East Cork Junior Ladies Football Championship:

Bride Rovers 3-07      Midleton 2-09

Main Sponsor:   O’Coilean Bar, Rathcormac

On Tuesday the 31/08/04 proved a memorable day for the Junior Ladies of Bride Rovers.  We defeated worthy opponents Midleton on a score-line of 3-07 to 2-09 at Pairc Na Bríde..

The game started off well with Bride Rovers putting over the first point within the first minute.  Both teams for the first opening minutes played out of their skins with both sides putting scores on the board.  We have some good passing from Michelle McAteer to Katie Kelleher, which resulted in a point. 

The full back line for Bride rovers were put under pressure at times but the magnificent trio of Trish Kearney, Catherine McHugh and especially Sarah Gleeson put everything into keeping the Midleton forwards at bay.  Heading to the half way mark Rovers were trailing but some splendid passing by Niamh Barry and Mary McHugh to Sinead O’Driscoll resulted in a goal at the back of the net for Bride Rovers.

At the start of the second half both teams swapped points.  Midfield was a battle-zone for both teams.  Midleton's half forward line put continuous pressure on the Rovers ladies but the Rovers fought back even when they were a goal down.  Midleton put over two points in quick succession.  This is where we saw the change in the match. 

The Rovers ladies upped their game considerably.  They were not going to let this game slip through their fingers.  In the dying minutes of the match Rovers were up two points after Laura O’Keeffe and Noelle Kearney blasted a goal each to the back of the Midleton net within minutes of each other. 

The game was surely over at this stage but Midleton continued to drive forward and put over another point, leaving a point between the teams.  Both teams fought for possession but fortunately on the final whistle Rovers had won by the narrowest of margins – a point!

Bride Rovers Team & Scorers:

Arlene O’Callaghan, Trish Kearney, Catherine McHugh, Sarah Gleeson, Imelda Dorgan, Bridget Forde, Caroline Broderick, Michelle McAteer, Niamh Barry, Emma O’Keeffe, Katie Kelleher (0-2), Mary McHugh (0-1), Noelle Kearney (1-1), Sinead O’Driscoll (1-3), Laura O’Keeffe (1-0), Irene Hogan, Colette Hogan, Karen Grumbridge, Lisa Foley, Eleanor Carey, Clodagh Butler, Sarah Walsh.