Kilcullen/Athgarvan girls are u/16 GAA champions

U16 County Champions! Who would have believed that two small clubs like Kilcullen & Athgarvan would come together for girls football as St Brigid’s and not only challenge the bigger clubs like Sarsfields, Naas and St Laurence's in Division 1 but actually beat them to become U16 County Kildare Champions.

And so it came to pass on Saturday the 3rd of May as St Brigid’s lined out against St Laurence's on a dank and drizzly evening in Hawkfield. Laurence's started quickly out of the blocks and put up two points inside five minutes. But Brigid's didn't panic as halfback Grace O'Toole raced like a gazelle up the wing and lobbed a shot in over the Larries fullback which their goalie saw late as it hopped into the net. Nanci Murphy, Ellie O'Toole and a roving Katie Quigley got to grips with the Laurence's midfield and their hard won possession led to more attacks which yielded frees for Sam Cullen to convert one of which was a peach of a kick out from the far right corner.

The fullback line marshalled by Laura Quigley and ably supported by a tenacious Alannah Burke and hardworking Laura McMahon did well to keep the Larries from scoring goals in the first half. As Brigid's broke out of defence the ball was worked up to their forwards where Sam Cullen sent Kayleigh Humphreys through to blast the ball into the top corner. More followed from Brigid's and lively corner forward Jenny Kelly found Ellie O'Toole who fired over from the 21. Laurence's showed their mettle and when the dangerous Ciara Wheeler charged into the square Katelyn Hegarty Kelly put in a last gasp block to deny her a certain goal and the ball was cleared to safety.

St Brigid's reached the break with a four point lead and the Jaffa cakes were scoffed as the Brigid's management told their charges they were half an hour away from glory.

Well taken points from Nanci Murphy and Kayleigh Humphreys extended the Brigid's lead in the second half. Ciara Wheeler moved into centre half forward and into the welcoming arms of centre back Lisa Aspel who patrolled her line like a sentry. When Larries full forward Megan Grufferty broke through her rasping shot was pushed around the post by goalkeeper Niamh Doran. She came to Brigid's rescue again when she tipped another rocket onto the crossbar. Cleva Scully was winning critical possession at centre half forward and from that supply the industrious Aoibheann Treacy, Katie Brereton and Holly Hensey were proving a handful in the Brigid's full forward line.

Nanci Murphy and Katie Quigley hoovered up possession in the middle and Ellie O'Toole's mazy solo runs stretched the Larries defence to the limit. As they pushed forward to reduce the deficit the Larries left gaps at the back and when Jenny Kelly passed across the square to an unmarked Avril Glendon to deliver the coup de grace the Larries' goalkeeper just managed to get her shin in the way to spare her net.

St Laurence's Ciara Wheeler pulled back a goal after some hard work by Cliodhna O'Connor. With 5 minutes to go, in a nod to Mourinho, Brigid's parked not just the bus but the entire fleet in front of their posts. Laura Quigley, Nadia, Alannah Burke, Lisa Aspel, the irrepressible Katelyn Hegarty Kelly and Grace O'Toole put their backs to the wall and repelled repeated attacks. It was frenetic stuff with management encroaching deep into the field to exhort their players for one last big effort. As Lisa Aspel hoofed another clearance away from a packed goalmouth the final whistle sounded and a relieved St Brigid’s had prevailed 2-9 to 1-7.

This triumph was down to the tremendous effort of the entire panel and such players as Eve Ennis, Alex Leahy, Holly Duff, Nika Carey and Kate Timmons all made huge contributions during the course of this campaign. Such a singular achievement also would not have been possible without the unstinting support of the parents who time and again have been like an extra player at our matches. So congratulations to all our players and supporters as we look forward to more glory with the U15's in the autumn.

Trevor Howard, John Glendon, Jason Morris and Conor O'Toole
The Management of the U16 County Kildare Champions