Oulart-The Ballagh 3-10

Rathnure                 0-05

Oulart finally got there hands on the Leinster League Cup at the third time of asking at Abbotstown on Sunday, losing the final to yesterdays opposition in 2017 and losing to St Cillians from Offaly in last years decider.

Oulart dominated the early stages with plenty of goal chances but after 20 minutes of play Rathnure were hanging in on a score line of 1-03 to 0-03 with Ursula Jacob getting all Oulart’s scores, Ciara O Connor 2 points for Rathnure, and Marie Morrisey the other scorer. However a strong finish from Oulart towards the end of the first half gave Rathnure a mountain to climb, 2 more Ursula Jacob points, plus an Aideen Brennan goal, sent Oulart in at the break with a lead of 2-05 to 0-03.

In the second half Rathure were going to need a strong start to have any chance but it didnt materialise, a pointed free from Ursula Jacob, followed by another Aideen Brennan goal, put the game the game to bed. The biggest shout of the day was reserved for Una Leacy, back after 11 months on the sidelines with a cruciate knee injury, she pointed almost immediately when introduced with 15 minutes to go. Rathnure could only muster up a further 2 points from Ciara O Connor and Roisin Higgins while further points from Ursula Jacob and Stacey Kehoe saw Oulart to victory on a scoreline of 3-10 to 0-05 points with the ever green Mary Leacy picking up the player of the match award.

While its early in the year Oulart management will be delighted with the first piece of silverware for the year, and also showing signs that they are going nowhere and ready the challenge for the county championship crown once again in 2019, for Rathnure, newly appointed manager Marks Morrisey will know his side have a lot of work to do to get back to the levels such as bringing last years All Finalists St Martins to extra time in last years semi final. Interestingly the sides will be meeting each other again on Easter Sunday in the All County League, with both sides having players to come back in from yesterdays game it will another indication of where both are at ahead of the championship which starts in June.

Oulart-The Ballagh

Lauren Sinnott, Eimear O’Connor, Karen Atkinson, Katie Roche, Aoife Dunne, Mary Leacy, Aoife O’Connor, Stacey Kehoe, Louise Sinnott, Katie Murphy, Aideen Brennan, Siobhan Sinnott, Katie Gallagher, Ursula Jacob, Laura Sinnott,

Subs– Una Leacy, Niamh Dempsey, Ciara Blake, Leanne Nolan, Michaela Hawkins, Cora Redmond, Rachel Sinnott, Niamh Sinnott, Robyn McCarthy, Saoirse Dunne, Sharon Kehoe, Shelly Kehoe.

Manager- Colin Sunderland. Selectors- Kevin Kennedy, Kevin Doyle

Strength & Conditioning- Ray Harris. First Aid- Bridget Moran.

Rathnure

Laura Brennan, Fiona Donnellan, Louise O’Leary, Amy Cahill, Leanne Foley, Eimear O’Connor, Laura Redmond, Michelle Martin, Lisa Martin, Oonagh Doyle, Aoife O’Connor, Ciara O’Connor, Marie Morrissey, Aoife Guiney, Jackie Carr.

Subs- Sophie Roche, Eimear Byrne, Ashlynn O’Leary, Lizzie Whitely, Shauna O’Leary, Lisa O’Connell, Roisin Higgins, Lara Conran, Eva Mooney, Ella Lyng, Amy Foley, Fiona Guiney, Mary Kate Doyle, Roisin O’Connor, Katie Lennon, Aisling Breen.

Managers- Mark Morrissey, Clare O’Leary, Janet Cahill.