Ryle leads the way with 6-6 as Sarsfields beat Timahoe in U-16 ‘A’ ladies football final thriller

Sarsfields 7-12 Timahoe 7-10 – After extra time
2020 Laois U-16 ‘A’ Ladies Football Final

What an absolute fantastic game 2020 U-16 ‘A’ ladies football final in Annanough on Saturday evening where extra time was needed before Sarsfields eventually got the better of Timahoe after an epic battle.

Aerin Ryle was the Sarsfields hero, playing in absolute top class form and finishing with an individual tally of 6-6.

Timahoe started strongest from the throw in, winning the ball and driving up the field against the breeze. A scramble inside the box lead to the ball falling into the hands of Aoife Gorman who comfortably slotted the ball into the back of the net for Timahoe’s first score of the game, which was shortly followed by a lovely point from Katie Donoghue.

Sarsfields replied with a fine point from Amy McKane, and this was accompanied by two superb quick fire goals from Aerin Ryle, getting her evening off to a great start.

Timahoe responded effectively with two super goals of their own, from Katie Donoghue and Sinead Goode.

After the first water break, Sarsfields came back out on the field hungry to land more scores and did exactly that with another two goals from Ryle, to leave the score at half time 4-7 to 3-3 in her team’s favour.

Timahoe came out all guns blazing in the second half and appeared a lot stronger once again, with Katie Donoghue and Kayla Darcy making some fantastic runs with shots on goal but unreal goal keeping from Jenna Griffin denied them these chances.

Not long after the game resumed for the second half, Sarsfields Emma Griffin was sin binned. Megan Fitzpatrick was then shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute due to retaliation after being fouled, leaving the Sarsfields women down to in numbers for most of the remaining minutes of normal time.

Very strong defending from Timahoe’s Laura Dempsey led to Sinead Goode in possession of the ball, who rattled the bottom left corner of the net, putting Timahoe in front once again.

Both teams swapped some points, but Ryle reacted swiftly following Goode’s score, to blast home her 5th and 6th goals of the game.

Immense defending from Timahoe’s Laura Dempsey and Ellen Dunne made sure the teams were level at the end of normal time, leaving the score at 6-9 a piece and forcing the game into extra time.

Both teams dug deep in the extra couple of minutes allocated, with Timahoe’s Katie Donoghue scoring 1-1 to guide her team along to the dying minutes of the game.

Sarsfields, however, just proved too strong with scores from Aerin Ryle and Amy McKane in extra time to secure the win for their side after a fantastic battle between the two sides.

After a game like that, it’s safe to say both clubs’ adults teams will have some phenomenal young players coming up in the next couple of years and will definitely be players to watch!

SCORERS – Sarsfields: Aerin Ryle 6-6 (1-0 penalty, 0-4 frees), Amy McKane 1-4, Clodagh Lalor and Michelle Conroy 0-1 each. Timahoe – Katie Donoghue 2-6 (1-0 penalty, 0-4 frees), Sinead Goode 3-0, Aoife Gorman 1-0, Molly McGannon 1-0, Kayla Darcy 0-3 (1 free), Eimear Devoy 0-1

SARSFIELDS: Jenna Griffin; Rose Johnson, Amy Flanagan, Megan Fitzpatrick; Ashling McEvoy, Emma Griffin, Ellie O’Connell; Orla Whelan, Michelle Conroy; Amy McKane, Aerin Ryle, Ciara O’Neill; Clodagh Lalor, Emma Bergin, Kayleigh Dunne. Subs: Róise Culleton for Emma Bergin (45)

TIMAHOE: Aoibhe Brennan; Niamh Fitzpatrick, Ellen Dunne, Anna Duff; Emma Killeen, Laura Dempsey, Emma Tuohy; Orlaith McNamara, Edel Deegan; Mairead Foyle, Sinead Goode, Katie Donoghue; Molly McGannon, Kayla Darcy, Aoife Gorman. Subs: Eimear Devoy for Mairead Foyle (23), Maeve Kennedy for Niamh Fitzpatrick (25), Mairead Foyle for Anna Duff (66).

REFEREE: Kevin Phelan (Barrowhouse)

SEE ALSO – Fennessy on fire as St Brigids claim U-16 ‘B’ ladies football glory

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