Naas U14 Girls Contest Leinster Final
Naas U14 Girls Contest Leinster Final
June 23, 2008
What a day, what an adventure. It is often said that the three qualities that teams exhibit that make their clubs most proud are courage, tenacity and skill. It takes courage to stand up to the physical demands of Gaelic football and sometimes to stand up to those who would rather play a little outside the rules. It takes tenacity and self belief to go after a victory, when the standard is very even and the effort to do so is great. And for all of the courage and tenacity, success at the higher levels can only be attained when the necessary skills have been developed and honed and put into effective use, to translate that honest endeavour into the scores that ultimately dictate the outcome.
Tick all of the boxes. Naas GAA club is proud of its Under 14 girls’ team and of how they conducted themselves throughout a marvellous day’s football in the Feile Laighean tournament on Saturday last, May 31st 2008.
The day opened in glorious sunshine in St. Conleth’s park where the parade assembled. This is a marvellous component of the Feile events, whether at provincial or national level, where for an hour or so, clubs mingle in a context free of competition where old acquaintances are renewed and friendship and joviality is king. Parading through Newbridge, past the reviewing stand and onwards up the town was fun. Girls groups, in particular brought colour and song and life to the occasion. Then it was time for the games to begin.
The Naas girls were based in Sarsfields GAA club, where the division 1 group would be staged. This group featured Arklow who were Wicklow champions, Ballyboden St. Endas and Kilmacud Crokes who were champions and runner up in Dublin, respectively, Boardsmill, the Meath champions and the top four teams in Kildare, Sarsfields, Eadestown, Naas and Balyna. In their opening game, Naas faced Arklow. With traffic delays arising from the parade, there was very little time for either team to warm up properly and so the performance of both teams in this game was below what it should have been. However, the outcome of the first game was largely immaterial to the outcome of the group, and so the game itself was in effect a warm up. Arklow came out on top on a score line of 4-4 to 1-2, and although the Naas girls were a little despondent about this outcome, there really was no need.
After a break of more than an hour, in which the Naas girls took welcome relief from the searing heat, they next faced Kilmacud Crokes who had narrowly defeated Eadestown. In a cracking game, where the will to win was as big a factor as any other, Naas battled out a 1 goal victory on a scoreline of 3-2 to 2-2. It’s often the forwards that are complimented on getting the scores that win games, but the hero of this encounter was undoubtedly goalkeeper and captain, Aoife Hederman, who threw herself full length in the dying seconds to save at the foot of the post and to deny Kilmacud what seemed a guarantee of extra time.
And so on to a semi-final contest with Sarsfields, a repeat of the semi-final of the Kildare county Feile from which Sarsfields had emerged victorious by a margin of a single point before claiming the title with a clear win over Eadestown. The narrow margin of the previous game seemed to have been forgotten and the hype that accompanied ultimate victory in the County Feile may have resulted a degree of overconfidence among the Newbridge girls and some of the comments in the lead up to the game suggested that they considered this a mere formality. Reality dawned quickly as a titanic battle unfolded. Sarsfields, playing with a fresh breeze knocked over a couple of early points, but Naas were very much in the game and Ellen Taite knocked over a free kick in reply. At half time the scoreline read 0-4 to 0-1 in favour of ‘the sash’ but Naas closed the gap with a clever point directly from the re-start. Sarsfields had managed to restore a 3 point lead when Amy Hyland, now operating at full forward for Naas, rounded the Sarsfields goalie and with an open goal beckoning was hauled unceremoniously to the ground. Referee Pat O’Connell had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and despite the unsporting antics of the goalkeeper, Ellen Taite remained composed to smash home an equalising goal. Five minutes remained, the pendulum had swung in favour of the Naas girls and a place in the final was there for the winning. Courage, tenacity and skill; in such circumstances are they tested. Naas continued to battle and began to exert dominance in centre field where Sarsfields had once looked invincible. Defence was resolute, midfield was rampant and Naas took a deserved lead when another Ellen Taite free kick dropped under the crossbar. It would have been a good point, it was a fortunate goal, but on such scores do championships hinge. Luck had nothing to do with the next Naas score which essentially ended the contest. Midfielder, Brid Doolan made a spectacular catch from a Sarsfield’s kick out and sent a direct pass into the full forward line. The Sarsfields goalkeeper left her line to attempt an interception, but, Aisling Breslin, who had been lively all day, made another fine catch above her head and drove the ball to an empty net. With one minute to go, it was all over bar the proverbial shouting and although Roisin Byrne managed to pull a goal back for the Sash, the referee’s final whistle signalled a well deserved victory and a place in the Leinster final.
The other semi final had gone to extra time before Arklow had pulled away from a great Ballyboden challenge to book their slot in the final. And so ironically, the last game of the day was a repeat of the first game and the teams made their way back to St. Conleth’s park where the festivities had originally begun. It was a proud moment as the girls from Naas paraded into the county grounds, in lines behind their banner, as they had left it some hours before.
Although Arklow had won the earlier game with a degree of comfort, the final was a more even affair. Arklow opened with an early goal and followed with a point, but a Jenny Paine point and an Aine Cummin’s goal levelled the scores. Arklow responded with a second goal before Briona Hoban notched a second point for Naas. At half time, the score board showed a very even contest, Arklow 2-1, Naas 1-2. Three scores each and everything very much to play for. Unfortunately, the half time break broke the rhythm of the Naas girls and they never really got it back. Midfield became the decisive area and Arklow were very strong in this department. The second half became one sided as Naas battled hard, but the strongest and arguably the best team in the division came through in the final 15 minutes and recorded scores that Naas couldn’t answer. At the end the scoreline of 5-3 to 1-2 seemed a little harsh on Naas, but the better team had won the day and had won it with style, grace and honour. They were a smashing team and deserved the title of Leinster Champions. To their credit, the girls from Naas continued to battle to the very end and conducted themselves with dignity in defeat.
And so ended a marvellous festival of football for the Naas Under 14 girls. They will forever claim the honour of representing Naas GAA club in a Leinster Final and they deserve this honour. (Interestingly, the only other Ladies Football team ever to do so was also in Feile Laighean, when Wicklow hosted the tournament in 2005.) Their adventure will long be remembered by the great crowd of parents and friends that followed their exploits throughout the day and by the additional club members who had been with the Naas boys’ teams during their competitions and who rushed across the county to support the girls in the final. If courage, tenacity and skill are the ingredients, then enjoyment, camaraderie and pride should be the product. Congratulations girls. You’ve really hit the spot.