Myshall 3-9
Scariff/Ogonnolloe 0-8
Two goals in the dying embers of a hard-fought encounter confirmed Myshall’s supremacy over Scariff/Ogonnolloe and saw them retain the AIB All-Ireland junior club title at Kilcormac writes Daragh Ó Conchúir.
Ciara Quirke ran riot for the champions, the youngster showing the benefit of having the bank of experience from last year’s final, when she went on to make an important contribution despite uncharacteristically missing a number of early frees.
Nerves weren’t a factor on this occasion though, as the Carlow star – whose mother, Nuala also lined out – scored 2-7, with the goals a fitting adornment to any All-Ireland final.
With the half-back line of Kate, Michelle and Breege Nolan maintaining the dominance they have exerted all season, Scariff/Ogonnolloe never looked like getting the goals they needed to be victorious.
Both defences held the upper hand in the opening period, with scores at an absolute premium. Ciara Mullins got Myshall off to a positive start but the accurate Mairéad Scanlon, who finished with five points, equalised.
A foul on Mullins gave Quirke her first score but once more Scariff/Ogonnolloe’s riposte was good, this time courtesy of Róisín O’Brien. Danielle Sheedy played an important role in that score and was on the mark herself to give her side the lead for the first – but alas for them, the only time.
A brilliant save from Aisling Corbett came at the expense of a 45, which yielded a point to Quirke, and the Myshall centre-forward followed up with a fine score on the run. An injury-time point from Olivia Maye made it 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.
The second half was a nip-and-tuck affair too, with Scanlon and Quirke exchanging early scores.
Corbett made another stupendous save but there was nothing she could do when Quirke unleashed a blistering shot at the three-quarter mark, at the end of a coruscating run from the middle of the field.
That put five points between the sides but the Clare team didn’t get to this juncture without having endless reserves of determination to go with their ability. A brace of points from Scanlon reduced the margin to three and it was still, very much all to play for.
Quirke and Sheedy, and then Quirke and Scanlon made sure that that was how it remained until Myshall made sure in the most stunning fashion possible, blitzing Scariff/Ogonnolloe with two goals in a minute.
Another unstoppable shot from Quirke in the 59th minute gave the winners some very welcome breathing space and from the next passage of play, Olivia Jordan pounced to remove all doubt.
SCORERS FOR MYSHALL: C Quirke 2-7 (0-2fs, 0-1 45); O Jordan 1-0; C Mullins, O Maye 0-1 each
SCORERS FOR SCARIFF/OGONNOLLOE: M Scanlon 0-5 (3fs, 1 45), D Sheedy 0-2, R O’Brien 0-1
MYSHALL: J Joyce, N Quirke, M Doyle, F Jordan, K Nolan, M Nolan, B Nolan, C Mullins, T Wilson, L Doyle, C Quirke, O Jordan, O Maye, C Folely, A Ruschitzko
SCARIFF/OGONNOLLOE: A Corbett, S Daly, R O’Brien, L Horan, M Vaughan, M O’Brien, S McNamara, S Vaughan, S Madden, R Moloney, D Sheedy, M Scanlon, S O’Donnell, A Thornton, R O’Brien. Sub: A Minogue for Thornton (56)
REFEREE: R Kelly (Kildare)
