This article is from page 113 of the 2009-10-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 113 JPG
WITH the intense rivalry that Kil- maley and Newmarket-on-Fergus have built up at every level in recent seasons, it was always going to be a close run affair. However, it 1s un- likely that anyone could have fore- seen the dramatic circumstances of their latest meeting.
Clarecastle GAA has become a lucky hunting ground for Kilmaley over the last fortnight, but they had to utilise every ounce of that fortune on this occasion as a last gasp Aishling D’Arcy goal denied Newmarket their fifth Under 18A title.
In truth, it was extremely cruel on Newmarket who had led for the vast majority of this tie and appeared to have done enough to see off Kilma- ley’s spirited fightback. However, unable to close out the game at any stage and only holding a precarious minimum advantage entering injury- time, there was always the danger that Kilmaley could snatch some- thing out of this game.
And so it proved as deep into injury time, a Shonagh Enright crossfield
pass eventually found it’s way to hard-working midfielder D’Arcy at the far post to finish to the net and complete the dramatic turnaround.
The preamble to this tie was based on the several big name players on show. Kilmaley had the county expe- rience of Shonagh Enright, Eimear Considine, Katie Cahill, Niamh Cahill, Ailish Considine and Sarah Reidy while Newmarket predomi- nantly looked to Roisin McMahon, Carol Kaiser, Carol O’Leary and Niki Kaiser for inspiration.
It was Enright who set the tone af- ter only 17 seconds with a point but it was to prove a while before either side really settled into their stride. Newmarket’s reply was substantial though when Roisin McMahon’s 10th minute free from just inside the ‘45 went all the way to the net.
That goal was to prove the differ- ence for the remainder of the half as Shonagh Enright’s placed balls cancelled out efforts from Gemma McInerney, Niki Kaiser and Jenny Kelly as Newmarket held a 1-4 to 0- 4 lead at the break.
The problem for Kilmaley was that
aside from Enright, they never really posed an attacking threat, especially to Newmarket’s full-back line. They corrected that for the second period by switching Katie Cahill to her more natural position at full-forward.
It gave Kilmaley a target and more importantly a better balance to their side. With Eimear O’Connor and Aishling D’Arcy foraging well around the centre, Kilmaley improved as the game progressed. However, Newmar- ket also had an ace in the hole in Car- ol Kaiser, whose running game was better suited to centre-forward and it was her threat in particular that kept Kilmaley at bay in the early stages. The county player earned her side three frees in the opening five min- utes, two of which were converted by her sister Niki with only a Shonagh Enright free in reply to open up a 1-6 to 0-5 lead.
However, Kilmaley’s luck turned in the 39th minute when Aishling D’Arcy’s effort from distance went through a crowd of players, leaving goalkeeper Laura McMahon unsight- ed as the ball reached the net and now brimming with renewed confidence,
Kilmaley actually gained parity four minutes later when Shonagh Enright cut inside her marker and pointed.
Niki Kaiser and Katie Cahill traded points soon afterwards but Newmar- ket dug deep and found another gear to pull two points clear once more by the 53rd minute through a brace of Niki Kaiser frees.
Newmarket appeared destined to take the title when they kept out a Shonagh Enright penalty only two minutes later but crucially, Kilma- ley didn’t die and the Cahill-Enright combination cut the deficit to the bare minimum with only four min- utes remaining to set up a grandstand aU OF
GUE A daa omnis ane market in order to grab an equaliser but frustratingly saw a Shonagh En- right effort batted away by goalkeep- er McMahon before Katie Cahill’s rebound drifted wide. That appeared to be their last chance but Aishling D’Arcy had other ideas.
Although Zelica Brown produced a driving solo run at the heart of the Kilmaley defence in search of a win- ning goal, her effort was kept out by
goalkeeper Ailish Considine and it was enough to earn Kilmaley their third minor title in three years.