Poor Start Costly in the Heat of Battle
July 09, 2022
With temperatures that threatened to melt the goalposts and a blistering start for Ibane Gaels, it looked like Killavullen were in for a roasting in Timoleague on Thursday evening. With the league entering the concluding rounds and places in the final still up for grabs, this game had a championship feel about it.
An early save from Claire Nagle came at a high price as she was forced off with a wrist injury that will unfortunately keep her sidelined for the remainder of the summer. Clara Walsh took up duty between the posts but she could not be faulted for the two goals and three points that Ibane Gaels plundered in a virtual blitzkrieg.
A heat-induced water break seemed to invigorate the tourists and Killavullen turned the tables to initiate a scoring spree of our own. Emma Nagle notched our first point in the seventeenth minute – a statistic that told its own story in the final analysis – and Niamh Buckley added a goal within seconds with Emma Nagle and Eva Lankford involved in the build-up.
Niamh O’Gorman was unlucky not to score a goal shortly afterwards, when she forced a good save from the Ibane goalie, but she made no mistake with the next opportunity minutes later. That goal was sandwiched between two Eva Lankford points. The first followed a clever one two with Niamh Buckley from a 45”, while the second was a fine individual score, that started deep with a turnover by the ever-determined Evelyn Buckley. Killavullen incredibly found themselves in front, but in more ways than one they were still a long way from home.
Back came Ibane Gaels with a vengeance and they reeled off three goals and two points in a seven minute spell that left Killavullen floundering. Eva Lankford pointed a free before the short whistle to inspire a second half comeback.
The whole team responded with a magnificent effort. Niamh O’Regan and Claire Brennan were outstanding at the back, with excellent support from Edwina Dingivan, Emma Taylor, Camille Ní Shúilleabhain and Clara Walsh. Emily Fresh had taken over as goalkeeper and she made a string of fine saves to keep a clean sheet for the half.
As per usual Erica O’Connell covered every blade of grass from her base at midfield and around her Siobhán Sheehan, Ellie Coughlan and Andrea Fresh also defied the heat to carry an amount of ball forward. Hannah Martin came on board to bolster the attack and Killavullen gained huge momentum.
With some exceptional defending and goalkeeping, Killavullen confined Ibane to four second half points. Goals from Eva Lankford, Niamh Buckley and Emma Nagle made for a gripping climax to a most entertaining game. Killavullen pressed hard for one final goal to force a draw but couldn’t find a path through a packed goalmouth and Ibane held on for victory on this occasion to conclude a trilogy that has included a draw and a win each for both sides.
Claire Nagle, Edwina Dingivan, Niamh O’Regan (captain), Evelyn Buckley, Camille Ní Shúilleabhain, Clare Brennan, Clara Walsh, Erica O’Connell, Siobhán Sheehan, Emma Nagle 1-1, Andrea Fresh, Emma Taylor, Niamh O’Gorman (1-0), Eva Lankford (2-3), Niamh Buckley (2-0), Emily Fresh, Ellie Coughlan, Hannah Martin.