Posted online: Nov 25th, 2008

Sarsfields……6-12  

Naas………… 2-3

Girls U-15 Autumn League

Division 1 Final

Now here was a surprise.

These teams have met in the odd semi-final and plenty of finals since they were 11-year-olds, and there was never more than a single score between then.

That Sarsfields recorded such an overwhelming win over Naas on Saturday will have shocked many. The win was well deserved on the day as they dominated most of the game, except the first 20 minutes where Naas dominated mainly at half-back and midfield.

Naas hit the front when Niamh Burke was on the mark twice, before Sarsfields came alive and the skilful Roisin Byrne diverted a long low delivery from Sara Sheridan past the Naas keeper.

The next six minutes were hard fought hard with defences on top. Emma Kelly broke the deadlock with a point and the second Sarsfields goal came soon after.

Sara Sheridan again started the move at midfield, Roisin Byrne took it on and her pass put full forward Laura Houlihan in the clear to smack in the goal. 

With their midfield and centre half forward Muireann Kavanagh now flying Sarsfields tacked on four points before the break through two Roisin Byrne frees as well as a lovely brace by Muireann Kavanagh.

With the wind in their favour in the second half Sarsfields were well in control. Roisin Byrne added three more goals to embellish a great performance, while late sub Aoise Dempsey also found the Naas net. Byrne also pointed three more frees, while Muireann Kavanagh, Caoimhe McKenna, Saibh McDonnell and Laura Houlihan also raised a white flag each.

Naas did have one good spell with Claudia Bradley pointing and Niamh Burke and Naomi Curtis slamming home a goal each, but Sarsfields hit back with a string of points, from a Roisin Byrne free and the Aoise Dempsey goal to seal the win. 

SARSFIELDS: Caoimhe McConnell, Rebecca O’Sullivan, Mia Donnelly, Danielle English, Hanna Rogerson, Roisin Dempsey, Aoife Bergin (Cpt), Sarah Sheridan), Saibh McDonnell (0-1), Aileen Coyne,

Muireann Kavanagh (0-3), Sophie Ellis, Roisin Byrne (4-5), Laura Houlihan (1-1), Emma Kelly (0-1),  

Subs: Caoimhe McKenna (0-1) for S Ellis; Tara Cairnduff for R Byrne; Rachel Dunphy for E Kelly; Shauna Burke for R O’Sullivan;

Aoise Dempsey (1-0) for C McKenna. 

NAAS: Aoife Hedderman, Aoibheann Woods, Niamh Hedderman,

Leanne Campbell, Orlaith White, Rachel Corrigan, Maeve Hughes, Jenny Payne, Claire Gahan, Shannon Doherty, Amy Hyland, Naomi Curtis (1-0), Claudia Bradley (0-1), Niamh Burke (1-2), Aine Cummins. Subs: Ellen Taite for A Cummins; Briona Hoban for O White; Sarah O’Hanlon for M Hughes; Alison Lackey for L Campbell;  Amy Drewitt for S Doherty; Aisling Breslin for N Burke.