Hassett steers Brigid's ship to final glory
Captain Grainne Hyland lifting the Leinster Club Intermediate Cup aloft at O'Connor Park Photos: Denis Byrne
St Brigid’s and Naas travelled to Glenisk O’Connor Park on Sunday afternoon to compete for the Leinster Intermediate title for 2024. With only two points separating the sides at half-time, it was all to play for in the second-half. The second-half was as tight but the Laois champions took a one-point victory after a gruelling battle.
The journey to the final for St Brigid’s began with a quarterfinal win against Carlow champions Myshall which saw them advance to a semifinal against last years All-Ireland finalists, Na Fianna of Meath. A slow contest was displayed in Baconstown, but St Brigid’s headed home with a three-point victory at the call of time.
The Kildare champions got the scoring underway with Caoimhe Maher pointing a free. Eimear Hassett responded for St Brigid’s also pointing from a placed ball. St Brigid’s got momentum under their belt and went on to score a further three points. Two points came off the hurl of Hassett while Aiva Coss struck a lovely score from the left sideline.
Naas narrowed the gap to one point with Maher pointing a second free and one from play. Aisling O’Dea was fouled allowing Hassett to point her second from a placed ball with a 45’ following soon after. The St Brigid’s girls went quiet for the next 12 minutes but displayed a fine defensive performance.
Danielle Healy made a super interception on the speedy Allie McGarth heading straight for goal. Aoife Stynes let a long ball into square where Laura Dunne took control but was unfortunate to have the ball robbed off her hurl by Ciara Ryan who rattled the net for Naas to bring the game level.
Another brilliant interception came from Amy Quinlan to deny Ryan a second green flag, the loose ball was collected by Aoife McDermott who pointed for her side to go one up. The Premier Junior Player of the year, Clodagh Tynan stepped up to hit a long range free which hit the post and was mopped up by Hassett who made no mistake in hammering the ball to the back to net, giving St Brigid’s a two-point lead at the break, (1-6 to 1-4).
Laura Finlay pointed the opening score of the second half with Allie McGrath replying for Naas. Maher and Hassett traded frees keeping the gap at just two points. St Brigid’s drove on and pointed two further points to give them a four-point advantage. Jessie Quinlan sprung off the bench and sent a ball into the hand of Hassett, she laid it off to Amy Daly who rose a white flag. Hassett brought her tally to an impressive 1-7 only minutes later.
The scoring remained at bay for the following 10 minutes before Naas struck two points within the same minute, courtesy of McGrath and Aoife McDermott, to narrow the gap to two points with seven minutes to play. A Quinlan free landed into the hand of Coss who turned and rattled the crossbar, Naas broke up the field with McGrath raising a white flag leaving only one point between the sides making for a dramatic couple of minutes. St Brigid’s defence remained resilient, and Naas were pulled up for fouling the ball on the ground allowing Laura Dunne to launch the ball up the field where the full-time whistle was blown crowning St Brigid’s the Leinster champions.
Eimear Hassett 1-7 (0-3fs, 0-1 45’), Aiva Coss, Amy Daly, and Laura Finlay 0-1 each.
Caoimhe Maher 0-4 (0-3fs), Ciara Ryan 1-0, Allie McGrath 0-3, and Aoife McDermott 0-2.
Laura Dunne; Danielle Healy, Amy Quinlan, Aoife Carroll; Roisin Kilmartin, Clodagh Tynan, Sarah Creagh; Laura Finlay, Amy Daly; Tiegen Reilly Bowe, Aoife Finlay, Aiva Coss; Aishling O’Dea, Grainne Hyland, Eimear Hassett.
Jessie Quinlan for Laura Finlay (40m), Alanna Tynan for Daly (41m), Anne Marie Purcell for Hyland (48m), Niamh Coss for Hassett (58m), and Maggie Fitzpatrick for Coss (62m).
Roisin Roche; Aine Mernagh, Aine Conway, Kelly Perkins; Fahsai Nic Chonchradha, Niamh Hegarty, Aoife McCarthy; Sara Carroll, Roise Hennessy; Tara Bedford, Allie McGrath, Aoife McDermott; Caoimhe Maher, Ciara Ryan, Aoife Stynes.
Millie Kelleher for Perkins (43m), Rebecca McDermott for Bedford (48m), Saoirse Ni Mhuircheartaigh for McCarthy (52m), and Sophie Hazzard for Ryan (57m).
Barry Nea (Westmeath)
