The Broadford U16 Camogie team played Kilmaley on Wednesday evening in the Under 16’s Semi-Final; which took place in Clarecastle.
Whilst Kilmaley won the match with a final score of 4-07 to Broadfords’s 5-02, Broadford’s triumph and sheer determination in the second half of the match just cannot be overstated and demonstrated that this team are made of sterner stuff.
Twenty minutes in the first half and Broadford were without a score to Kilmaley’s score line of 2-04. This however was not for want of trying. A number of long pucks from Zoe O’Keefe and Aoife Vaughan were received and kept in play by Susan O’Shea and Moya Marsh who tried to make the most of the opportunities but were unable to break Kilmaley’s strong defensive play; yet coming close to goals a number of times. This, along with Broadford’s own hard-played defence with some notable blocks from Apryl O’Regan and Goalie Aoife Boland ensured that Kilmaley had to work hard to achieve their bounty. A free taken by Anna-Lee Marsh and one over the bar from play for Cathriona Millane helped lift Broadford’s spirits though, with the halftime score at 0-02 to 2-05.
Maybe the Broadford girls overcame their initial nervousness in the first half, or maybe the great encouragement they received from mentors Deirdre Boland, Regina Heffernan and Anne Marsh during halftime helped to give them that extra bit of confidence. Whatever the explanation, Broadford came back fighting for the second-half. Zoe O’Keefe, Aoife O’Brien and Anna-Lee Marsh ensured the ball was kept in play along sidelines and heading in the right direction for Broadford but Kilmaley claimed the first score of the second half with another goal. However, from the depths of adversity Susan O’Shea scored the first goal for Broadford after a fine solo run and pass from Cathriona Millane. This was then soon followed by a second goal, this time from Alexandra Troy and a third at the ten minute mark from Anna-Lee Marsh. Three goals in succession without reply (3-02 to 3-05) and Broadford was well a truly back in the game! With Kilmaley’s lead reduced the excitement on the sidelines was palpable as the two teams battled it out. With the weather and light deteriorating the prospects of a stunning comeback for Broadford seemed to slip away again with points from a free, a 45 and a further goal in succession put Kilmaley ahead again by eight points (3-02 to 4-07) with less than ten minutes left on the clock. A free taken inside of 45m gave Broadford a late opportunity though and Alexandra Troy went for goal with the Kilmaley girls lined up in defence of the net but the a ball is knocked forward and back in to play and ultimately goes wide. A 45 and another shot for Alexandra and the ball drops in front of the goal. Players storm in to defend and attack in equal measure but Anna-Lee Marsh gets the goal for Broadford. Heading in to extra time and both teams send the ball up and down the pitch in equal measure, including fine solo runs for Aoife Vaughan and Aoife O’Brien running through the Kilmaley defences and the Broadford defences denying Kilmaley two serious goal opportunities. However In the very last throws of play Braodford secures the last goal in an act of final defiance. Final score 5-02 to 4-07.
The Kilamey team were a strong opponents and dealt Broadford a bruising first half but the Broadford girls triumphed over adversity in the second half to drastically reduce Kilmaley’s lead and keep Kilmaley fighting for their victory. The Broadford team left the field at the end of the match disappointed but truly admired by their supporters and opponents alike. Bad luck girls.
Whilst Kilmaley won the match with a final score of 4-07 to Broadfords’s 5-02, Broadford’s triumph and sheer determination in the second half of the match just cannot be overstated and demonstrated that this team are made of sterner stuff.
Twenty minutes in the first half and Broadford were without a score to Kilmaley’s score line of 2-04. This however was not for want of trying. A number of long pucks from Zoe O’Keefe and Aoife Vaughan were received and kept in play by Susan O’Shea and Moya Marsh who tried to make the most of the opportunities but were unable to break Kilmaley’s strong defensive play; yet coming close to goals a number of times. This, along with Broadford’s own hard-played defence with some notable blocks from Apryl O’Regan and Goalie Aoife Boland ensured that Kilmaley had to work hard to achieve their bounty. A free taken by Anna-Lee Marsh and one over the bar from play for Cathriona Millane helped lift Broadford’s spirits though, with the halftime score at 0-02 to 2-05.
Maybe the Broadford girls overcame their initial nervousness in the first half, or maybe the great encouragement they received from mentors Deirdre Boland, Regina Heffernan and Anne Marsh during halftime helped to give them that extra bit of confidence. Whatever the explanation, Broadford came back fighting for the second-half. Zoe O’Keefe, Aoife O’Brien and Anna-Lee Marsh ensured the ball was kept in play along sidelines and heading in the right direction for Broadford but Kilmaley claimed the first score of the second half with another goal. However, from the depths of adversity Susan O’Shea scored the first goal for Broadford after a fine solo run and pass from Cathriona Millane. This was then soon followed by a second goal, this time from Alexandra Troy and a third at the ten minute mark from Anna-Lee Marsh. Three goals in succession without reply (3-02 to 3-05) and Broadford was well a truly back in the game! With Kilmaley’s lead reduced the excitement on the sidelines was palpable as the two teams battled it out. With the weather and light deteriorating the prospects of a stunning comeback for Broadford seemed to slip away again with points from a free, a 45 and a further goal in succession put Kilmaley ahead again by eight points (3-02 to 4-07) with less than ten minutes left on the clock. A free taken inside of 45m gave Broadford a late opportunity though and Alexandra Troy went for goal with the Kilmaley girls lined up in defence of the net but the a ball is knocked forward and back in to play and ultimately goes wide. A 45 and another shot for Alexandra and the ball drops in front of the goal. Players storm in to defend and attack in equal measure but Anna-Lee Marsh gets the goal for Broadford. Heading in to extra time and both teams send the ball up and down the pitch in equal measure, including fine solo runs for Aoife Vaughan and Aoife O’Brien running through the Kilmaley defences and the Broadford defences denying Kilmaley two serious goal opportunities. However In the very last throws of play Braodford secures the last goal in an act of final defiance. Final score 5-02 to 4-07.
The Kilamey team were a strong opponents and dealt Broadford a bruising first half but the Broadford girls triumphed over adversity in the second half to drastically reduce Kilmaley’s lead and keep Kilmaley fighting for their victory. The Broadford team left the field at the end of the match disappointed but truly admired by their supporters and opponents alike. Bad luck girls.