Monagea complete three-in-a-row of Limerick Ladies senior football final wins

“THE goals gave us the comfort we needed and we were able to stretch it to the end,” was the view of manager Martin O'Shaughnessy as Monagea completed a three-in-a-row of county ladies senior football titles as they inflicted a second successive final defeat on St Ailbe's on a 2-9 to 0-7 scoreline in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.

Dominating a cagey first half and striking six points without reply in the run-up to the break, Monagea withstood their opponents throwing the kitchen sink at them on the restart and re-established themselves in a position of control thanks to a breakaway goal ten minutes into the second half.

However, that score came after a period when a clear Ailbes chance on goal whacked off the upright and, had it gone in, might have well have altered the course of the game.

That said, while their buildup at times was more directed on retaining possession rather than forcing openings for the score chances, Monagea were always able to play themselves out of danger whenever their lead looked in danger.

The biggest weapon in their arsenal was Karen O'Leary's speed on the ball which added another dimension to their attacks and, as well as the three scores she plundered at vital stages of game, also ignited the movements that led to the West Limerick side's two goals.

But they also had to thank a rock solid defence that never lost its shape, particularly during the Ailbes blitz after the break.

The winners led 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time.

SCORERS: MONAGEA: Deborah Murphy, Catriona Davis 1-1 each, Karen O'Leary 0-3, Amy Curtin 0-2, Grace Lee, Laura Walshe 0-1 each; SAINT AILBE'S: Gráinne McNamara 0-3 (3 frees), Dearbhla Egan, Kate Kennedy, Georgia Keane, Maedhbh McNamara 0-1 each.

MONAGEA: Ciara O'Grady; Róisín Browne, Yvonne Lee, Shannon Tobin; Grace Lee, Laura Walshe, Liz Carmody; Grace Mullane, Ellie Woulfe; Karen O'Leary, Deborah Murphy, Amy Curtin; Brigid Cahill, Catriona Davis, Kate Geary. SUBS: Lily Duggan for Catriona Davis (50 minutes), Aoife Corbett for Shannon Tobin (58 minutes), Ashling Enright for Amy Curtin (58 minutes), Eabha Collins for Brigid Cahill (58 minutes), Lorna Browne for (58 minutes).

SAINT AILBE'S: Aisling Enright; Aoife Dalton, Joanne McGuire, Ingrid Laffan; Maedhbh McNamara, Niamh Ryan, Laura Nash; Alex Russell, Katie Heelan; Eimear Ryan, Orla Ryan, Dearbhla Egan; Georgia Keane, Gráinne McKenna, Kate Kennedy. SUBS: Sinéad McNamara for Dearbhle Egan (37 minutes), Aideen McNamara for Georgia Keane (57 minutes), Ciara Ryan for Kate Kennedy (58 minutes).

REFEREE: Michael Murphy (Kilteely-Dromkeen).