St. Brigids intermediates took on Gowran in the last round of league games on the 17th September in Kilmanagh. After having played each other in a challenge game in March and also in the All-County league in June they knew it would be a fierce challenge. It was intense from the start with a tough battle in the middle of the field from the off.
Three minutes in, Gowran started the scoring with a lobbed ball into their forwards that ended up in the back of the net. Five minutes later Aisling Dunphy answered this with her own goal from a free which leveled the sides with eight minutes gone. Bronagh Neary came up from the goal to score her first point of the day from a free three minutes later and Gowran answered this with a point from the left wing. Bronagh and Aisling both added points to the tally which left St. Brigid’s two points ahead. Nicola Butler then came on for Ann Doheny and was a strong addition to the backs who were under pressure throughout the half. Gowran came running at the backs and scored 1-2 in three minutes but the girls stayed fighting and Eimear Keoghan and Laura Hennessy both added points to their score in reply. Gowran finished off the first half with another point which left the score at half time as 2-5 to 1-5.
Gowran kicked off the scoring in the second half within the first minute with a point. Marie Doheny won the ball from the puck out and replied with her own well taken point soon after. Eimear added another point seven minutes in but this was to be the last St. Brigid’s score for nearly 17 minutes. In this time Gowran took over and scored five more points. This left the score at 2-11 to 1-7 but the girls didn’t give up and with seven minutes to go, Eimear Keoghan went on a rampage through the Gowran backs and scored a fantastic goal. Gowran answered with another point but St. Brigid’s cancelled this out. Gowran scored a further two points but Bronagh came up from the goal to take two penalties which added 1-1 to the score but unfortunately it was too late, missing out by two points in the end. Final score was 2-14 to 3-9.
Team and scorers: Bronagh Neary (1-3, 2 frees, 2 pen) Tara Hogan, Sarah Mockler, Tara Walsh, Ann Doheny, Amy O’Connor, Caoimhe Murphy, Laoise Prendiville, Laura Hennessy(0-1), Eimear Keoghan (1-3 1 free), Aisling Dunphy (1-1, 1 free) Laureena Murphy, Katie Brennan, Sarah Dunphy, Marie Doheny (0-1).
Subs: Nicola Butler for Ann Doheny and Kym Ryan for Katie Brennan. Miriam Walton, Anna Robinson, Claire Quigley, Christine Caldbeck, Emma Boland, Niamh O’Connor, Kayleigh Nolan.