Clinical Rua Deservedly Take Title

Sliabh Rua 1-18 Brian Dillons 1-8

(JJ Hurley)

The victorious Sliabh Rua team who lifted the Lillie O'Sullivan Junior League Title at Castle Road on Saturday night.

Sliabh Rua secured the Lillie O’Sullivan Junior A League title as they pushed past Brian Dillons at Castle Road on Saturday evening.

Possibly spurred on after their intermediate side had let a league title slip from their grasp last week, Sliabh Rua’s junior outfit more than made up for it with an emphatic performance.

Sliabh Rua were outstanding throughout, with Hannah Deasy particularly influential as she finished with seven points.

Indeed, it was Deasy who opened her side’s account with the opening score before the city outfit tied up proceedings.

However, Caitlin Hurley responded with an excellent individual goal moments later to put the Carrigdhoun side in front.

Parity was almost restored on seven minutes when the impressive Sophie Foley floated in a high ball, but Katie Cusack’s handling was exemplary.

As Sliabh Rua settled, Evelyn Rath was prominent at midfield while Deasy continued to influence play, with Kayleigh Murphy adding another point as they led 1-2 to 0-1 on nine minutes.

For the next ten minutes, Dillons fought their way back into the contest as Foley landed three consecutive frees to leave only the bare minimum between the sides.

Murphy responded with an excellent point before Rath also found the target.

On the 27th minute, Foley was on target again as Murphy brought out a fine save from Síofra Finnegan Deane at the other end, leaving Sliabh Rua ahead by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break.

At the start of the second half, Deasy continued to cause problems for the Dillons defence and added to her account on 31 minutes before a superb score from Robyn O’Brien followed.

Sliabh Rua were also strong defensively, with Áine Cummins and Aisling Coleman leading the way.

Murphy added two frees, including a 45, as Sliabh Rua continued to extend their lead, with the scoreboard reading 1-9 to 0-5 on 36 minutes.

Four consecutive scores from Deasy left the South East side firmly in control by the 46th minute. Dillons then landed their first score of the half as the scoreboard read 1-12 to 0-6.

From there to the finish, three more scores from Deasy, two from Murphy and one from Rath, together with 1-2 from Dillons’ top scorer Sophie Foley, saw Sliabh Rua record a deserved victory.

Scorers for Sliabh Rua: H Deasy 0-7, K Murphy 0-7 (3f, 1 45), C Hurley 1-0, E Rath 0-2, R O’Brien 0-1.

Brian Dillons: S Foley 1-7 (7f), M Geraghty 0-1.

Teams

Sliabh Rua: K Cusack; A Sheehan, A Cummins, A Whyte; A Murphy, A Coleman, F O’Riordan; E Rath, E Murphy; C Hennessy, H Deasy, C Lyons; R O’Brien, C Hurley, K Murphy. Subs: G McCarthy, E Dineen, A Hayes, C Kiely, K O’Callaghan.

Brian Dillons: S Finnegan Deane; M Broe, A O’Brien, D O’Brien; C Horan, S Horan, F Coughlan; K Kenneally, C Brady; M Geraghty, S Foley, K O’Connell; A Kenneally, S Ahern, A Brady. Sub: A Coughlan.

Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan.

Aine Cummins collects the Lillie O'Sullivan Trophy from Cork County Secretary Orla O'Regan