Munster Ladies Football 1st year (A) Blitz 2009
Ten first year girls travelled to Rathkeale to take part in the Munster Ladies Football 1st year Blitz 2009. The girls were all very enthusiastic and eager to play teams from all over Munster. Hazelwood set out with team members, others first year players and some second year mentors. The first team which Hazelwood came up against was from Hospital. The girls were given a good tough game against Hospital. The Hazelwood girls dug deep and held Hospital to a final score-line of 3-6 to 3-5. The final whistle brought delight and relief, paving the girls’ way for their next four victories.
Within ten minutes of their first game the girls were back in action against Loretto, Fermoy. Fermoy had a number of physically strong players that popped two points over our goal post in the first couple of minutes. In light of this the Hazelwood girls hammered home score after score to put Loretto on the back foot. At half time the mentors encouraged the players and motivated them to play the half of their lives. The final whistle score-line was sparkling at 4-6 to 4 points.
Hazelwood was ushered into another battle within five minutes of their Loretto Fermoy clash. This next game was against a team from Dingle who showcased some wonderful football skill. Wonderful skill, that was mirrored and over shadowed in the end by the Hazelwood girls. The girls had to really dig deep into their short pockets to keep onto top of a neck and neck scoreline. This game was nail-biting and with a token thunder shower thrown in for good measure proved victorious for the Hazelwood girls who rallied together and played superb team football. The final score-line reflects the intensity of the game at 7-8 to 7-3.
After a break of a half hour, Hazelwood was placed to play in the semi-final of the A group. Hazelwood’s next face-off was against Causeway, County Kerry. With fire in their bellies and studs in their boots the girls were psyched and ready for action. Hazelwood and Causeway were popping scores over and back in third gear for the first little while until Hazelwood jammed their play into fifth gear. Letting fly the girls claimed a score-line of 5-7 to Causeways 2-4, dazzling supporters and observers with their skill, intelligent play and sheer will to keep motoring.
And so arrived the final of the Munster Ladies Football 1st year (A) Blitz 2009. Hazelwoods opposition was Castleisland. Castleisland had just beaten Coláiste na Sceilige in the other semi-final in group A. The girls were really up against it for the first half of this game and Castleisland were playing strong. At half time the Hazelwood mentors encouraged the girls to stay strong and to use all their skill and team spirit to pull themselves up and over the Castleisland stronghold. And boy did they pull and plough together, regaining the lead in a splendour of skill, melting Castleisland’s goal posts with a bevy of goals and points. The final score-line was this blistering final was 3-6 to 2-6. Needless to say the final whistle was echoed with ecstatic screams of delight from players, supporters, mentors and coach!!!
Players: Natasha Mangan, Gemma Barrett, Norma Kiely, Amanda McCarthy, Katie O’ Sullivan, Jennifer Ahern, Niamh McCarthy, Kara Clifford, Amy Ryan, Coleen Leahy.