Goals crucial as Cavan U14s fall at final hurdle against Tipp
U14 Silver All-Ireland final
Cavan 1-5
Tipperary 3-8
Aideen Coyle
After a mixed run of form in the early stages of the championship, Cavan U14’s had built positive upwards momentum as they cruised to an Ulster Silver title. After lifting silverware the side grew in confidence and maturity and deservedly advanced to the All-Ireland final on Sunday week last after dispatching Sligo and Kilkenny in the knock-out stages of the competition.
The side under the joint management of Debbie Lee Gaffney and Neil Kelly defeated Kilkenny 6-14 to 5-07 in the final four clash whilst their opposition brushed past Laois with a 4-08 to 0-09 victory. The two sides had previously met in round one of the Festival of football stages with Cavan beating the Munster side 3-03 to 0-07 on that occasion.
A penalty goal on the brink of half-time from star attacker Laila Cooney left Cavan behind by just three at the break having trailed for the entirety of the half as Tipperary opened the game with five points without reply. However, two goals after the restart halted any comeback as the bridge became to far for the spirited Cavan side to close despite a valiant effort.
The Premier County dominated the early stages of the tie in Kinegaad and had five points on the board before Pearl Gilmartin opened Cavan’s scoring in the 21st minute. In truth the gap could have been more but for a fantastic save from Caitlin Nolan to deny Roisin Browne the opening goal of the clash.
Ahead by four Tipperary further extended their lead in the 25th minute as Farrah Maddigan scored a fortuitous goal from distance. However, as they have done numerous times this season the Breffni girls never panicked and fought hard to get themselves back into the tie on the stroke of halftime.
Bailieborough clubwoman Laila Cooney was fouled on path to goal and showed nerves of steel to take the resulting penalty. The forward made no mistake from the spot firing to the net to cut the deficit to three at the break, 1-05 to 1-02. However, Tipperary came out the hungrier side after the resumption and within four minutes had raised two more green flags through Faye O’Dwyer and substitute Klaudia Compa. At the other end Lacken’s Riona Crowe who worked tirelessly was unfortunate to see her goalbound effort go within inches of the net.
Cavan continued to battle with substitute Elsie McEvoy opening Cavan’s scoring in the 12th minute followed by another from the boot of Gilmartin. A brilliant point from Katie Hughes left seven between the sides entering the final quarter of the final. Cavan continued to pile on the pressure but found it difficult to convert their chances due to the pressure of the tenacious Tipp backline. Two closing points for the Munster side finished the games scoring as Cavan fell to defeat.
Cavan: Caitlin Nolan, Leah Byrne, Nadine McKenna, Aoife Leddy, Isobel Wynne, Annie Forde Peat, Ciara Rudden, Sophie Lyons, Riona Crowe, Aoife O’Reilly, Freya Caffrey, Laila Cooney 1-00pen, Pearl Gilmartin 0-03 (2f), Aine Harney, Saoirse McNulty
Subs used: E. McEvoy 0-01, L. Cosgrove, K. Hughes 0-01, I. Murphy, K. McEnroe, L. McDaid, L. Ferguson
Tipperary: M Cummins; A Mason, M Grey, N Dunphy; L O’Connell, M Lonergan, P Marcinek; G-Mai Barrett, H Murphy; F O’Dwyer 1-02 (1f), F Madigan 1-01, R Browne 0-02; C Dennehy, S O’Sullivan, S Nugent.
Subs used: K Compa 1-02, A Leahy 0-01, N Hyland, K Browne-Souza, E O’Shea, M Cody.
Ref: Conor McCarthy (Cork)