Wicklow glory, in National League Blitz Division 5 Final.
FORMER Kildare player Liz O’Donohue – Byrne has done it all now, having guided county Wicklow to National League Division 5 honours on Sunday in Bray Emmets, Bray,Co. Wicklow following their 2-7 to 1-1 win over Monaghan in the final.
Liz,the holder of two All-Ireland junior medals and four National League medals guided the Garden county to their first League title with wins over Cavan, Mayo and also Monaghan in the first round. Wicklow were in control of the final from the throw in following a second minute point from top scorer Geraldine Norton who was very impressive in the forwards notching up a total of 2-4 and narrowly missing a third goal which went inches wide in the second half.
Monaghan who have twice put their name on the trophy in 2006 and 2007 fought all the way and were just three points in arrears at the break 0-1 to Wicklow’s 0-4 following their only first half scorer, Marie Greenan who sent over their free midway.
It was the visitors who got the best possible start to the second half with a goal inside the opening minute from Lorraine Mc Kenna. However, that became their last score as a tight Wicklow defence made life difficult for the Monaghan forwards. Ann-Marie Doran was in top form for the host county in midfield and made sure of a constant supply of the sliotar to the forwards where corner forward SinÚad Byrne never gave up until the final whistle.
Monaghan appeared to be in trouble when Geraldine Norton got her first goal just five minutes into the second half to leave it, Wicklow 1-5, Monaghan 1-1. With ten minutes left on the clock, Pamela Maher gained possession and she found the waiting Geraldine Norton who smashed to the Monaghan net. That score meant no going back for Wicklow and so the hosts took their first ever National League title in style.
Results:
Monaghan 3-5, Wicklow 1-9
Monaghan 4-1, Mayo 0-3
Wicklow 2-7, Cavan 3-2
Cavan 3-3, Mayo 0-2
Monaghan 2-6, Cavan 0-5
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