Coláiste an Chraoibhín 1-12 Scoil Mhuire Kanturk 1-9

Character: When all else fails this will get you through the tight games. This is what the Coláiste ladies football team showed in abundance in the group stages of the Munster championship when overcoming Scoil Mhuire, Kanturk in Fermoy last Tuesday.

Short three players from the last round against Mitchelstown, the home team were up against it from the start but it was that character which saw them over the line. A poor opening twenty minutes had Coláiste in trouble but it was the final forty which was the winning and losing of this game.

Coláiste opened the scoring when Maeve Sheehan carried into the danger area and sailed over a great score to start what would be a great individual performance from her. There then followed a period of dominance from the strong Kanturk side which put Coláiste in all kinds of bother. The concession of three points in succession left them reeling. Sarah Connolly stemmed the bleeding somewhat with a pointed effort from play but the Kanturk steam-train, which included former students of Coláiste – Sandra and Victoria O’Sullivan, really kicked into gear hereafter. A goal and three points in succession put them firmly in control of the contest and left Coláiste floundering against a seven point deficit.

They needed to up it on the run in to half-time and up it they did. Anna Geary started the ball rolling when she coolly finished a great effort to the net. Kanturk replied with a free but Coláiste’s positional switches began to kick into gear with Ciara Sheehan and Orla Shealy causing huge problems for the opposition and soon enough, the end of the first half would become the Danielle Carroll Collins show. Three points in a row cut the deficit to two points at the break and after a half where mistakes were compounded by other mistakes, Coláiste were relieved to still be in contention. Key to this was the resolute defending of the likes of the Nolan sisters Aisling and Emily, Sinead Fenton, Bláithín O’Keeffe and Lorna O’Driscoll.

Harsh truths were doled out at half-time with regard performance issues which the players took on board. Team captain Michelle Parker opened the scoring with a point from midfield and Orla Shealy followed suit to tie the game and the tie was blown wide open. Purple patches are to be expected when playing against quality opposition and this came from Kanturk who reopened the two point gap with two quick fire frees. These were to be their last scores of the game however as Coláiste went up through those famous gears they hear so much about!

Michelle in true lion hearted spirit, charged through for her second point and a Danielle free won by Lorna tied the game once again. It was Coláiste who had the bit between their teeth: Orla found herself at the end of a sweeping move to take the lead and Sarah Connolly was starting to dictate the play more and more. Danielle found the target again with her fifth point of the game with a beauty to put Coláiste two ahead. Ciara and Maeve Sheehan were having a strong impact on the game now and chances of goals were presenting themselves with Lianne Clancy unlucky not to score when denied by some last ditch defending. Another sweeping move saw Orla notch her third of the game to put three between the teams. It was to be a battle to the end with no quarter given or asked.

Typical of the type of game that was on display Michelle and her opposite number went all out for a breaking ball only to unfortunately collide leading to their removal from the game due to injury. We wish both players well on their recovery. Wiktoria Biedron replaced Michelle to see out the game and it was full of action to the final whistle. Kanturk launched a series of attacks but were repelled by the old guard at the back. Lorna and Aoiffe Llewellyn snuffed out any attack that was launched and when it look like Kanturk had breached the rear-guard they were met by Cork star Olivia Cahill who flew from goals to make a spectacular save.

Kanturk in true die-hard fashion continued to the end but could not find their way through. When the final whistle went it was met with relief by the Fermoy side. They say a good team can win when not playing to their potential. For a third of the game, Coláiste were below par but hung on in so that when the gears kicked in, they were within range to strike. All boils down to character!

Team: Olivia Cahill, Emily Nolan, Sinead Fenton, Aoiffe Llewellyn, Ciara Sheehan, Lorna O’Driscoll, Bláithín O’Keeffe, Michelle Parker, Aisling Nolan, Maeve Sheehan, Sarah Connolly, Danielle Carroll Collins, Lianne Clancy, Orla Shealy, Anna Greaney, Wiktoria Biedron, Cáit McCarthy, Katie Flynn and Emer Forde.