Templeport U16 ladies edge thrilling Division 4 decider

U16 Division 4 League final

Belturbet/Redhills 7-8

Templeport 6-14

Aideen Coyle

The Division 4 league final was contested between table-toppers Templeport and second-placed Belturbet/Redhills after both sides came through the group stages with four wins from their five games. On their path to the final Templeport defeated Ballinagh comprehensively in their semi-final with Belturbet/Redhills coming through a tighter clash with Drumgoon to advance to the decider.

At halftime in the clash Templeport led comfortably after a dominant closing quarter seen them register 2-06 without reply to open up a seventeen-point lead. However, Belturbet/Redhills came out fighting after the resumption and four second half goals from the exceptional Kerrie Smith left for a nervy finish which seen the eventual winners having just three points to spare as the fulltime whistle sounded in Ballyconnell at the end of an exciting finale.

Brianna Quile opened the games scoring in the opening seconds before Templeport hit 2-01 to take the lead. Isobel McNulty hit the net for their opening score followed quickly by a point from Sarah Devine and goal from Lauren Brady. Cara Loughran and Brady traded a point apiece before Kerri Smith found the back of the net from a free to close the deficit to three at the end of a breathtaking opening seven minutes.

Once again Templeport responded with 1-02 as Brady hit her second goal of the contest. A goal from Kerri Reilly in the 11th minute left five between the teams but Reilly’s strike was her sides final of the half as the leaders finished in clinical form with 2-06 without reply to leave them comfortably ahead 5-10 to 2-02 at hal-ftime. Brady completed her first half hattrick in the 13th minute as Isobel McNulty hit the net on the brink of halftime after points from Brady (3), McNulty (2) and Devine.

Despite the scoreline Belturbet/Redhills came out fighting after half-time. A goal from Reilly seconds after the restart and points from Quaile and Jenna Smith reduced the gap to eleven. Brady and McNulty hit a point apiece for Templeport but a spirited and hardworking Belturbet/Redhills side responded with a further 2-01 to claw themselves back into the tie with thirteen minutes played in the second half.

Smith completed her hattrick with two goals in quick succession as a pointed free from Quaile reduced the deficit to six. With the tie hotting up McNulty pointed a much needed double for Templeport.

Quaile hit one back at the other end before the goalscoring threat Smith rattled the back of the net after a brilliant pass from Loughran. With only four points to spare the excellent Lauren Brady finished off a brilliant attack with her fourth strike of the clash to put her side back in control with under ten minutes left to be played.

Belturbet/Redhills, to their credit, never gave up and once again showed a spirited fightback with a Quaile point followed by an incredible fifth goal from Kerrie Smith who put in an enormous effort for her team who fell short in the end as Templeport held on to the victory in the closing stages of the pulsating Division 4 clash.

Belturbet/Redhills Scorers: Kerrie Smith 5-00, Brianna Quaile 0-06, Kerri Reilly 2-00, Cara Loughran 0-01, Jenna Smith 0-01

Templeport Scorers: Lauren Brady 4-05, Isobel McNulty 2-05, Sarah Devine 0-03, Tara Geoghegan 0-01