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October 9th
The girls had a good win in their opening Championship match against Naomh Barróg on Saturday 7th October in St Anne's Park. The match was played in very windy conditions with the wind favouring the home team in the opening half. Barróg took advantage of the conditions and got on top in the early stages. The Na Fianna defence came under heavy pressure particularly in a ten-minute spell in the middle of the first half. During this period of the game, a succession of high dangerous balls dropped into the Na Fianna goalmouth. Goalkeeper Orla Keegan gave a tremendous performance under this aerial bombardment and repeatedly handled the ball safely before clearing her lines. She was eventually beaten due to an unfortunate deflection and coming up to half-time the home team led by 1-3 to no score. It could have been worse but for the diligence of Orla and her defence who withstood a strong challenge from a team which meant business.
It had not been all one-way traffic but Na Fianna could not manage to get on the scoreboard having missed a few opportunities to open their account. In the five minutes just before half-time, the breakthrough came however when Orla Core goaled from close-range after the keeper had beaten out an earlier shot and Ellen Langan then reduced the arrears to just two points with a fine point on the turn.
Half-time Naomh Barróg 1-3 Na Fianna 1-1
The second half opened with the boot on the other foot. Khloe Dillon-Coote scored three points on the trot to put Na Fianna in front and it was a lead that the girls never looked like surrendering. Aoife Caffrey and Eve O'Brien began to dominate around midfield and plenty of ball was being fed into the full-forward line where Róisin ni Gallchóir and Almha Egan were well able to win possession and either take or set up scores. Ailish Neville and Leah Caffrey both chipped in with long-range goals from distance and no Under 14 match would be complete without a few scores from Aoife Caffrey who duly obliged.
It was a good win for Na Fianna with no less than eight players contributing on the scoreboard.
Full-time Na Fianna 4-8 Naomh Barróg 2-4
Orla Core 1-0, Almha Egan 1-0, Ailish Neville 1-0, Leah Caffrey 1-0
Aoife Caffrey 0-3, Khloe Dillon-Coote 0-3, Ellen Langan 0-1, Róisin ni Gallchóir 0-1
Orla Keegan, Aolieann ni Bhroin, Lucy Collins, Fiona McNally, Sinéad Henry-Bezy, Ailish Neville, Aoife Nolan, Khloe Dillon-Coote, Eve O'Brien (c), Shona Quinn, Leah Caffrey, Ellen Langan, Orla Core, Aoife Caffrey, Róisin ni Gallchóir
Subs: Clare Taylor, Katie Pringle, Almha Egan
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The Na Fianna Under 14 girls won the Division 2 North Féile in real style last Saturday with a great team performance in the final against Clontarf. The final score of 5-9 to 0-0 was a fair reflection of the girls' display. No less than nine players got onto the scoresheet and the defence withstood everything that Clontarf had to offer.
Team captain Eve O'Brien was a major influence on the day - her leadership qualities were clear throughout the tournament and she provided a solid platform at midfield along with Lucy Collins who also had a stormer on the day. Khloe Dillon was identified by the match referee in her congratulatory comments after the final as the 'Player of the Tournament' and it would be difficult to quibble with this assessment. Khloe's dynamism, ball-carrying and trademark solo-running were outstanding.
Aoife Caffrey once again brought her scoring boots with her - she amassed a total of 9-4 over the tournament of which 3-1 was scored in the final. When it is taken into account that Aoife is carrying a niggling injury and is not at 100% fitness, the measure of this scoring achievement can be all the more appreciated.
Her younger sister Leah was no less influential and totally snuffed out the threat posed by Clontarf inter-county star Niamh McNally in the final. Sinéad Henry-Bezy, Ailish Neville, Aoife Nolan, Róisin ni Gallchóir and Laura Keelan were others to acquit themselves with distinction but really it was an overall effort from every one of the twenty girls which won the day for Na Fianna.
Afterwards the girls returned to the club where pizzas and other refreshments were laid on to help the celebrations. Thanks to Oliver and Pat for facilitating this hospitality.
The girls must now set their sights on the League where they have won their opening two fixtures.
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The girls had their second pre-season challenge last Sunday when they lost to Clontarf on the back pitch in Mobhi Rd. It was a game which Na Fianna was well capable of winning but the concession of three quick-fire goals in a spell of five minutes in the second half meant that on this occasion the girls had to give second best. With quite a few of the regular squad unavailable, thanks to Lorna Meleady and Leah Bergin from the Under 13 squad for stepping in at short notice.
The game opened unpromisingly with the concession of an early goal after a couple of minutes. This concession was a repeat of the match against Lucan and is obviously a habit which the team will need to break. Enjoying the advantage of the breeze in the first half, the team settled and began to peg back the lead. Leah Caffrey opened her account with a fine point following a pass from her sister Aoife. Laura Keelan sent over a long-range effort from 25 yards which actually bounced over the crossbar and Khloe Dillon levelled affairs with a trademark point on the run. When a similar effort from Khloe came back off the crossbar, Leah Caffrey was on hand to bury the rebound into the back of the net. Khloe notched another point to leave Na Fianna four points to the good approaching half-time.
