Erins Isle 4-5 Naomh Uinsionn 0-7
Three minutes before half-time Vincents would have settled for a four points half-time deficit with the wind at their backs in the second half. But in the next five minutes, Isles doubled their first half tally.
The first boost came in the 27th minute when a booming clearance from Gillian McCluskey was superbly fielded by full forward Julie Draper and the experienced Finglas girl netted from close range. Further damage was added by Julie who having taken over the free-taking in the 14th minute after a few early misses, followed up with two points from placed balls to give Isle a 2-4 to 0-1 interval lead.
It was a crucial phase in the game as superb Vincents defending particularly from captain Deirdre Johnstone at centre back, Caitriona Kelly and Jenny Russell looked like limiting the damage to a manageable margin.
Goals win matches though and throughout the hour, Isle looked the more likely to raise green flags. Their first came after a minute and fifty seconds when Lynn Devoy's shot slipped into the corner. Amy Murphy added a super point from play a minute later. Vincents however were playing with confidence and no little skill and were rewarded with a fine point by Nicole O'Dwyer in the 6th minute.
Isles were targetting Julie Draper with some aerial missiles but to no effect and passed on some more chances with three uncharacteristic wides from the stick of Louise O'Hara. A change to Julie Draper resulted in their first point from a placed ball in the 14th minute. But with Vincent's defence in shut down mode, Isles were struggling to get scores until that late sally before the break.
A nine points lead offered a much bigger challenge to Vincents but they went about their task with determination and inside the first minute after the restart, Michelle Hetherton drove over a fine score. Excellent free taker Niamh Gavin cut the gap further before Julie Draper called a halt to their progress with her fourth point from a free in the 37th minute.
However Isle's nerves were on tentherhooks as three Niamh Gavin (strangely substituted with four minutes to go) white flags without reply including a fine effort from play left just five points between the sides and six minutes. But the experience of Anne McCluskey and Louise O'Hara was invaluable as was the great work of Ann-Marie McCluskey and Emma Quinn who made sure that Caroline Smith had a relatively troublefree afternoon in goals.
The game was sealed in the 56th minute when Julie Draper did great work in her own half of the field to set up Lynn Devoy whose cross fell into the path of Amy Murphy who first-timed to the net. With the game almost over the same player grabbed her second goal of the game.
Player of the Match: Louise O'Hara
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