Broadford played host to Wolfe Tones on Saturday in the Camogie Junior A Cup Semi-Final.
Broadford looked to take a dominant stance in the first minute of play, attacking up in to Wolfe Tones’ defence but Wolfe Tones had other ideas; establishing a four point lead over the next six minutes to make it clear that the visitors meant business. Broadford played well under pressure and had the advantage on a number of occasions but the difference was Wolfe Tones ability to gain possession and follow through.
A free for Aoife Dillon from 45m provided the first point for Broadford but a fine puck out by the Wolfe Tones goalie down the centre of the field was quickly turned in to a goal scoring opportunity for Wolfe Tones giving them a six point lead by eleven minutes of play (0-01 to 1-04).
Then, in a span of just three minutes, Aoife Dillon claimed two further points from frees and then after a pass from Áine Ryan, Aoife stormed through Wolfe Tones’ defensive lines to claim a goal for Broadford (1-03 to 1-04). A throw-in in front of the Broadford camp, after a potential side line ball was disputed, led to intensive play around the Wolfe Tones’ goal and a fine save from the goalie after Moya McMahon tried to send one to the back of the net from 10m.
Play continued for the next five minutes with no scores but with plenty of action until a Wolfe Tones side line cut was intercepted by Broadford and the ball sent to Caroline F Moloney who went on a solo run from the 45m line and up to the Wolfe Tones square and then slammed the ball in to the back of the net. Broadford were now two points ahead after coming back from six points behind but the lead was short lived after Wolfe Tones responded with a goal from a free in the 24th minute.
With play back deep in the Wolfe Tones’ defence a foul was called as Broadford were applying pressure in the square. Aoife Dillon took the free in but the ball hit the post and bounced back in to play. Wolfe Tones however were not so unlucky with their free in the last seconds of the first half and claimed the last point before the whistle blew. Halftime score 2-03 to 2-05.
All to play for in the second half and a goal for Siobhan O’Connell after Niamh Mulqueen sent the ball down the field gave Broadford a great start and a lead of one point. A point from play in the eighth minute gave Wolfe Tones their first score in the second half.
Ten minutes in and Aoife Dillon is blocked on her on solo run up the field leading to a free from 45m which she sends easily of over the bar. This is closely followed by a free for Wolfe Tones and the ball is dropped in front of the Broadford goal but nicely blocked and sent back down the field to Niamh Mulqueen, then on to Caroline F Moloney’s who takes the ball further on its journey before sending on again to Aiofe Dillon to send it to the back of the net for Broadford’s fourth goal in a great display of teamwork and devastating coordination (4-04 to 2-06). Wolfe Tones don’t take long though to respond with a goal of their own and cutting Broadford’s lead down to just one point.
Six minutes of further play with both teams creating opportunities but unable to follow through with scores for their efforts. Nineteen minutes in and Niamh Mulqueen has possession again around the 45m line and sends the ball diagonally across to Aoife Dillon who takes it on a short run and sends it low in the air towards the goal. The Wolfe Tones goalie reaches high and attempts to deflect the ball but it slides in under the bar and in to the net (5-04 to 3-06). Four points ahead again but the way in which this game has played out so far would surely prevent anyone from trying to call the final result with over ten minutes of normal time still on the clock.
Nail biting stuff by anyone’s standard and Wolfe Tones take the opportunity to heap on the pressure in front of Broadford’s Goal but their attempts are thwarted by Broadford’s strong defence but manage one point from a free for their efforts.
Broadford manages to hold firm and keep their nerve despite Wolfe Tones best efforts and in the end the final score is achieved by a point from play and a 65 both for Aoife Dillon, a point from play for Siobhan O’Connell and a final goal from Caroline F Moloney in extra time following a great solo run from Aoife Vaughan before sending the ball to Caroline. Final score 6-07 to 3-07.
This was a truly exciting match between two strong and forceful teams and at no stage could either team really feel they had this one in the bag. Bad luck to Wolfe Tones and truly well done Broadford.
