Ahane and Monaleen travelled to Cappamore on Wednesday evening to contest the Minor A County Final. With both teams being no strangers to each other it was a hard-fought battle from the beginning. Niamh Brennan got Ahane’s first three points as Monaleen got two of their own. Sarah Cosgrove popped up with her first point and the first half water break scores were Ahane 0-04 Monaleen 0-02. Straight from the off after the water break Sarah got in on goal and buried it after a beauty ball came across the goal mouth and Sarah pulled on it first time. Niamh got a point from a free which was matched with a free from Monaleen. The work rate and interlinking play from both sides was top class and fantastic to see. Half time score was Ahane 1-06 Monaleen 0-03. Second half got underway, and the first score was a 45 that Niamh put over the bar. Niamh got a goal of her own four minutes into the half which was met with great celebration from the Ahane crowd in attendance. Niamh got three more points, one being from a 45, one from a free and a stunning point from play. Monaleen got their goal in the 14th minute of the second half after some great play out the field. Ahane’s third and final goal came from a free which dropped in and under the bar curtesy of Niamh once again. Second half water break and the scores were Ahane 3-10 Monaleen 1-04. Fiona Herbert got her name on the score sheet after unbelievable work from Rachael, Hazel and Sarah out the field to get to play to Fiona who scored a fabulous point. Ciara Oliver stepped up and added another beauty of a point from play and as Ahane continued their dominance in the second half. In the dying moments of the game Monaleen got their second goal of the game but the full-time whistle was blown, and the score was Ahane 3-12 Monaleen 2-05. This was Ahane’s first time to win a Minor A County Championship since 1973 and we are so proud of each and every one of the girls! Huge thank you to all their mentors all the way up who have kept this group together, to their parents for bringing them to training and matches over all the years and to the girls themselves for their continued dedication and effort that they have put in over all the years!

Team: É. Madigan; K. Clohessy, R. Donnellan, A. Whelan, E. Ryan, Á. Herbert, A. Murrihy; C. Keaveney, M. Hussey; C. Oliver, F. Herbert, N. Brennan, H. Coulter, S. Cosgrove, L. Cusack

Substitutions: T. Madigan, S. Casey