Harps started strong, putting pressure on the Moore’s backs straight away with Blaithnaid Deegan and Katie Healy taking some chances but there was no reward coming. O Moores had a chance with a free but it sailed wide. In the fifth minute, Lucy O Connor opened the scoring for Harps with a well taken point after working very hard to dispossess O Moore’s backs. O Moore’s Amy McKane matched this with a point from a 30 yard free.
From the puck out O Moores attacked again. Grace McEvoy and McKane linked up well and left Cara Henderson with no chance as McKane struck to the back of the net. More pressure on the Harps backs led to a free in for O Moores. Deirbhile C Fennell managed to strike this one to the back of the net also. The O Moore’s girls were looking strong at this point with 2.1 scored now against Harp’s 1 point. Una Brophy continued to work hard at centre back and eventually sailed a free over the bar to add another point for the Harps. In the 15th minute O Moores added a point from a free.
Rachel Deegan, Katie Healy and Amy Lacey continued to try hard but Harps were struggling to get the scores with full back Ellen Conroy full back in top form for O’Moores. Eventually Harps broke their defence down. Lucy O Connor won possession, bet her marker, soloed through and struck low. O Moore’s goalie, Kim Fitzpatrick, managed to save this effort only to be bet by Lisa Kirby who finished it off into the back of the net. Five minutes later, after more attacks by Harps, Una Brophy sent a 45 over the bar leaving the half time score: O Moore’s 2.02 The Harps 1.03.
The second half proved to be a different affair with Harps looking more clinical up front and tighter in defence. In fact, O‘Moores were not to score again in this match as the Harps upped their game all over the field. Cara Henderson pulled off two excellent saves in this half with the first save coming in the fifth minute. Her puck outs were distinctly strong also for an u14 reaching the mid field line every time. Harp’s forwards and midfield line continued to attack and attack showing superb fitness levels and were eventually rewarded with a Brophy point from a 45. The hard working Emma Delaney won another free which was duly converted by Brophy to level the game. Delaney and Kirby linked up well to allow Kirby to solo through and deliver a superb shot past the O’ Moore’s keeper.
Lucy O Connor added a goal of her own to give the Harps a 6 point lead. Some more attacks by O’Moore’s were dealt with well by Harp’s backs with Orlaith Whyte and Kayla Dwyer in top form. In the 10th minute, O Connor delivered to a good ball into Blaithnaid Deegan who made no mistake in sending it over the bar. Brophy delivered another 45 over the bar with O Connor adding another goal. O’ Moores kept their attacks going but Harp’s goalie and full back line worked well to keep them scoreless. O Connor added another two points to finish the scoring at 4.09 to 2.02. For the remaining ten minutes the ball was up and down the field as Harps held on to win the Laois U14 title.
Scorers: Harps: Lucy o Connor 2.3, Lisa Kirby 2.0, Una Brophy 0.5 (5 frees), Blaithnaid Deegan 0.1. O Moores: Amy McKane 1.2 (0.1 frees) Deirbhile C Fennell 1.0
The Harps: Cara Henderson, Kayla Dwyer, Ella Henderson, Abbi Gibbons, Orlaith Whyte, Una Brophy, Caoimhe Doheny, Emma Delaney, Aislinn Townsend, Katie Healy, Amy Lacey, Rachel Deegan, Blaithnaid Deegan, Lucy O Connor, Lisa Kirby. Subs: Abbi Townsend for Caoimhe Doheny Rachael Dollard for Katie Healy. Brid Drennan, Emma Delahunty, Eva Dunphy, Georgie Holland Rome, Aoife Gee, Orla Holland, Eadaoin Whyte, Mia Henderson, Catherine Kirby, Aoife Kirby.
O Moores: Kim Fitrzpatrick, Ciara Conroy, Ellen Conroy, Eve Murphy, Deirbhile C Fennell, Orla Whelan, Katie Smyth, Aisling Mc Evoy, Lucy Conroy, Amy McKane, Amy Flanagan, Caoimhe Egan, Grace McEvoy, Emer Dunne, Ellen Rowney.
Report by Joan Dollard