Hazelwood Ladies Crowned Munster Champions
Hazelwood: 5-08
Meanscoil San Nioclás: 1-04
On 17th January 2015, the Hazelwood Senior Ladies’ Football Team were crowned Munster Champions after a tough battle with Meanscoil San Nioclás from An Rinn, Waterford. The match was played in Glanworth, Co. Cork, and heavy underfoot conditions and bitter cold proved challenging for both sides.
From the whistle, it was clear that both teams had similar intentions, and it took 12 minutes for the first score to be registered on the board, after Laura Stack finished a good passage of play from Hazelwood forwards with a point. It wasn’t long before Meanscoil levelled the score after a pointed free. Hazelwood pulled away in the next 10 minutes with points from Tara Fitzgibbon and Laura Stack, and Cliona O Callaghan found the net to give Hazelwood a five point lead. Meanscoil responded well and scored two points in reply. With 5 minutes left in the opening half, both sides were pushing for scores before half time and Hazelwood were rewarded for their efforts with a point from the left boot of Cliona O Callaghan and a goal from Emily Rose Mulcahy giving them the advantage at half time. The half time score read 2-4 to 0-3 points in favour of Hazelwood.
After being refreshed at half time, both sides took to the field for the second half. Meanscoil had a better start to this half, and began putting pressure on the Hazelwood girls. However, having failed to convert all of their chances they only scored one point in their 10 minute purple patch. Hazelwood found their feet again after points from Katie McCarthy and Tara Fitzgibbon, but Meanscoil quickly responded with a well taken goal after dividing the Hazelwood defence. This left 5 points between the sides, and Meanscoil had the crowd’s support and the momentum entering the final quarter. The Waterford side had several chances to reduce the deficit, but missed frees as well as two top drawer saves from Hazelwood goalkeeper Rebecca McGuinness prevented them from clawing their way back. Hazelwood took advantage of Meanscoil’s inaccuracy, and with 8 minutes left on the clock, Hazelwood hit 3 goals in 3 minutes to finish the game as a contest, one from Katie McCarthy and two from Laura Stack. As the Meanscoil girls’ heads dropped, Hazelwood thoughts turned to celebrations as Laura Stack pointed from play and Chloe O’Brien finished the game with a superb point after an individual run of the length of the field. When the final whistle blew Hazelwood players and supporters rejoiced, with the Munster title heading to Dromcollogher. The final score read 5-08 to 1-04.
Cliona O Callaghan was awarded Player of the Match and Jerome Casey, Munster Treasurer, presented the cup to Hazelwood Captain Ciara McCarthy. On behalf of the team, Ciara thanked referee Shaun Cronin, manager Tom Halpin, coach Moss McCarthy and assistant coach Siobhán McCarthy. This was a well-deserved win for the girls, as they trained very hard, even twice over the Christmas holidays! Hopefully more silverware will come their way throughout the year.
Scorers: Laura Stack (2-03), Cliona O’ Callaghan (1-01), Katie McCarthy (1-01), Emily Rose Mulcahy (1-00), Tara Fitzgibbon (0-02), Chloe O Brien (0-01).
Team: Rebecca McGuinness, Claire Sweeney, Ciara McCarthy, Meadbh McCarthy, Cathy Foley, Chloe O Brien, Norma O Sullivan, Bríd Flanagan, Megan Fitzgibbon, Sarah Shanahan, Tara Fitzgibbon, Cliona O Callaghan, Katie McCarthy, Laura Stack, Emily Rose Mulcahy.
Subs Used: Áine Cunningham, Ellanna Mulcahy, Briana O’ Connor, Aoife McMahon, Marie Danaher.
Subs: Donna Mulcahy, Sharon Carmody, Emma Sheehan, Sarah Sheehan, Róisín Cunningham, Ava Mullane, Laura Enright.
Picture 1: Back Row (left to right): Mr Tom Halpin, Roisin Cunningham, Sarah Sheahan, Laura Stack, Bríd Flanagan, Cathy Foley, Emma Sheehan, Sharon Carmady, Rebecca McGuinness, Claire Sweeney, Katie McCarthy, Medhb McCarthy, Cliona O’Callaghan, Norma O’Sullivan, Laura Enright, Donna Mulcahy, Moss McCarthy, holding Muiris McCarthy aloft. Front Row (left to right): Briana O’Connor, Marie Danneher, Ava Mullane, Tara Fitzgibbon, Emily Rose Mulcahy, Ellana Mulcahy, Áine Cunningham, Chloe O’Brien, Ciara McCarthy, Sarah Shanhan, Megan Fitzgibbon and Aoife McMahon
Picture 2: Pictured from left to right Ciara McCarthy, Mr Tom Halpin coach of the Hazelwood College Senior Ladies’ Football team and Sarah Shanahan.
Picture 3: Hazelwood College’s Cliona O Callaghan being presented with her Player of the Match trophy by Paul Murphy
Picture 4: Hazelwood College Senior Ladies’ Football captain Ciara McCarthy (left) being presented with the cup by Jerome Donovan
Picture 5: Pictured from left to right Hannah dePaor, captain of Mean Scoil, referee Mr Sean Cronin and Ciara McCarthy, captain of the Senior Ladies’ Football team