Broadford looked to take a dominant stance in the first minute of play, attacking up in to Wolfe Tones’ defence but Wolfe Tones had other ideas; establishing a four point lead over the next six minutes to make it clear that the visitors meant business. Broadford played well under pressure and had the advantage on a number of occasions but the difference was Wolfe Tones ability to gain possession and follow through.
A free for Aoife Dillon from 45m provided the first point for Broadford but a fine puck out by the Wolfe Tones goalie down the centre of the field was quickly turned in to a goal scoring opportunity for Wolfe Tones giving them a six point lead by eleven minutes of play (0-01 to 1-04).
Then, in a span of just three minutes, Aoife Dillon claimed two further points from frees and then after a pass from Áine Ryan, Aoife stormed through Wolfe Tones’ defensive lines to claim a goal for Broadford (1-03 to 1-04). A throw-in in front of the Broadford camp, after a potential side line ball was disputed, led to intensive play around the Wolfe Tones’ goal and a fine save from the goalie after Moya McMahon tried to send one to the back of the net from 10m.
Play continued for the next five minutes with no scores but with plenty of action until a Wolfe Tones side line cut was intercepted by Broadford and the ball sent to Caroline F Moloney who went on a solo run from the 45m line and up to the Wolfe Tones square and then slammed the ball in to the back of the net. Broadford were now two points ahead after coming back from six points behind but the lead was short lived after Wolfe Tones responded with a goal from a free in the 24th minute.
With play back deep in the Wolfe Tones’ defence a foul was called as Broadford were applying pressure in the square. Aoife Dillon took the free in but the ball hit the post and bounced back in to play. Wolfe Tones however were not so unlucky with their free in the last seconds of the first half and claimed the last point before the whistle blew. Halftime score 2-03 to 2-05.
All to play for in the second half and a goal for Siobhan O’Connell after Niamh Mulqueen sent the ball down the field gave Broadford a great start and a lead of one point. A point from play in the eighth minute gave Wolfe Tones their first score in the second half.
Ten minutes in and Aoife Dillon is blocked on her on solo run up the field leading to a free from 45m which she sends easily of over the bar. This is closely followed by a free for Wolfe Tones and the ball is dropped in front of the Broadford goal but nicely blocked and sent back down the field to Niamh Mulqueen, then on to Caroline F Moloney’s who takes the ball further on its journey before sending on again to Aiofe Dillon to send it to the back of the net for Broadford’s fourth goal in a great display of teamwork and devastating coordination (4-04 to 2-06). Wolfe Tones don’t take long though to respond with a goal of their own and cutting Broadford’s lead down to just one point.
Six minutes of further play with both teams creating opportunities but unable to follow through with scores for their efforts. Nineteen minutes in and Niamh Mulqueen has possession again around the 45m line and sends the ball diagonally across to Aoife Dillon who takes it on a short run and sends it low in the air towards the goal. The Wolfe Tones goalie reaches high and attempts to deflect the ball but it slides in under the bar and in to the net (5-04 to 3-06). Four points ahead again but the way in which this game has played out so far would surely prevent anyone from trying to call the final result with over ten minutes of normal time still on the clock.
Nail biting stuff by anyone’s standard and Wolfe Tones take the opportunity to heap on the pressure in front of Broadford’s Goal but their attempts are thwarted by Broadford’s strong defence but manage one point from a free for their efforts.
Broadford manages to hold firm and keep their nerve despite Wolfe Tones best efforts and in the end the final score is achieved by a point from play and a 65 both for Aoife Dillon, a point from play for Siobhan O’Connell and a final goal from Caroline F Moloney in extra time following a great solo run from Aoife Vaughan before sending the ball to Caroline. Final score 6-07 to 3-07.
This was a truly exciting match between two strong and forceful teams and at no stage could either team really feel they had this one in the bag. Bad luck to Wolfe Tones and truly well done Broadford.