Judge puts seal on Kinsale victory

IN highly dramatic fashion, Kinsale Community School won the Cork County Vocational Schools A Ladies Football Championship for the first time after a thrilling victory over Boherbue Comprehensive at Kilmichael yesterday.

Winners of the B championship last year, Kinsale crowned their greatest moment with a six-goal bonanza and they displayed tremendous character in staving off a terrific late comeback from Boherbue.

If ever there was a rollercoaster of a contest this was it. Kinsale, with the wind in their favour, got off to a flying start with their first goal coming from Jessica Sheehan in the 6th minute. The south-east side opened up a six-point lead before Boherbue, inspired by the twin thrust of the O’Connor sisters, Claire and Caroline, came roaring back with five points on the trot.

Kinsale lifted the siege with a second goal from Cecilia O’Driscoll at the end of the first quarter and the new champions, with Orla Finn sparkling on the 40, went on to lead by 2-8 to 0-10 at the break.

Finn, the outstanding Kinsale centre forward, tacked on a goal and a point immediately after the resumption to increase her side’s lead to seven points.

Then when O’Driscoll and Aisling Judge added two more goals to leave an intimidating gap between them entering the final quarter the die looked well and truly cast for Boherbue, winners of the title on several previous occasions.

But with O’Connor’s popping up all over the place, Botherbue fought valiantly to peg back their opponent.

But as the excitement reached fever pitch, Kinsale gallantly held on and a late goal from Aisling Judge sealed a historic triumph.

Scorers for Kinsale: A. Judge 2-0; C. O’Driscoll 2-0; O. Finn 1-7 (0-1 from free); J. Sheehan 1-1; V. Maher 0-3.

Boherbue: Caroline O’Connor 1-5 (0-2 from frees); Claire O’Connor 1-4; J. O’Connell 1-1; C. Casey 1-1; E. Bradley 0-3; M. O’Mahony and S. Kelly 0-1 each.

KINSALE: S. O’Reilly; L. Wright, N. Sheehan, R. Sheehan; A. Alderdice, A. Horgan, A. O’Sullivan; A. Allen, E. Keating; V. Maher, O. Finn, P. Barnett; C. O’Driscoll, J. Sheehan, A. Judge.

Substitutes: T. Kingston for Horgan; C. Hayes for Sheehan; C. O’Leary for Judge.

BOHERBUE: C. McAuliffe; O. Murphy, M. Brosnan, A. O’Keeffe; S. Kelly, N. Murphy, H. O’Sullivan; M. O’Connor, A. Daly; M. O’Mahony, Claire O’Connor, E. Bradley; C. Casey, Caroline O’Connor, J. O’Connell.

Referee: Nial O’Mahony (Newcestown).