Caltra Cuans ladies on cloud nine!

Caltra Cuans 2-8St. Enda’s (Tyrone) 0-8

THE Caltra Cuans ladies made history on Sunday last in Mullahoran, Co. Cavan, when they became the first Galway team to win the All Ireland Junior Club Championship.

In the process, they capped a successful year during which they also won the All-Ireland Sevens as well as Galway and Connacht finals. Caltra fully deserved to win this final replay and the six point margin reflects their supremacy in this match.

However while Caltra Cuans were the better team, St. Enda’s put it up to them all the way and had the Tyrone outfit got a rub of the green at certain, the final score line might have been a lot closer.

Caltra started brightly, unlike the drawn match, and went into the lead after two minutes when Aine Mannion scored from play following good work from Ciara Kilroy, Sarah Noone and Theresa Loughnane. Caltra had two bad wides in the 4th and 5th minutes before they were rewarded with a penalty when Breda Hanlon was dragged down in the square after a fine move involving Aine Mannion and Niamh Kilkenny.

The excellent Caltra Cuans’ centre back Sarah Noone showed great courage when she drove an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net. Caltra were dominant in all sectors and it looked like they were going to wrap up this match early.

But they were up against a determined and skilful Tyrone team which was unlucky to miss a close in free on eight minutes. The Caltra kick out was then put under pressure and Kelly O’Sullivan had a great goal chance for Enda’s deflected out for a 45 after the Caltra goalie Lucy Greene got her foot to the ball.

Caltra responded when the resulting 45 was cleared up the field and a great move involving Ciara Kilroy, Sarah Noone, Orla Kilkenny, Aoife Ni Cheallaigh and Emma Naughton saw a shot from Breda Hanlon drop into the grateful hands of St, Enda’s goalie Colleen McCullagh. Caltra worryingly dropped two more chances into McCullagh’s hands and also had a poor wide in the 13th minute.

They were punished when a good move from St. Edna’s saw Teri McCullagh point a 30 metre free to open their account on 15 minutes. Caltra’s early dominance was not fully reflected on the scoreboard but they replied with a marvellous point from Aine Mannion after a move involving Orla Hannon and Niamh Kilkenny.

Caltra had another excellent point from Orla Hannon on the 22nd minute after a good move involving Aine Tully and Emma Naughton. This stretched Caltra’s lead to five points, 1-3 to 0-1, but from here to the half time St. Enda’s dominated proceedings.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.