At this point, the team appeared to be well in control. Ellen Langan was very assured in goal and was bringing to bear all of her camogie experience between the posts. In defence, Sinéad Henry-Bezy who had missed the first game through illness was playing very well and Fiona Mc Nally and Gráinne Mulvey were playing with their customary reliability. Team captain, Ailish Neville was dominant at centre-back and her long clearances from defence were being hoovered up by a hungry forward line. Orla Keegan was reading the game well at wing-back and two timely interventions from Orla before half-time resulted in points from Aoife Caffrey and Khloe. The half-time score was 1-6 to 1-1 in favour of Na Fianna.
An early second half Clontarf point was cancelled out by Leah Caffrey who was giving a virtuoso performance at corner-forward. However, it was at this stage that things began to go off the rails. A five point lead was transformed into a four-point deficit with three quick goals by Clontarf undoing the good work of the first half. Clontarf's inter-county player Niamh McNally really came into her own and in a purple patch wreaked havoc in the Na Fianna defence. Not to be outshone or outdone, Leah Caffrey hit back with a delightful point from the left-wing. Released by a well-placed handpass from the impressive Leah Bergin, Leah cut in on goal and from about 20 yards out on the left chipped the ball on the run with her right instep over the bar for an exquisite point. This really was an inspirational score. Minutes later, Aoife Caffrey found the net with a low driven shot and Na Fianna were right back in the hunt.
However, it was not to be and Clontarf had the final say tacking on the last few scores to run out winners on the scoreline
Na Fianna 2-8 (14) Clontarf 5-4 (19).
They say that goals win matches and in this case, that was what happened. However, Na Fianna lost nothing in defeat and a lot was learned from the experience. The team is progressing nicely and with only a few weeks to the start of the League it is hoped to organise a third friendly match around the turn of the month. Congrats to Aoileann ni Bhroin who played her first football match for Na Fianna and did well - thanks to Róisin who turned out despite not being well enough for the trip to Tipp on the previous day.
Team
Ellen Langan
Gráinne Mulvey, Fiona McNally, Sinéad Henry-Bezy
Orla Keegan, Ailish Neville
Aoife Caffrey, Laura Keelan
Khloe Dillon, Leah Bergin
Leah Caffrey, Lorna Meleady, Róisin ni Gallchóir
Sub: Aoileann ni Bhroin
Scorers: Leah Caffrey 1-3, Aoife Caffrey 1-1, Khloe Dillon 0-3, Laura Keelan 0-1
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February 27th
The Under 14 ladies' football team had its first outing of the season with a challenge match on Sunday 26th versus Lucan Sarsfields. The game was played on the back pitch in Mobhi Road with a very strong wind sure to have a major bearing on affairs. The absence through illness of several regulars meant that Na Fianna had only 14 players.
Na Fianna lost the toss and faced the breeze in the first half. The going was tough as Lucan dominated the opening exchanges, notching a goal and a point in the opening five minutes. However, the girls settled down thereafter and with Laura Keelan in commanding form at centre-back and Ellen Langan very assured between the posts, the damage was limited to 2 goals and three points by the half-time break. Credit also to wing-backs Orla Keegan and Fiona McNally and corner-back Clare Taylor who were not found wanting under heavy pressure. Na Fianna's only major chance in the first half came when Róisin ni Gallchóir rattled the crossbar with a screamer after fifteen minutes. Half-time score Na Fianna 0-0 Lucan 2-3.
The second half was a different story as the Na Fianna girls enjoyed the advantage of the wind. Khloe Dillon really took over and having switched to centre-forward began to cause havoc in the Lucan defence. The scores quickly followed with a goal from Khloe and Lorna Meleady and a point from the hard-working Lucy Collins bringing Na Fianna back into contention at 2-1 to 2-3. Lucan countered with a goal of their own to restore a five-point lead. Khloe was having none of it however and after gaining possession forty yards out weaved her way through the Lucan rearguard on a solo run to smash an unstoppable effort into the back of the net from about 15 yards. This goal really was an exceptional effort from a very talented player. A third goal from Khloe put Na Fianna in front for the first time at 4-1 to 3-3 with about ten minutes to go.
At this stage, Lucan got back into the game and rallied strongly. It was clear that Na Fianna were not going to be allowed to coast to victory. Team captain Eve O'Brien really rose to the occasion with some brilliant catches around the middle of the field. Full-back Ailish Neville relieved the pressure with long sweeping clearances and Laura Keelan continued to excel. Gráinne Mulvey and Orla Core were also prominent having been switched to defence for the final quarter. When Lucan scored a goal to restore their lead 4-1 to 4-3, things were in the balance.
Step forward, Lorna Meleady. Having been called in to the team at the last minute to cover for illness of regular squad members, she more than justified her selection with two late goals to secure a hard-earned win for Na Fianna on a 6-1 to 4-3 scoreline. Lorna's ability to win possession and use it tellingly marked her out as a player with a bright future. Laura Tarr also guested for the team at short notice. Her speed of thought and intelligent use of the ball ensure that she is more than capable of holding her own.
Overall it was a good start to what will be an interesting campaign for the team. With the club entering the Under 13 League for the first time, it will involve quite a commitment for some of the younger players on the Under 14 team, but hopefully a good campaign in the Féile will be possible.
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