Relief for Caulry as valiant Moate comeback falls short

Caulry 5-11 Moate 4-10

Eoin Clarke & Co. Westmeath LGFA Intermediate Championship

In an enthralling battle which produced nine goals, Caulry eventually emerged victorious but they had to withstand a spirited comeback from local rivals Moate at Hogan Park last Friday night.

Some of the players on duty in this Westmeath LGFA Intermediate Championship game were heading to Electric Picnic afterwards, but they produced plenty of electricity of their own before making the trip to Stradbally.

When Aine Gaynor scored Caulry’s fourth goal in the 39th minute – putting the ladies in red 13 points ahead (4-9 to 1-5) – this looked all over as a contest. All the more so considering that Moate had just had two players sent to the sin bin.

Amazingly, it was when facing a deficit of 13 points with 13 players that Moate produced their most productive spell of the game. The home side scored an unanswered 2-5 to cut Caulry’s lead to a mere two points.

There may have been an element of Caulry switching off when they surged into that considerable lead, but Moate deserve plaudits for the manner of their revival when all seemed lost.

Overall, though, Caulry steadied the ship when needed and were deserving winners. The pace of their attack gave Moate problems throughout and the Mount Temple side had an edge in the physical stakes.

Early points were exchanged between Caulry midfielder Jasmine Maloney and Moate attacker Emma Collins. In a game of several goal chances, Collins was then very unlucky to hit the post after cutting through the Caulry defence.

However, the first goal arrived at the other end when Moate keeper Niamh Geoghegan was unable to keep out a shot from Megan Clinton (sixth minute). The sides were soon level though Caulry were somewhat unfortunate to concede as Moate pounced for their first goal. Grace Shortall executed a committed block but the ball fell invitingly for Moate midfielder Annemarie Moran, who gleefully swept the ball to the net.

Although Moate were backed by the tricky breeze, Caulry forged 1-4 to 1-1 ahead with Leah Hallissy hitting two fine points.

Wearing number 13, Chloe Moran was operating as a sweeper for Moate and was highly effective in the role as she continually broke up Caulry attacks.

Caulry were occasionally guilty of giving away possession cheaply and they were punished when a brace of points from Ella Grennan was added to by one from Collins, bringing the sides level by the 22nd minute.

A minute later, Caulry’s Kate Stuart Trainor availed of Hallissy’s pass and demonstrated her searing turn of pace before firing into the net for what was probably the best goal scored on the night.

Maloney quickly raised a green flag of her own with a clinical finish, after Molly Connaughton and Aine Gaynor were involved in the build-up. The impressive Maloney added a point to her tally, before Collins gave Moate a needed boost. Hallissy had the last say on the scoring front in the first half, leaving Caulry ahead by 3-6 to 1-5 at the interval.

Moate needed to make a strong start to the second half but instead it was Caulry who added to their lead with points from Maloney, Clinton and Gaynor.

Moate temporarily lost the influential Chloe Moran to a black card for ten minutes and Ella Grennan soon suffered a similar fate. And when Gaynor punished a Moate kickout which went awry by scoring Caulry’s fourth goal, there seemed no way back for the home side.

Gaynor was denied another goal by Moate netminder Geoghegan, with the Caulry player sustaining an injury in the process which ended her involvement.

Substitute Eva Fox started the Moate comeback with a 43rd-minute goal, her shot creeping just inside the near post. Three points from Faye Hanley (two frees) and one from the returned Chloe Moran added to Moate’s momentum.

A splendid individual goal from Annemarie Moran, an energetic presence throughout, left just goal between the sides in the 48th minute. With the Moate girls attacking in waves, the same player clipped over a point to leave two between them.

With regulation time running out, Leah Hallissy ended Caulry’s lengthy scoring hiatus and the relief in the visitors’ ranks was obvious. Leah’s sister Ava soon blasted over another point.

The score that finally sealed Caulry’s victory came in added time after Caulry centre-back Ruth Martin won a turnover in defence. The ball was moved to the other end of the field and Stuart Trainor’s jinking run paved the way for substitute Rachel Maguire to flick the ball to the net.

There was still time for Collins to earn a penalty for Moate, which was netted by Fox for a consolation goal.

What it means: Having lost to Athlone in what was a cracker of a game in the opening round, Caulry needed this win to get back on track ahead of what promises to be a tough assignment against Loughnavalley in Castletown Geoghegan tonight (Friday, 7pm). For their part, Moate overcame last year’s intermediate finalists Coralstown/Kinnegad in their opening game and they will face Clann Gaels next.

Scorers - Caulry: J Maloney 1-3; Aine Gaynor 1-2 (0-1f); M Clinton 1-1; L Hallissy 0-4; K Stuart Trainor and R Maguire 1-0 each; A Hallissy 0-1. Moate: A Moran 2-1; E Fox 2-0 (1-0 pen); E Collins and F Hanley (2f) 0-3 each; E Grennan 0-2; C Moran 0-1.

Caulry: Aisling Claffey; Susan Duignan, Amy Murphy, Grace Shortall; Ella Corcoran, Ruth Martin, Eunice David; Jasmine Maloney, Aishling Gaynor; Molly Connaughton, Leah Hallissy, Megan Clinton; Kate Stuart Trainor, Ava Hallissy, Aine Gaynor. Subs used: Rachel Maguire for Aishling Gaynor; Lauren White for Aine Gaynor (inj.); Sophie Padden for Shortall; Aishling Gaynor for David.

Moate: Niamh Geoghegan; Kasia Wozniak, Lorna Flanagan, Amy Hughes; Holly Keenan, Rebecca Finlay, Louise Payne; Therese Geoghegan, Annemarie Moran; Ella Grennan, Emma Collins, Aisling McLoughlin; Chloe Moran, Faye Hanley, Aine Bracken. Subs used: Emily Craven for Flanagan; Eva Fox for McLoughlin; Aoife Ross for Payne; Sinead Lynam for Hanley.

Referee: John Gallagher (Ballinasloe).