30/04/13

Kilcock 3:14
Ballykelly 1:03

By Robert Cox @Kilcock GAA

Kilcock senior ladies picked up their first two points in division two with a fine seventeen point win over Ballykelly at Kilcock GAA on Tuesday the 30th of April. The win however came at a cost as the home side lost three players to injury in the opening half, forcing manager Robert Cox into three early, unexpected changes. Kilcock did welcome back Aisling O’Connor to the fold after a lengthy lay off through injury and her presence alone seemed to give her team-mates a lift. Unfortunately due to exams, the visitors were short a few first team regulars and the game had to be played with fourteen a side but it didn’t take away from what was a fine game of football, played in perfect conditions.

Kilcock were the first to get on the scoreboard through midfielder Sheena Byrne, who pointed from
thirty yards after only two minutes to settle her side down. Soon after though Kilcock lost the influential Orla Cagney to a dislocated shoulder, with captain Linda Byrne(who herself was unwell before the game) coming on in her place. It meant a reshuffle of the pack for Cox but to their credit his side responded well and were two points up when full forward Emma Robinson saw her fisted effort raise the white flag. Ballykelly for their part didn’t let this phase them and hit back almost immediately with a point of their own. Robinson scored her sides only goal of the half with an opportunist effort after ten minutes before points from Eve Powderly, Grace White(3), Shona Cagney and Robinson herself(2) left Kilcock with an impressive haul of 1:09 at half time. Injuries to corner back Paige Byrne and wing back Emma Maguire did dampen the mood somewhat but in Laura Ward and Lorna Murray Kilcock had ready made replacements. Ballykelly added two more points in the opening period to leave the half time score  Kilcock 1:09 Ballykelly 0:03

Ballykelly started the second half with purpose and put it up to Kilcock in an effort to claw their way back into the game but a strong rear-guard from the home side lead by full-back Mary Tighe, held the girls in maroon and white at bay. At this stage the game was been played under the impressive new lights at Kilcock as daylight faded quickly and the accurate Grace White responded well to the spotlight as she tagged on two more points before Shona Cagney scored one of the goals of the season to put the game to bed. Cagney latched onto the end of a well worked move from Sheena Byrne and Robinson and cut in on the right hand side before hammering the ball to the top left hand corner of the net to give the away goalie no chance. Further points from Robinson, Cagney and Sheena Byrne paved the way for White to score Kilcock’s third goal just before the end. Ballykelly did rally again towards the end and in fairness to them they never gave up and were rewarded when their wing forward (no.12) scored a fine goal in the closing stages of the game but in truth the game was long up before referee Noel Reilly blew the final whistle. Final score:
Kilcock 3:14  Balllykelly 1:03

Goalkeeper Eimear Kelly had little to do between the sticks for the girls in green and gold and she can thank her resolute defence for that. Mary Tighe and Hayley White didn’t give and inch in the full back line while Linda Byrne seemed to revel in her new found freedom at wing back as she burst forward at any available opportunity. When Shona Cagney moved to midfield after the injury to her sister Orla, she and Sheena Byrne both won their personal battles on the night and added scores to boot. Upfront Kilcock managed to hit top gear for the first time this season and were well served by Grace White and Emma Robinson but others such as Aoife Divily, Aisling O’Connor and Eve Powderly all put in an impressive nights work. Substitute Suzanne Lett won her fair share of ball when introduced and can be happy with her involvement and it shows the importance of been able to call upon your panel of players when needed. If awards were been handed out for player of the game though it would have to go to full back Mary Tighe who was tigerish in defence all night and won every ball that came her way.

Kilcock Scorers:
Grace White 1:05
Emma Robinson 1:04
Shona Cagney 1:02
Sheena Byrne 0:02
Eve Powderly 0:01

Kilcock Team:
1:Eimear Kelly (v/c)
2:Hayley White
3:Mary Tighe
4:Paige Byrne
5:Emma Maguire
6:Shona Cagney
7:Shanon Byrne
8:Sheena Byrne
9:Orla Cagney
10:No player due to Ballykelly only having 14
11:Aoife Divily
12:Grace White
13:Eve Powderly
14:Emma Robinson
15:Aisling O’Connor

Subs:
Linda Byrne for Orla Cagney (inj)
Laura Ward for Paige Byrne (inj)
Lorna Murray for Emma Maguire (inj)
Holly Burke for Hayley White
Suzanne Lett for Eve Powderly
Emma O’Neill for Aisling O’Connor
Jennifer Fagan