Boardsmill bounce back in fine fashion

Kealey goal decisive as 'Mill return to the top flight

Boardsmill.........................1-12

St Ultan’s..............................0-8

They’re back. Back with a bang. Four years after they were relegated from the senior ranks Boardsmill once more returned to the top flight when they claimed victory over St UItan’s in this Ladies IFC final at Skryne on Saturday evening with a confident, clinical display.

In the opening round of the championship Boardsmill also defeat the Ultan’s. That time the margin of victory was five points (2-13 to 2-8). On Saturday there was seven between the sides at the end and in truth it could have been more. The team in blue were by some distance the better side.

It was impossible not to feel a deep sympathy with St Ultan’s who also lost last year’s IFC decider to Skryne and were hoping to make amends. They made a bright start to the evening as they led 0-3 to 0-1 after six minutes.

After 17 minutes they were still in front, 0-4 to 0-3, thanks to three points from their main markswoman Rachel Casserly and one scored by industrious midfielder Emily O’Brien. Then the wheels started to loosen. It was in the 18th minute their fortunes took a nosedive when Boardsmill fashioned the only goal.

It was the end product of one of those foraging, rapid-quick attacks the ‘Mill put together with increasing menace and regularity. The move ended with former Meath star Emma Troy passing to Susan Kealey who finished emphatically from close range. Suddenly Boardsmill led 1-3 to 0-4 and they were to stay in front for the remainder, steadily adding to their account.

Ahead 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval they made a bright start to the second-half with Paula Dorian capping a highly effective display with two well-struck points from play (added to the two she bagged in the opening half). Claudia Durkan also powered forward to fire over the bar while Abbie Reilly and Laura Dempsey were others to finish off enterprising moves with scores after the break.

Always a major threat, Dempsey finished the evening as Boardsmill’s joint topscorer, also with four points (two frees), while the irrepressible Sarah Bagnall capped a very influential, high-energy display with two first-half scores from play.

Under the management team of Sean Fitzgerald, James Costello, Chrissy Farrell, Blaithin Cribbin, Brian Troy and Cian Downes, this well-prepared Boardsmill side were very effective in switching from defence to attack - once they recovered from that uncertain start – with the fleet-footed Amy Troy time and again a major influence in making that transition.

In defence Boardsmill also needed to be sharp and alert to contain a lively St Ultan’s attack with goalkeeper Ciara Ashe called upon to make a couple of smart saves, most notably from Casserly late in the first-half.

St Ultan’s didn’t depend totally on Casserly for scores with O’Brien, Shauna Monaghan, Zara Farnan and Linda Smyth others to raise white flags but they found it increasingly difficult to engineer chances, a fact underlined in the way they could only muster three points in that second-half.

The Saints battled and fought for everything but ultimately they were unable to deal with the storm whipped up by a Boardsmill side who are very much a rising force. The ‘Mill, who are also Div 2 champions, are back all right.

Boardsmill: Ciara Ashe; Mae Fahy, Aideen Guy, Sarah Bagnall (0-2); Kate McEvoy, Rachel Troy, Kym McGrath; Nicole Troy, Emma Troy; Laura Bagnell, Amy Troy, Paula Dorian (0-4); Cliona Murray, Susan Kealey (1-0), Laura Dempsey (0-4 two frees). Subs – Claudia Durkan (0-1) for McGrath 44m, Abbie Reilly (0-1) for Kealey 58m.

St Ultan’s: Chloe English; Chloe Gibbons, Yvonne Barden, Cara Martin; Nikki Ennis, Mary Coyne, Molly O’Brien; Linda Smyth (0-1), Emily O’Brien (0-1); Aisling Marley, Shauna Monaghan (0-1), Ally Kavanagh; Rachel Casserly (0-4 one free), Katie O’Brien, Orlaith Reilly. Subs – Leah Codd for Aisling Marley, Megan Buchanan for Kavanagh both 41m, Zara Farnan (0-1) for Reilly 51m.

Referee: Stephen Cregan (Dunshaughlin).