GazetteSPORT all of your malahide sports coverage from page 27-31
united feel the blues: Malahide undone by Bluebell at the Red Cow by late Satelle strike P30
October 18, 2012
scaling new heights: Jade O’Connor on how kitesurfing is taking off P29
Niamh McEvoy, left, burst into life to score five points in St Sylvester’s victory over Tinahely in the Leinster ladies football club championship semi-final Picture: Peter Hickey/GAApics.com
Syl’s perfect preparation Malahide ladies just one step away from back-to-back Leinster titles after making it through to the provincial club semi-final peter carroll
sport@gazettegroup.com
ST Sylvester’s are looking forward to a rematch of their junior Leinster final from last year when they face St Laurence’s this weekend off the back of one of their toughest tests on their epic run of the past few years. It comes hot on the heels of a closely fought semi-final that stood out to many as one of the games of the year, getting the better of Wicklow’s Tinahely. Brian Sullivan claims that although the semifinal may have taken the wind out of the team’s sails for a few days, they couldn’t have had a better game to keep them focused on the task
at hand come Sunday at 2.45pm in Athy when they meet Kildare’s St Laurence’s. “It was a fantastic game,” Sullivan started, “it was so evenly matched we took a slight lead early on but Lucy Mulhall showed her intercounty prowess for Tinahely all day and they went in at the break with a lead. “Sinead Aherne, Niamh McEvoy and Katie Slattery came alive for us in the second half and Aimee Hazley and Anne Clarke grafted very well. We thought we had the job done when we were leading by four points coming up to the final whistle. “The referee added on four minutes and Mulhall went straight for us and scored a fantastic goal. When Sinead came back with a goal of our
own we were ecstatic, it was a real roller coaster of emotions for the spectator. “It definitely had a few of the girls tired the next day but, as far as intensity goes, it was the perfect preparation for the final,” said Sullivan. Sullivan remembers the St Laurence’s team of last year to be a very skilful bunch of players with a fantastic ability for point scoring. The Kildare club have recently amalgamated with another local club, a move that has increased their inter county representation and depth of squad which should make the game an extremely tight affair. “I think with the newly amalgamated team they have about six intercounty players in the team, they were already a fantastic team when we played them and they have apparently
improved a significant amount since then. “We prepared for the semi-final with Tinahely with a challenge match against DCU and the All Ireland 7s; we’ve had to slightly tone it down for this one after such a tough semi, but we’ve had a game against St Anne’s to get us ready for this one. “We know we have to challenge for every ball and work for every minute of the final and the girls couldn’t have asked for a better character builder than the semi-final. “I’ve said it before: if any side want to beat us they will have to show up on the top of their games. It comes down to one game and it’s a very close one to call, but I have every confidence in my team,” finished Sullivan.