All Ireland Semi Final Match Report ( SHSS V's Colaiste Bríde, Enniscorthy)

This one will go down in the history books! Many famous battles have taken place in the county of Wexford and St. Patricks Park, Enniscorthy can now be added to that list, as two brave sets of players from Coláiste Bríde and Sacred Heart Secondary School played out a thriller in testing conditions. The game had everything from the start, every ball keenly contested, marvelous individual skill and a never say die attitude that had all supporters on edge right to the final whistle.

The Enniscorthy girls got off to a flyer with an early score against the testing elements. It was an early and decisive show of their potential and strength. With the next puck out the West Cork ladies had set in motion their own intentions, as a sweeping move ended with a strike for score that came off the upright right into the path of the alert Anna Flynn and the Balinascarthy ace finished to the net. With the driving wind and rain, scores were always going to be limited. Both sides adopted a pressing game that ensured no player had either time or space and so was set in motion, a battle supreme . Jessica O’ Driscoll at half back was tasked with monitoring the Colaiste Bríde danger player, a task she accomplished to great effect. She was ably assisted by the teak tough Kelly O’ Gorman, stylish Emma O’ Driscoll and the sticky Mary Murphy and Alannah O’ Brien.

With the wind at their backs, the Clonakilty girls opened up a little day light with two well pointed frees from the ever dependable Dáire O’ Brien, before the referee pointed to the spot having judged Emma O’ Driscoll’s tackle to be overly committed. The Enniscorthy ladies took the option of the point leaving the sides 1.2 to 0.2 at the interval.

The second half started just as the first had, with an early pointed free for Coláiste Bríde. The Enniscorthy students upped the intensity, roaring into the game and the Sacred Heart Students looked to be on the ropes. On a day like this, the notable physicality was their obvious advantage. However a tackle on Sacred Heart midfielder, Annie Condon, (that saw a yellow card) appeared to inject a West Cork response. This was followed by a expertly taken O’ Brien free. As the game entered the last 10 minutes it was all courage and persistence with touch tight marking, blocking and clearing the lines, the order of play.

Eimear O’ Brien, who had been moved out to the wing roared into the game. Millie Condon ran cleaver lines as she tested the heart of the Enniscorthy defense. A “man of the Match” display from the Kilbree club player, Caoimhe Murphy rallied the Clonakilty girls as she secured vital ball, always winning primary possession while unlocking the defense with her astute distribution. The brave Lydia Sutton was having a fine game, before a collision, while bravely going for a loose ball, ended her afternoon. Her replacement Orla Deasy injected fresh legs with the energy sapping pitch inflicting cramp on a number of players.

Both sides traded points before another pointed free from Colaiste Bríde made it 1.4 to 0.6 points as the clock ticked closer to the red zone. The tidy attendance who squeezed into the small stand were on their feet now as they were entertained by two very competitive sides. Try as they might, there was no way through for the home team, with Kate O’ Donovan and Maeve Kingston operating roving roles, they assisted a strengthening Sacred Heart team who drove up the field winning a vital free which O’Brien duly dispatched. It was all hands to the pumps as a last ditch effort by Colaiste Bríde was calmly neutralised by Sinéad McCarthy in the Sacred Heart goal. There was a well deserved celebration after a game, which had the fuzzy feeling of a final about it. However champions are never crowned on semi final day. It does however present a well deserved and rare opportunity to create history in next Saturday’s All-Ireland final.

Wishing the team and coaches Mr. Mulcahy and Mr. Daly all the best as they endeavor to do justice to today’s and other displays by securing an opportunity of a lifetime!