Adult Ladies – Junior A Championship, Round 1
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Kilmeena vs St Brigids
Kilmeena 2 - 19, St Brigids 1 – 04
In this first round of the 2026 Junior A Championship, Kilmeena were at home to St Brigids on Sunday, 16th Augustwith an 11am throw-in time.
Kilmeena had travelled to Kilfian in September 2025 for the previous encounter between these sides in the Junior A championship. On that occasion St Brigids blitzed the Kilmeena ladies with a 6-goal salvo in the second half to win by 10 points. So, there was a steady resolve by the Kilmeenaladies to make amends for the 2025 loss and amends they did make, running out winners this time by 18 points at the final whistle.
At the throw-in, neither team held a weather advantage – conditions were overcast, the light drizzle had stopped (for a while!!) and there was no breeze. Both teams got stuck in with Molly Foy registering Kilmeena’s first score. Ciara Joyce and Aoife Gannon followed up with a point apiece before St Brigids opened their account with a minor.
With the ladies in black & white pressing up on and winning a significant share of the St Brigids’ kickout further points were converted by Amy Carney, Julia Sztejner and Ciara Joyce.
Just when it seemed that the hosts were in control they got turned over by St Brigids. A couple of passes later, the ball was in the back of the Kilmeena net and the home side’s lead was reduced to 2 points.
Game on again? Not really.
The Kilmeena ladies didn’t panic – they continued to play with control, working the ball around and converting four additional points, one each from Sheila Bohan and Ruby Lane (free) and two from the boot of Eabha Carney, including a well taken free.
A solid performance from 1 to 15, including the introduction of two subs gave the hosts a six-point cushion at the short whistle.
Half time score: Kilmeena 0 – 10, St Brigids 1 – 01
The second half picked up where the first half had left off.
The Kilmeena ladies continued to dominate and it wasn’t long before a hat-trick of pointed frees (Ciara Joyce) was followed by a goal from the boot of Ciara Joyce. St Brigids remained competitive and they did continue to battle on to convert a few more scores too. But the home side having the advantage of additional subs to introduce (Deirdre Byrne, Mags Ryder and Kate McNicholas) and now aided by a slight breeze, were in a position to finish stronger. Further points from Lisa Hastings, Sheila Bohan and Ciara Joyce together with a second goal form the latter put the game to bed in the final quarter and ensured a good win at home for the Kilmeenaladies.
Whilst applauding the scoring exploits that created a final tally of 2 – 19 for the home side it should not be lost on anyone that restricting St Brigids to 1 – 04 (5 scores) over sixty minutes of football is a testament to the midfield and defensive work rate of the ladies that played those positions today. Simply put this was a team and squad effort that delivered a good result for the Kilmeena ladies in this first round Championship encounter.
Today’s result is the perfect start to the 2026 Championship for the Kilmeena Adult Ladies’ squad and it represents a step in the right direction.
Next up is Kilmoremoy (Ballina) away on Sunday 23rd August (1pm).
Team; Emma Jane Gill, Sarah Mulchrone, Katie Moran (Snr), Laura O'Grady, Eabha Carney, Megan O’Malley, Laura Kelly, Lisa Hastings, Julia Sztejner, Aoife Gannon, Molly Foy, Leah Walsh, Sheila Bohan, Ciara Joyce, Katie Moran (Jnr).
Subs: Ellie Mae Keane, Mags Ryder (for Molly Foy), Amy Carney (for Leah Walsh), Emily Irwin, Ruby Lane (for Megan O’Malley), Lucy O’Malley, Rachel Keane, Deirdre Byrne (for Katie Moran Jnr), Kate McNicholas (for Sheila Bohan), Aine Regan, Niamh O’Connor, Holly Barrett, Caragh Ryan.
