U15 Div 1 Championship Semi-final – Sunday 13 th September 2020
Lucan Sarsfields v Erins Isle @ AGP1 Lucan

A beautiful sunny autumn morning in September saw an understandable nervy start from both
teams with early drives forward being cancelled out by each other, in the 6 th minute Lucan opened
the scoring with a free from Orla Morrissey, then Isles with a near instant response Kate Watson
won a ball driving forward to point from play 35 metres out, Lucan then upped their game with
Kellie O’Brien adding a point from play after continuous pressure around the box just before the
water break to leave the score Lucan 0-2 to Isle’s 0-1.
Erins Isle came out of the short break the brighter with Ella Wilson supporting Lana Murphy in mid-
field to move the ball forward then Ella scoring from a free to level the game, the pace of the game
continued to rise with the Lucan midfielder Lucy Fox and half back line of Ellie Gaire, Milly Hughes
and Erin Jones working hard to turn over ball and continue the supply into Lucan’s forwards, shots
from Aoibheann stokes and Orla Morrissey went narrowly wide with the challenging conditions of a
strong cross wind along the great efforts of Cody Lowe at full back and Robyn O’Connell who made 3
great saves in the goal Lucan found it hard to find the target, however, Sarsfields sustained the
pressure moving the ball around quickly between the forwards to eventually find the net in a goal
mouth scramble. Isles with Mikala Flood and Kate Watson remained dangerous up front and got
close on goal only to be denied by a 50m run and covering by Ellie Gaire who supported by corner
back Kate Ryan cleared the danger. Lucan’s purple patch continued with a close range strike on goal
from Cathy Cosgrove going narrowly wide and further scores from Orla Morrissey and Clara Finn
who with a hand pass over the defence was denied a goal by the bar ending up with a point to finish
the half Lucan 1-5 to Isle’s 0-2.
A couple of scores difference in Camogie means nothing, the anticipation of an exciting fast paced
2 nd half was palpable on the side lines helped in no small measure by the stewardship of the referee
Simon Murphy who kept the game flowing throughout and nobody was disappointed as this match
remained in the melting pot as the game re-started at pace, Mia Rooney continued a great 1 st half
performance to wreak more havoc in midfield winning multiple possessions and creating a link for
Lucan’s backs into the forward line, where with great work through all lines and link up plays into
Aoibheann Stokes and interceptions by Niamh Roche Lucan consolidated their lead with a goal from
Orla Morrissey and a point from play by Clara Finn, Isle’s half backs Aoife Brown, Katie Wilde and
Mya Hoey worked hard to regain possession and keep some supply through Niamh Dunne in
midfield to the forwards to keep their scores moving with Kadie Martin taking point from a free,
however, Lucan’s move of the game came from the Aisling Colfer’s puck out to the half forward line
where it passed through many hands until Cathy Cosgrove drove the sliotar across the box where
Riona McKearney took her opportunity to finish to the net, the 3 rd quarter ended Lucan 3-6 to Isle’s
0-3.
As with all Isle’s teams they never give up, and while I am sure fatigue was a factor the isle’s half
forwards Aaliyah Kirby and Saoirse Delaney continued to press but came up against the fresh legs of
Moya Breen covering across the field from corner back clearing her lines that lead to another point
from play for Clara Finn. From the puck out Isles’s Kate Watson broke from a ruck in midfield flying
at the defence with sights on goal only for her powerful strike to be blocked on the run with
lightning reaction from the Lucan full back Sinead Farrell. With 5 minutes to go Isle’s lost a player to
a straight red card for striking which took a bit of the gloss of an otherwise brilliant display of
Camogie from both teams. A strong performance from Ellie Gaire at centre half back and great link
up play from Mia Rooney and Orla Morrissey kept Lucan on the front foot, Orla scored a further free

against a tricky cross field wind and with a another score from play by Clara Finn the game ended 3-8
to 0-3.
A really fantastic exhibition of Camogie on a September Sunday morning in Lucan, cannot wait until spectators are allowed back to witness Girls sport at its very best: 20x20 - If she can’t see it, she can’t be it!!

Scores:
Lucan Sarsfields
Orla Morrissey – 1-4 (1-2f)
Clara Finn – 1-3
Riona McKearney – 1-0
Kellie O’Brien – 0-1

Erins Isle
Kate Watson – 0-1
Ella Wilson – 0-1 (1f)
Kadie Martin – 0-1 (1f)