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Dublin LGFA Féile Division 1 Final
St Sylvesters 0-06 Ballinteer St Johns 0-02
By Nigel McCarthy
St Sylvesters claimed the Dublin LGFA Fèile Division 1 title after a dominant second half display seen them run out four points victors over Ballinteer St Johns in St Peregrines GAA Club this afternoon.
As with all four finals in the Blakestown venue today the strong wind played a major factor in ensuring each final were low scoring affairs, but that just added to the excitement of each game with the outcome in the balance till the final whistle and the Division 1 final was no different.
Both sides this afternoon left nothing on the pitch and there were numerous players on both sides that stood out throughout the game, no more so than Ballinster’s Lucy Toher who looked dangerous anytime she got on the ball and the star of the show, St Sylvesters Sophie Hannon who chipped in with all of the Malahide sides scores and was one of her sides main ball winners.
St Sylvesters came flying out of traps and Sophie Hannon struck over the first point of the game with just seconds gone in the game.
In the fifth minute Ballinteer’s Aisling Power broke down the right hand side, cut inside and let fly, but her effort narrowly went wide. But three minutes later they drew level, a quick exchange of passes between Ciara Roche, Lucy Toher and Anna Kellegher released Toher into space and she split the posts.
Ballinteer took the lead in the thirteenth minute, a long ball deep into the Sylvesters defence was won by Ciara Roche and was offloaded to the ever dangerous forward Lucy Toher who grabbed her second point of the game.
That was to be the last score of the half and Ballinteer went into the break leading 0-02 to 0-01 but Sylvesters would have been happy at the break just a point down and wind advantage to come in the second half.
The second period was predominantly one way traffic with Sylvesters dominating proceedings. It took them just two second half minutes to turn the one point deficit into a one point lead thanks to two well struck frees from Sophie Hannon.
Hannon’s ability to turn the ball over was evident throughout the game and in the twenty second minute she turned the ball over about forty metres out, cut inside a couple of Ballinteer players and hit a sublime shot over the bar to double St Sylvesters lead.
Ballinteer St Johns battled to the end, but they just couldn’t get enough ball to stick in the forward line and found the ball coming back at them time after time.
Another pointed free in the 29th minute from Sophie Hannon put three between the sides and in the final seconds of the final Hannon left the best till last.
Sylvesters worked the ball down the left, after a battle for the ball on the wing, Sylvesters were awarded a sideline, up stepped Hannon and from the left wing, about 20 yards out hit a stunning point to cap off a well deserved for the Malahide outfit.
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