St Joseph’s edge out Sarsfields to maintain perfect start

St Joseph's 1-11 

Sarsfields 1-9 

ST Joseph's made it two wins from two in the LGFA Senior Championship after overcoming Sarsfields by two points in a hard-fought battle in Mountmellick on Sunday evening. Emily Lacey led the way for St Joseph's by putting in a brilliant performance to inspire her team to victory which puts them in a good position to book a semi-final place.

As for Sarsfields they have now lost both their opening games and will definitely need a victory in the last round of fixtures to advance to a quarter final.

Sarsfields opened up the scoring with a brilliant point from Aerin Ryle to give her side the early lead.

St Joseph's responded well and struck for the first goal of the game through Jane Moore who was excellent throughout in the middle of the park.

The home side then levelled matters, as they hit two in a row through a brace from Amy Ring who was Sarsfields go to player.

There was nothing separating these sides for the rest of the match, as they traded blow for blow.

Emily Lacey and Niamh Crosby found two more points for St Joseph's to put them back into the lead with 18 minutes on the clock.

It was soon level again as Amy Ring hit two brilliant points from play as the game went from end to end.

Both teams traded points before half time with Lacey putting over a free while Julie Ann Bennett would hit the last point of the half to leave the scores at 1-3 to 0-6 at the break.

Sarsfields then got the second period off to a dream start as they scored a goal within three minutes of the restart.

Lucy Conroy ran through the defence and had her effort saved brilliantly, but she was on hand to hit in the rebound.

St Joseph's then hit a purple patch which was the winning of the game. They would kick over six points without reply, in a devastating 15-minute period.

Emily Lacey was the tormenter in chief turning this period as she got five of those six points while Anna Moore would get the other one sandwiched in between Lacey's scoring spree to St Joseph's 1-9 to 1-6 up with ten minutes remaining.

Sarsfields found a response again though and would reel off three quick points through Meghann Dunne, Ellen Conroy and Amy Ring all getting scores to level the game up with seven minutes left.

Crucially St Joseph's hit the last two points of the game through sub - Emily Moore and Niamh Crosby finished the scoring to make it two wins from two.

SCORERS:

St Joseph's: Emily Lacey 0-7 (0-4fs), Jane Moore 1-0, Niamh Crosby 0-2, Anna Moore and Emily Moore 0-1 each.

Sarsfields: Amy Ring 0-5 (0-2fs), Lucy Conroy 1-0, Julie Ann Bennett, Meaghan Dunne, Ellen Conroy and Aerin Ryle 0-1 each.

ST JOSEPH'S: Ava Shanahan; Shannon Maguire, Emma O'Flaherty, Sinead Farrelly; Lauren Rowan, Lorna Butler, Ava Rowen; Jane Moore, Anna Moore; Annie Smith, Martina Dunne, Niamh Crosby; Emily Lacey, Caoimhe Farrell, Abbie Delaney.

Subs: Grainne Brennan for Farrell (40m), Lilly Brophy for Maguire (50m), Emily Moore for Dunne (55m).

SARSFIELDS: Roisin Dowling; Julie Ann Bennett, Ciara Hughes, Ava Lawlor; Emer Conroy, Sarah Hibbitts, Grainne Lalor; Rebecca Williams, Laura Marie Maher; Amy McKane, Amy Ring, Caoimhe Maher; Aerin Ryle, Meaghan Dunne, Orlaith McEvoy.

Subs: Lucy Conroy for C Maher (15m), Ellen Conroy for McKane (51m).

Referee: Ronan Devaney (Camross)