Eadestown's 'drive for five' continues
Grace Clifford in action for Eadestown during an earlier round game with Maynooth Photo: Aisling Hyland
Eadestown’s 'drive for five' is a game away from becoming reality after a win over Sarsfields in a good game on their home pitch on a sun drenched evening. The hosts showed their class, despite a spirited performance from Sarsfields, to overcome their opponents.
The contest’s opening score arrived in the third minute, when Grace Clifford’s dashing run on turnover ball was rewarded when Aina Hynes cut inside to point for Eadestown. Roisín Byne was quick to respond with a free for Sarsfields in the fourth minute, while Aina Hynes pushed the hosts back in-front a minute later, and three minutes after that, Jessica Harney made a good run to assist Grace Clifford who pointed on the run to leave two between the sides. The resulting kick-out fell into enemy hands close to goal, which found Abaigh Cahill getting by Caoimhe McConnell and sliding the ball into an empty Sarsfields net. Three minutes later, Grainne Keneally finished off a slick team hand-passing move with a point, and the lead could have grown further in the 14th minute, though Kate Murphy’s effort was struck wide.
Eadestown would get their second goal in a minute later though, as Grace Clifford managed to flick the ball on the bounce into the Sarsfields goal with Abaigh Cahill delivering the pass. Molly Cassidy’s point from distance and Roisín Byrne’s free was the Sarsfields response, only for Grace Clifford from play and Abaigh Cahill from a free to extend the gap to nine once more. A battling Sarsfields side did finish off the half strongly; Orlagh Taylor’s point from a patient team move, Noelle Early’s long-range effort and a Roisín Byrne free left the Sashes 2-6 to 0-6 adrift at the interval.
In the 36th minute, Elaine Keogh’s high dropping effort opened Sarsfields second-half account while Laura-Jane Kaye’s super score from a difficult angle moments later cut the deposit down to four. Eadestown’s third goal then arrived when Jessica Harney found Kate Murphy who tucked in her goal. Kaye replied with a point for Sarsfields in the 40th minute, only for Abaigh Cahill with two frees and Grainne Keneally from play to strike for Eadestown. Freya Healy’s score for the Sashes in the 47th minute was answered with Siobhan O’Sullivan’s free for Eadestown three minutes later, and from there, the hosts and the reigning champions saw out the result. Grace Clifford rewarded a slick team hand-passing move with a point in the 54th minute, while Roisín Byne cut inside to point for Sarsfields two minutes after that. One minute from the 60, Siobhan O’Sullivan got her hands on turnover ball, to assist Aina Hynes on a bursting run who pointed to ensure Eadestown’s victory.
They will attempt to win their fifth successive county title against a St Laurence’s team who have been bolstered this year by the return of Kildare LGFA legend Brianne Leahy-Hayden. They scored the only two points in the last ten minutes to beat Kilcullen 0-12 to 2-4. It was Kilcullen’s second season in a row to fall at the semi-final stage. St Laurence’s were also beaten in last year’s semi-final, by Eadestown, and will now seek revenge for that in the final on 4 October at 8pm.
Andre Jebb; Maryann Ryan, Denise Tierney, Ann-Marie Logue; Aine Mernagh; Ruth Sargent, Aoife Clifford; Siobhan O’Sullivan 0-1 (0-1f), Laura Byrne; Aina Hynes 0-3 (0-1f), Grace Clifford 1-3, Jessica Harney; Kate Murphy 1-0, Grainne Keneally 0-2, Abaigh Cahill 1-3 (0-3f). Substitutes: Sara Carroll for Kate Murphy (58), Aine Ní Ryhally for Maryann Ryan (60), Allanah Kelly for Siobhan O’Sullivan (63).
Caoimhe McConnell; Ciara Sammon, Lily O’Connor, Muiceann O’Loughlin; Kate Murphy, Aisling Khye, Shauna Kendrick; Ellie Kendrick, Erin Healy; Ali Kaye, Elaine Keogh 0-1, Orlagh Taylor 0-1; Molly Cassidy 0-1, Noelle Earley 0-1, Roisín Byrne 0-4 (0-3f). Substitutes: Freya Healy 0-1 for Kate Murphy (9), Laura-Jane Kaye 0-2 for Ali Kaye (33).
Brendan Hickey.
