Dempsey steals victory with injury-time point
Boardsmill 1-9, St Ultan's 1-8
Laura Bagnall claims possession for Boardsmill during last Thursday night’s Feis Cup final against St Ultan’s at Dunganny.
Laura Dempsey’s stunning injury-time point from a difficult angle earned Boardsmill victory over St Ultan’s in the Feis Cup final at Dunganny last Thursday evening.
Boardsmill looked comfortable when leading by six points at half-time, but the introduction of substitutes Anna Mullan and Linda Smith, who scored 1-5 between them, revived St Ultan’s.
Smith’s injury-time goal drew the sides level and with extra-time looming, Dempsey intervened.
She gained possession on the right and raced towards goal before lofting over a superb point from a tight angle which sparked wild celebrations amongst the Boardsmill players, oficials and supporters.
Dempsey’s point was a fitting reward for Boardsmill because they were the best team for the majority of the contest. They dominated possession in the opening period, but struggled to make a major impact on the scoreboard.
St Ultan’s enjoyed some periods of dominance in the second period with Mullan and Smith adding to the attacking threat.
The midfield pairing of Mary Coyne and Mary Foley improved after the break and with Ann Marie Ball doing well in defence, St Ultan’s clawed their way back into contention.
Such a close finish didn’t look likely in the first-half as Boardsmill were well in control, but their failure to convert chances, coupled with resolute St Ultan’s defending, gave Vincent Rennicks’ side hope.
Boardsmill’s Karla O’Brien opened the scoring before full-forward Ciara Murray replied for St Ultan’s.
Karla O’Brien then grabbed another point, but St Ultan’s countered with the threatening Lesley Buchanan on target.
For the remainder of the half it was Boardsmill who claimed further points from Edel Guy and Christine O’Brien.
Davina Dempsey toe-poked to the net in the 22nd minute after Christine O’Brien’s punched effort rebounded.
Christine O’Brien (pictured) added a point before the break to leave Boardsmill with a 1-5 to 0-2 interval lead.
St Ultan’s, who beat Seneschalstown in the SFC final last month, resumed smartly and were denied an early second-half goal by a smart Eimear Murray save.
Substitute Mullan made a big impact with a brace of points, but Boardsmill regained their composure from Laura Dempsey’s pointed free before Mullan split the posts again.
Boardsmill countered with points from the two O Brien’s, Karla and Christine for a six-point advantage with 10 minutes remaining. They were also denied numerous scores by the woodwork.
However, St Ultan’s maintained the pressure as Mullen and Mary Coyle pointed which reduced the deficit to 0-7 to 1-8. During this period Emma Troy was superb for Boardsmill and broke up a lot of promising St Ultan’s attacks.
Boardsmill also had a 'goal’ disallowed when referee Colm McManus harshly penalised Christine O’Brien for a foul on St Ultan’s ’keeper Nuala O’Brien.
There were many stoppages which resulted in five minutes of injury time.
Mullan kept St Ultan’s ticking over with another point before a fantastic Smith shot, three minutes into injury-time, found the net and tied the scores at 1-8 apiece.
St Ultan’s were on top at that stage, but Boardsmill hit them on the counter-attack.
They worked the ball to Laura Dempsey who hit the coup de grace to secure the title.
Boardsmil - E Murray; S Kennedy, C Murray, A Guy; E Troy, L Bagnall, L Griffin; H Regan, M Hegarty; D Dempsey (1-0), C Ashe, L Dempsey (0-2); C O’Brien (0-3), E Guy (0-1), K O’Brien (0-3). Subs - A Flynn for D Dempsey 37 mins, N Guy for Hegarty 50m.
St Ultan’s - N O’Brien; M Costello, AM Ball, M O’Brien; C Rennicks, G Macken, M Foley; M Coyne (0-1), P Marley; C Bennett, A Marley, L Buchanan (0-1); E Casserly, C Murray (0-1), C Coyne. Subs - A Mullan (0-5) for C Coyne, L Smith (1-0) for A Marley both half-time, H Smith for Bennett 45 mins.
Referee - Colm McManus (Gaeil Colmcille).
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