Late scoring burst sees Rathvilly claim IFC title
Rathvilly celebrate their win in the LGFA Intermediate final
Rathvilly scored the last four points of the game to secure the Carlow LGFA Intermediate title and become the first side to lift the new Kathleen Mullins Cup, a trophy named after somebody who did so much work for ladies football in the county and her husband Fran was on hand to present to the winning captain Sarah Curran.
The game was a captivating affair with momentum ebbing from one side to the other and Kildavin/Clonegal can consider themselves very unfortunate to lose this final for the second year in a row. The tears that flowed at the end showed the pain of losing of a county final and the fact that they played their part in such a compelling contest will feel like scant consolation for them.
They had to battle back after Rathvilly made a flying start. Grace Kelly, Amalita O'Donoghue and Fia Murphy all scored early goals as they led by 3-0 to 0-1 after 13 minutes.
But Kildavin/Clonegal battled back and India Mernagh scored goals before half time to leave the score at 3-4 to 2-4 at the break.
Sarah Cox then leveled the game at 3-6 apiece in the 42nd minute when her shot crept in at the near post. Rathvilly answered back with a point from Emily Lawlor less than a minute after she entered the game but Roisin Carroll quickly tied the game once again.
With the eventual player of the match, Catherine Dempsey, pulling the strings in midfield Rathvilly scored the next two points to get their noses in front again but Kildavin/Clonegal took the lead for the first time in the 52nd minute when Chloe Roberts' shot floated over Dominique Balfe's head and into the net.
Rathvilly didn't let that setback get to them and levelled the game through Fia Murphy.
By this stage, the atmosphere was frenetic and tension on the pitch mounted. Murphy shot wide from a free kick while at the other end, Isobel Cronin's shot bounced on the bar in the 57th minute before Mernagh's follow up on the rebound was blocked.
Rathvilly put one hand on the trophy with points from Murphy and Kelly in the final seconds of normal time before Ella Molloy made sure of the win in added on time.
It's a first title at this level since 2019 for Rathvilly and the scenes at the end showed just how meant it meant to the squad.
Dominque Balfe; Ciara Byrne, Orla Hanlon, Sarah Curran, Caoimhe Deering, Maire Farrell, Ciara McGuirk; Sinead Tallon, Catherine Dempsey; Amalita O’Donoghue 1-1, Fia Murphy 1-5 (1f), Grania Murphy, Ella Molloy 0-1, Grace Kelly 1-3, Rachel Whelan 0-2. Sub: Emly Lawlor 0-1 for Murphy, 42.
Claire Murphy; Kim Shiel, Sarah Kirwan, Lia Dunne, Nicole Roberts, Megan Doyle, Niamh Cox; Orlagh Hickey, Aoife Carroll; Chloe Roberts 1-1, Caoimhe Redmond, Sarah Cox 1-0, Isabel Cronin 0-2 (1f), India Mernagh 2-3, Annie Sheppard. Sub: Katelyn Sheppard for A Sheppard, 17; Roisin Carroll 0-1 for Shiel, h/t.
Marion Hayden
