Hazelwood College Senior Girls Football
Hazelwood College 2-9
St. Augustines, Dungarven 1-9
This semi-final, which was played in Bansha on a glorious day, was as tough as it gets but Hazelwood came through with flying colours to reach the Munster Final for only their second time in colleges football.
The girls from Dungarven set the pace early on and had two points on the scoreboard before the Dromcollogher outfit settled with Denise O’Connell slotting over a free kick ten minutes into the half. Two more points followed from play- Emma Browne from 30 meters out and a close range score from Denise O’Connell. Dungarven were then awarded a free kick 40 metres from the goal and the ball found its way into the back of the net.
Hazelwood continued to press and were unlucky for two goals- the ball coming off the back of the crossbar on one occasion from an Emma Browne shot and Ashling O’Brien hitting the upright close in. With five minutes to go the pressure did pay off and the same two girls took a point each. Some sloppy play from our full back line gave two frees away which were pointed by the Dungarven girls leaving the half time score of 1-5 to 0-5 in favour of St Augustines.
Hazelwood started well in the second half and again Denise and Emma scored a point a piece. From a poor kick out the ball once again reached Emma Browne and a 45 meter lob (like Beckhams) beat the Dungarven goalie and Hazelwood were ahead for the first time. One of Dungarvens better players leg tripped Katie O’Sullivan going through to score and was given a ten minute rest by the referee- Denise O Connell pointed the free.
At this stage Maire Flanagan took control of the game and kept the pressure on the Dungarven backs which resulted in a penalty when Vickie Harnett was brough down in the square after going clear of her marker. Tara Hurley stepped up to take it and cool as a breeze hit the top left hand corner. Dungarven had a few points from frees prior to this but another point from Emma put Hazelwood four clear. Dungarven pointed again late on but the final score remained at 2-9 to 1-9. Best for Hazelwood were Maire Flanagan,Tara Hurley, Mairead Geary, Niamh Greaney, Katie O’Sullivan, Denise O’Connell, Ashling O’Brien and Emma Browne.
Hazelwood team: N. O’Brien, S.Forde, M. Geary, N. Greaney, T. Hurley, M. Flanagan, L. Hanley, C.Meaney (c), N. Kiely, K. O’Sullivan, E, Browne, V. Harnett, H.Lenihan, A. O’Brien and D.O’Connell
Subs used: N. O’connell, G Shannon and A o’Flynn
Other subs; K. Hodgson, B Ryan, N. Mc CArthy, S Moloney, C Enright, C O Leary, A O’Connor, K Dillane, N Cagney, K O Leary and E Noonan