Leinster lose to Connacht in final

(23 May 2016)

Report courtesy of Gearóid O'Suilleabhán, PRO Leinster Council. Photos Seamus Massey

Connacht 2-7  Leinster 1-6

An all-Galway Connacht squad (below) drew from their greater familiarity of playing together to pull off a deserved win at the National Sports Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Leinster had come through a relatively troublefree semi final win over Munster while Connacht had just two points to spare in their win over Ulster.  But Connacht from the off showed huge determination and with both sides playing a sweeper system, scorers were few in number.

A fine first half display by Niamh McGrath who scored four points - three from play helped the westerners to a 0-5 to 0-3 lead at the break.  The other score coming from the stick of Aoife Callanan after 7 minutes.

Leinster didn't score from play in the first half and relied on points from Denise Gaule and Michaela Morkan (0-2).  The loss through injury of centre back Alison Maguire didn't Helena Jacob's side.

Given the tightness of the play, whichever side could snatch a goal was going to get a decisive boost. When it happened it came at a very bad time for Leinster who thanks to points from Shelly Kehoe and Michaela Morkan had reduced the deficit to just one point at the 50th minute mark.

But an untypical error from Mags D'Arcy saw her dispossed by Noreen Coen and she goaled from close range.  There was nothing fortuitous about Connacht's second goal three minutes later in the 45th minute when following a great move Aoife Donoghue sent a scorcher to the right corner of the net.

A magnificent point by Niamh Kilkenny stretched Connacht's lead to 8 points with a minute of normal time left but a goal and a point from frees by Denise Gaule came just a little too late to threaten the scoreline.

Player of the Match:  Ann Marie Starr (Connacht)

Scorers: Connacht Niamh McGrath (0-5), Aoife Donoghue (1-0), Noreen Coen (1-1), Niamh Kilkenny and Aoife Callanan (0-1 each)

Leinster Denise Gaule (1-3), Michaela Morkan (0-2), Shelly Kehoe (0-1)

Referee: Eamonn Cassidy.

Photos from the game

In the semi final Leinster overcame Munster by 1-21 to 0-10.

The game was a cracking contest for 15 minutes at which stage the scoreline was 0-5 apiece with all scores coming from play.  Munster without a Cork contingent were in super form with Chloe Morey, Niamh Mulcahy, Beth Carton, Orlagh Duggan all getting great points. Leinster matched them puck for puck and the excellent Melissa Lyons, Denise Gaule, Orla Beagan and Michaela Morkan all pointed.

But Leinster took a decisive grip on the game in the second quarter and great scores from Denise Gaule, Shelly Farrell, Shelly Kehoe and three from Michaela Morkan to just one reply from Munster - Niamh Mulcahy saw them in front 0-12 to 0-7 at the break.  Patrice Diggin of Kerry was among Munster's top players.

They picked up where the left off after the interval with more points from Colette Dormer, Morkan, Gaule and Lyons to take a commanding lead. With Mags D'Arcy unbeatable in goals and the defence of Edwina Keane, Kate Nolan and Jean Brady excellent there was no way through for Munster as Leinster tagged on the points and a goal off a 45 from Ann Dalton.

Scorers: Leinster Michaela Morkan (0-7), Denise Gaule (0-4), Melissa Lyons (0-4), Ann Dalton (1-0), Shelly Farrell (0-2), Orla Beagan, Emer Reilly, Shelly Kehoe (0-1 each).

Munster: Niamh Mulcahy, Chloe Morey, Orlagh Duggan, Patrice Diggin (0-2 each), Beth Carton and Caoimhe Costelloe (0-1 each)

Referee: Eamonn Cassidy.



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