A battle to the finish but in the end Douglas just about hung out to take the 2007 Senior B league title to complete the B double for 2007 in Ballinlough on Wednesday last. A very determined Rockban side who many had pencilled in to be county champions last season made the team who will participate in Senior A for 2008 fight all the way before the double was secured and on their performance they will be formidable opponents for anybody in the season ahead.
Earlier in the week Rockban had defeated Eire OG while Douglas accounted for Carrigaline and the scene was set for the grand finale. From the throw in there was little between the sides as both battled it out for the title. Jenny O’Donovan gave Douglas and early lead with a point but Sile Burns pointed a Rockban free in quick response. With both sides picking off points it was nip and tuck but a Moira O Donovan goal eight minutes from the break gave Douglas a 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead.
Inside four minutes of the restart Rockban had cut the deficit with points from Valerie Mulcahy and Elaine Casey. Douglas upped the tempo as Katriona Mackey pointed two frees between the eight and twenty fifth minuet goalkeeper Jessica Kavanagh denying Rockban with an excellent save before Aileen O Donovan knocked over a point to increase the lead to four points.
Rockban battled on and refused to give up and when Valerie Mulcahy grabbed a goal with four minutes remaining they were back in the game. Jenny O Donovan gave Douglas breathing space with a point but again Rockban replied as Elaine Casey pointed. With Rockban searching for an equaliser it wasn’t to be as the Douglas defence held firm to secure the title with the minimum to spare.
Scorers for Douglas
K Mackey 0-5 (0-3f 0-1 45″”), M O Donovan 1-0, J O Donovan 0-2 A O Regan (f) A O Donovan 0-1each
Rockban S Burns 0-3 (0-2 f 0-1p), V Mulcahy 1-1, E Casey 0-3, L Crowley 0-1
DOUGLAS
J. Kavanagh, S O’ Regan, F McSweeney P Mackey; A Barrett, A O’ Regan, L O’ Regan; J O’Donovan, H O’ Mahony; S O’Brien, H O’Connor, K Mackey; E Morgan, M O’ Donovan Jordan
Subs. N O’ Donovan for Helen O’ Mahony (40) A O’Donovan for S O’Brien (41)
ROCKBAN E Harte; M Burns , S Keohane , M O Keeffe; C Foley, Catriona Foley, N Keohane; D Foley, L Crowley, E Casey, V Mulcahy, M Howard, M Mc Sweeney S Burns C Coleman
Referee – Peter Downey Inniscarra
Report submitted by Mary Newman
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