2023 C2 Security Junior A Club Championship Final
Liam Mellows v Kiltormer
21 Oct, 2pm
Venue: Loughrea
Ref: Gordon Duane
FT: Liam Mellows 4-10 Kiltormer 0-9
Junior A Final Player of the Match (POTM): Niamh McPeake
- 2023 Junior A Champions – Liam Mellows
- Match Report
- Match Photos
- View full match: Liam Mellows v Kiltormer
- View Match Highlights
2023 Junior A Club Champions – Liam Mellows
Back row (L-R): John Burke (Selector), Christina Walsh, Niamh McPeake, Ria McPhilbin, Ciara Grealish, Saoirse Benson, Ciara O’Sullivan, Ciara Dolan, Chloe Folan, Ciara Hughes, Roisin Hughes, Léana Nic Dhonnacha, Niamh McSweeney, Aoibhe Coyne, Ruth Elwood, Aoife Coen, Sinead Folan, Laoise McDonnell, Adrian McGrath (Coach), Colm Ó Fátharta (S&C), Ewan Cunningham (S&C)
Front Row (L-R): Kevin Flynn (Manager), Tarla Dunne (Selector), Kate O’Grady, Jennifer Burke, Aoife Finnerty, Michelle Hourigan, Aoife Elwood, Aoife McPeake, Eva McLoughlin, Sophie Keville, Abbie Fox Carr, Grace O’Donovan, Chloe Walker, Danielle Grealish, Ava Keleghan, Ellen Burke, Gayle Kealy (Selector)
Missing from photo: Ciara Morrissey
Match Report
It was a case of third time lucky for Liam Mellows as they put the heartache and disappointment of the previous two Junior A final losses to bed on Saturday in Loughrea when they overcame Kiltormer in the C2 Security Junior A Championship final.
Goals win games and it was the goals that really separated the sides in Saturday’s contest. A cross field ball into the square by Ciara Dolan was batted into the net by the oncoming Chloe Folen and Folen batted the ball into the back of the net inside the opening 2 minutes to give Liam Mellows the opening score of the game. Sophie Flynn through three frees brought the sides level by the 11th minute of the half. Dolan went on one of her soaring runs through the Kiltormer defence and slotted over a fine point to give Liam Mellows the lead at the midway point of the half.
A long ball in on the 16th minute found Folan and Folan was brought to ground inside the square and Liam Mellows were awarded a penalty. Roisín Hughes stepped up to take the penalty and blasted it into the roof of the Kiltormer net to give them a four-point cushion. Flynn stepped up to try and settle the Kiltormer nerves on the 19th minute with a free but Ellen Burke and Hughes through a free followed up with points of their own for Liam Mellows. Mary Kilkenny got Kiltormer’s opening score from play on the 25th minute but it was Mellows who finished the half the strongest with frees from Hughes and player of the match Niamh McPeake to leave six between the sides on a scoreline of Liam Mellows 2-5 Kiltormer 0-5 heading into the half time interval.
Mellows started the second half just like they started the first. They had a goal disallowed in the first minute due to a square ball. However, McPeake took on the Kiltormer defense, laying off the ball to Hughes, while Hughes relaid the ball back to McPeake who made no mistake in sticking it in the back of the net. McPeake and Hughes followed up with points of their own soon after the goal. Flynn stepped up to slot over her 5th of the day on the 38th minute while Lucy Finnerty followed up with a point a minute later. McPeake hit another free for her side on the 44nd minute but Kiltormer continued to fight back with scores from Leah Campbell and Ruth Kilkenny. But it was Liam Mellows who finished the strongest with Jennifer Burke capitalizing on a mistake in the Kiltormer defense as she pulled on the ball into the back of the net on the 50th minute. Dolan and Hughes followed up with points of their own near the end as it finished Liam Mellows 4-10 Kiltormer 0-9
Liam Mellows will be delighted that all there disappointed that they have suffered over the last few years has ended. They will now look forward to a Connacht Final against a nominated Mayo team. For Liam Mellows and Kiltormer, they will both look forward to playing in the Intermediate grade for the 2023 season.
MATCH PHOTOS
Photo credit: Michael Gough
Pre-Match: Junior A Final Launch
MATCH PREVIEW
Kiltormer will take on last years beaten finalist Liam Mellows in the 2023 C2 Security Junior A Championship Final. It sees a repeat of the 2022 C2 Security Junior A semi final when extra time was required to separate the sides with Liam Mellows coming out on top.
Liam Mellows appear to be the form team of the championship to date as they have remained unbeaten on their way to the finals. They have some big names in their panel such as Senior star Niamh McPeake, a player that is always a big scoring threat for their side. Liam Mellows had a six point victory over Sarsfields in their opening game. They had comfortable victories over Kitullagh Killimordaly and Ballinderreen in their round 2 and 3 games while they had a ten point victory over todays opposition in the final round of the group games. They had a easy victory over 2023 Junior B champions, Portumna, in the quarter finals stages. They then faced tough oppoosition in Kilconieron in the Semi Final. Only three points separated the sides in a high scoring contest but it was Liam Mellows who have prevailed to make it into their third consecutive Junior A county finals.
Kiltormer were knocking on the door of the final for the last two years. A strong performance by Liam Mellows in extra time in the semi final last year denied them the opportunity of a spot in last years finals. They had strong wins over Portumna and Turloughmore in the group stages. They did draw with Kilconieron in an intriguing encounter between both sides with Kiltormer striking late to get the draw in the game. The only defeat they have suffered to date is against today’s opposition in the final round of group games. They had a convincing victory over Kiltullagh Killimordaly in the quarter final while they overcame Sarsfields by six points in the semi final to book their place in today’s finals. Kiltormer have plenty of skilled players throughout their side that have featured on county panels throughout the past few years such as Sophie Flynn and Michelle Gately and they will be hoping that these players can bring their experience to the game today.
Liam Mellows have to be hurting after losing out in the finals of the last two years, especially after only losing by the slimmest of margins last year to St Colmans. They will be hoping that they can use their experience of the big day along with the hurt of their losses in the past will help them in getting over the line today. Kiltormer on the other hand will be looking to make up for last years disappointment in the semi finals. It is all to play for and there is nothing between the sides and it promises to be an exciting encounter between both sides.
