11 December 2010
Fr Davies Cup final :
St Louis, Ballymena 6-9 St Killian’s, Garron Tower 3-3
St Louis Ballymena picked up their sixth Fr Davies’ Cup title in 12 seasons with a strong second half in the north Antrim derby final in Cushendall on Saturday.
Superior in many areas of the field, they did not really convert that territorial advantage into scores until the last quarter when two goals each from Portglenone pair Anna Kelly and Kiara Duffin pulled them well clear.
The St Louis defence held firm throughout although there was always danger when Ashling Ward gained possession near their goals.
Her marker Lauren Elliott though had a strong game as had Maria Lynn and Eimear McGarry in the half-back line.
Antrim All-Ireland medallist Chloe Drain worked hard at midfield and took a couple of excellent points in the first half, while up front Kiara Duffin’s and Niamh Doherty’s forceful play created openings for scores, and full-forward Anna Kelly put those chances away late on.
St Killian’s did not give in easily however and the work-rate of the whole team and Maeve Connolly, Danielle Scally and Colleen Patterson in particular made St Louis earn their crown.
St Killian’s opened strongly and were two points up through Brogan Abram before St Louis got off the mark with an 11th minute goal from Anna Kelly.
Chloe Drain added two points as St Louis took control and they led by 1-6 to 0-3 at the break.
A goal in the second minute of the second half from Ashling Ward closed the game down significantly but before St Killian’s could build on it, Chloe Bartley flashed in a St Louis goal.
A few minutes later and Ward responded with her second goal and at 2-7 to 2-3, her team had a real chance.
They couldn’t add to that scoreline however during the next 10 minutes and then St Louis took off to clinch the game with Kelly’s 48th minute strike.
Two more goals followed from Kiara Duffin, before Ashling Ward once more broke from the clutches of Lauren Elliott to remind St Louis that everything was not done and dusted.
It was however a consolation score and Anna Kelly cancelled it out by completing her hat-trick with 2 mintues left.
St Louis are now through to the All-Ireland semi-final against the Munster champions in February.
But in an unexpected twist, the withdrawal of Connacht from the All-Ireland series this year means that St Killian’s will get a back-door chance at the All-Ireland when, at the end of January, they face the Munster runners-up in a quarter-final arranged to fill out the semi-final line-up.
St Louis : Noleen McCloskey, Nuala McQuillan, Lauren Elliott, Kathryn Bradley, Maria Lynn, Shannon Woulahan, Eimear McGarry, Chloe Drain 0-2, Shauna Devlin, Kiara Duffin 2-2, Aimee McAtamney 0-3, 0-2 frees, Niamh Doherty, Rioghnach McNaughton, Anna Kelly 3-1, Chloe Bartley 1-1.
Subs : Anna Kearney for S Devlin, Cara McIntyre for C Bartley, Darcy Brady for M Lynn, Gemma Mooney, Helen McGhee, Jane McKee, Úna McAleenan, Ellen Gribben.
St Killian’s : Cailin Quinn, Kiera Kerr, Noleen Cosgrove, Oonagh Ward, Róisín O’Kane, Danielle Scally, Kerry O’Boyle, Maeve Connolly capt., Colleen Patterson, Brogan Abram 0-3 frees, Bernadette Convery, Erin McAleese, Sinead Cosgrove, Ashling Ward 3-0, Emma McCambridge.
Subs : Catriona McCarry for R O’Kane, Eimhear McAleenan for E McCambridge, Catriona McKay for E McAleese, Emma Campbell, Joan Kearney, Clare Kearney, Leah Cosgrove, Tierna Carson, Danielle O’Hagan, Dervla Cosgrove, Sinéad Convery, Sarah Kane, Soracha Cosgrove.
