Happy as Larries as Eadestown denied six in a row
Captain Niamh O Connor
THEY came, they saw and they conquered. St Laurence’s claimed the 2025 Joe Mallon Motors Kildare LGFA SFC title at a wind-swept Cedral St Conleth’s Park on Friday night and thereby denied defending champions, Eadestown, their sixth title in a row, a feat they were firm favourites to achieve.
Larries lost out this time last year when Eadestown claimed their fifth title in a row but the claim by the team from the south of the county since then was they hadn’t done themselves justice twelve months ago.
While the heavy rain and high winds of the proceeding hours had abated by throw in time, nevertheless there was a considerable breeze blowing from the town end and St Laurence’s availed of those benefits in the first half.
Despite the conditions both sides tried to play positive football but it was obvious from early on that the Larries were steadfast in ensuring that there would not be a repeat of last year when Eadestown got a dream start and the game was virtually over inside 15 minutes.
Their defence was rock solid, their midfield powerful and their forwards took chances when they came although three of the points scored could well have been goals had the attack been that little more ruthless in front of goal.
Eadestown set the standard for all other teams in the county over the previous five years but they couldn’t quite reach those standards on Friday night or was it a case that they weren’t allowed to by Larries. A combination of both you might think.
Former Baltinglass and Wicklow player, Marie Kealy, got the Larries up and running with a free for a foul on herself after five minutes and the full forward then set up midfielder Gillian Wheeler for a second point number in the 11th minute. Miah Ryan popped over the third point of the opening quarter and Larries were three points to the good.
Eadestown were finding it difficult to break down that resolute Larries defence and they had to wait until the 18th minute before Grace Clifford set up Ruth Sargent for a point. Clifford, who worked tirelessly to set up attacks for the Sky Blues, got on the score sheet herself in the 20th minute.
It was the Larries who would finish the half the stronger with points from Aoibheann O’Sullivan and another Marie Kealy free and they led 0-5 to 0-2 lead at the break. While it was agreed at half time that Larries deserved their half time lead the wonder was would it be enough to hold out the defending champions with the wind now at their backs.
Within five minutes of the restart Larries had added two further points though Kealy and Aoibheann O’Sullivan.
Eadestown were not helped now by a certain inaccuracy in front of goals, recording seven wides in the second half and twelve in total. A great point from Ruth Sargent, an Abaigh Cahill free and a point from play by the industrious Jessica Harney left the game teetering at 0-7 to 0-5 and set up for an exciting, nervy final quarter.
Larries defence remained solid and although their attacks were sporadic they made them count. A Miah Ryan point lifted the siege somewhat in the 45th and despite their many attacks towards the Kilcullen end goals the goal Eadestown craved never materialised. It almost did five minutes from time though when Clifford and Harney combined for the latter to shoot but a combination of full back and captain, Niamh O’Connor and goalkeeper, Chloe Wright, deflected the ball over the bar for a point when a goal seemed certain.
Indeed Wright, who celebrated her 16th birthday on Saturday, had to bravely punch away a high dropping ball onto her goal line despite the imposing presence of Eadestown’s captain, Gráinne Kennelly.
Kealy had a glorious opportunity to seal the game three minutes from time but she blazed over the bar with only Emma Sargent in the Eadestown goal to beat.
It made for an even more nervy final three minutes of normal time and a further five of additional time but Larries were not to be denied and it was they who picked up the Kieran Burke Memorial Cup for the first time since 2016.
Marie Kealy 0-4 (2f), Miah Ryan and Aoibheann O’Sullivan 0-2 each, Gillian Wheeler 0-1.
Ruth Sargent and Jessica Harney 0-2 each, Grace Clifford and Abaigh Cahill (f) 0-1 each.
Chloe Wright; Emma Wheeler, Niamh O’Connor, Niamh Miley; Eimear Glancy, Ava Marron, Amy Cullen; Gillian Wheeler, Ciara Wheeler; Ailbhe Hennessy, Miah Ryan, Louise Waters; Aoibheann O’Sullivan, Marie Kealy, Caoimhe O’Sullivan.
Megan Alcock for Waters (HT), Ciara Dempsey for Hennessy (37), Jean Miley for O’Sullivan (40), Elaine Marron for Cullen (47).
Emma Sargent; Maryann Ryan, Anne Marie Logue, Áine Ní Raghallaigh; Aine Mernagh, Ruth Sargent, Molly Lawlor; Laura Byrne, Hazel McLoughlin; Alannah Kelly, Grace Clifford, Jessica Harney; Tara Bedford, Gráinne Kenneally, Abaigh Cahill.
Misha Magee for Kelly (HT), Sophie Boyce for Tuohy.
Shaun Duane
