Galway 4-15

Cavan 4-11

(after extra-time)

By Deniese O’Flaherty in Kinnegad

GALWAY captured the LGFA All-Ireland U-14 Platinum Championship title after a pulsating game in Kinnegad that went to extra-time on Saturday.

The sides were level after the first half of extra-time, but a late goal from Ellie Harty O’Brien – her second of the match – sealed the win for Galway.

Cavan’s Emma Galligan registered the game’s opening score with a pointed free in the third minute. The sides were then level twice before Galway took the lead through the impressive Orna Dunne

Subsquently, Cavan were back in front. Doireann Brady’s effort came off the post and Grace Sherlock palmed the to the net.

Dunne and Galligan (free) traded points before Galway got a goal. Niamh Ní Ghionnáin went on a run and fired a shot to the back of the net. Brady drew Cavan level with a neat point in the 25th minute but just on half-time, Chloe Flynn landed a free to give Galway the edge at 1-5 to 1-4. It was all to play for in the second half.

Aoife Rogers had Cavan level in the 36th minute but Galway responded with 1-5 without reply – including a goal from Kyliah Maloney – to open up a seven point lead midway through the half.

Cavan kept pace with Galway and a converted penalty from Sarah Crowe in the 55th minute cut the gap to four.

Hannah Sherlock (Cavan) and Allanah Hughes (Galway) were sin-binned in the closing minutes. But the drama didn’t end there. Two frees from Clodagh Kelly and another goal from Crowe had Cavan ahead on 60 minutes.

Right at the end, however, Katie Brogan kicked a  pressure free to bring the game to extra-time.

The teams were still level at the break in extra-time but Galway finished strongly to take the glory in a thrilling decider.

GALWAY: A Mitchell; A Hartigan, C O’Neill, A Glynn; R Conroy, A Hughes, A Kelly; N Ní Ghionnáin (1-1) K Brogan (0-3, all frees); L Murray, K Donnelly Meehan, R Maguire (0-1); O Dunne (0-7, 0-2 frees), C Flynn (0-1, free) N Garvey. Subs: E Fallon, N Miskell, K Greensmyth (0-1), G Coyle, K Maloney (1-0), E Harty O’Brien (2-1), K McNulty.

CAVAN: K Lavelle; E Cusack, D McSeain, A Maguire; A McHugo, E O’Sullivan, L Crossan; A Rogers (0-1), S Brennan; E O’Reilly, D Brady (0-3), E McPhillips (0-1); E Galligan (0-2 frees), C Kelly (0-3, all frees), G Sherlock (1-0). Subs: K Curran Doughty, S Crowe (3-1, 2-0 pen), J Morgan, SJ Sherlock, C O’Reilly, M Gilsenan.

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon).

Pictured: The Galway U-14 LGFA team which defeated Cavan in the All-Ireland Platinum Final in Coralstown, Kinnegad GAA Club, on Saturday. Back row, left to right: Chloe Mannion (St Fursey’s), Lábhaoise Keane (Naomh Mhuire), Eimear Fallon (Tuam-Cortoon), Keela Donnelly Meehan (St. Gabriel’s), Alison McGann (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Ellie Harty O’Brien (Corofin), Grace Coyle (St. Michael’s), Naoise Barry (Grainne Mhaols), Ava Mitchell (Grainne Mhaols), Orna Dunne (Barna), Aoibhín Hartigan (Caltra Cuans), Neasa Garvey (Salthill-Knocknacarra), Chloe Flynn (Menlough-Skehana), Róisín Ruane (Menlough-Skehana), Niamh Ní Ghionnáin (Micheál Breathnach), Nicole Miskell (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), Ailbhe Kelly (Loughrea). Front: Ava Fahey (Claregalway), Kayla Greensmyth (Loughrea), Ciara Coyle (St Michael’s), Ciobha O’Reilly (Clonbur), Ruby McGuire (Dunmore MacHales), Alannah Glynn (Caltra Cuans), Lilia Murray (Caltra Cuans), Ciara O’Neill (captain, Caherlistrane), Katie Brogan (Claregalway), Kym McNulty (Claregalway), Katelyn Hynes (Claregalway), Orla Newell (Corofin), Róisín Conroy (Claregalway), Allanah Hughes (Claregalway, Kyliah Maloney (Claregalway).