been on the scoresheet many times this year. Midfield is the real battleground, with Grainne Nulty playing well for Cavan. She has a height advantage on her opposition, so Mayo will be looking to keep play away from her.
Both teams have good forwards capable from scoring at both close and long range. Denise Dunnion from Mayo has been one of the most consistent scorers this year, with Lynda Donnelly and Emma Kilduff also adding firepower. Sue Bennett and Rosie O’Reilly are playing well for Cavan, so expect this to be another close encounter.