Double delight as Killenard girls complete historic double
Scoil Naomh Eoin, Killenard who played Scoil Chomhgháin Naofa, Killeshin in the Cumann na mBunscol Football Finals in Laois Hire O'Moore Park Photo: Alf Harvey.
SCOIL Naomh Eoin Killenard completed a remarkable Division 1 double at the Cumann na mBunscol finals in O’Moore Park on Thursday as their girls followed the boys’ success by claiming the Roinn 1 Girls Championship title.
Having already celebrated victory in the boys’ final, Killenard made it two county crowns in one afternoon with a thrilling three-point win over Scoil Chomhgháin Naofa Killeshin.
Killenard made a blistering start, opening up a 1-3 to 0-0 lead. Reiltín Kehoe converted an early free before finding the net, while Erin Dunne and Kehoe added points to put daylight between the sides.
Kate Kelly got Killeshin off the mark, but Killenard responded with a second goal through Ella Madsen-Claffey. Kelly and Eabha Raine traded points before Mia Quigley and Ellie Nolan reduced the deficit with late scores.
Kehoe added another point, but Killeshin came close to a crucial goal before half-time when Nolan’s effort crashed off the crossbar. Goalkeeper Lu-Ann Taylor then produced a brilliant save from the rebound to preserve Killenard’s advantage.
That left Killenard 2-5 to 0-4 ahead at the break, but Killeshin emerged strongly after the restart.
Nolan fired home their first goal before Amelia Cruickshank struck for a second as Killeshin stormed back into contention. Raine steadied Killenard with a point, but scores from Hannah Murphy and Kelly brought the sides level at 2-6 apiece.
With the title hanging in the balance, Killenard found another gear. Eabha Maher edged them back in front before goalkeeper Taylor landed an important point from distance.
Dunne then completed the scoring as Killenard finished with three unanswered points to seal victory.
It capped a historic afternoon for Scoil Naomh Eoin Killenard, with both their boys’ and girls’ teams crowned Division 1 champions on the same day.
SCORERS:
Killenard NS: Reiltín Kehoe 1-2 (0-1f), Ella Madsen-Claffey 1-0, Erin Dunne and Eabha Raine 0-2 each, Éabha Maher and Lu-Ann Taylor 0-1 each.
Killeshin NS: Ellie Nolan 1-1, Amelia Cruickshank 1-0, Kate Kelly 0-3, Mia Quigley and Hannah Murphy 0-1 each.
Erin Dunne, Reiltín Kehoe, Lu-Ann Taylor, Ciara Lynch, Izzy Hoey Moore, Emilia Hickey, Dorothy Hughes, Éabha Maher, Éabha Raine, Ellie-Mae Whelan, Saoirse Whelehan, Ella Madsen-Claffey, Grace Dowling, Lyla Maher, Ella-Rose McDonough, Lauren Slevin, Faye O’Connell, Cara Melia, Lola O’Leary.
