Mungret St. Pauls 1-6 Adare 3-8

Thursday 17 September 2020 saw our U-16 team travel to the Manor Fields in Adare for round 3 of the championship. Adare had beaten Bruff in the previous round, and were aiming to preserve a 100% record. Bruff had trimmed us by 20 points in round 2, so hopes were modest for what might ensue. Anything approaching respectability on the scoreboard would have been considered a success, and we were certainly not expecting the end-to-end thriller that unfolded on a warm summer evening. We scored first, and when we then conceded an early goal, we replied immediately with a goal of our own to take the lead again. It was 1-2 all at the water break, and the rest of the half was helter-skelter all the way, at the end of which we trailed by two points. Two quick Adare goals seemed to herald the deluge, but the next three scores were Mungret St. Pauls points, and we again were within two points at the second water break. The gripping excitement continued from here all the way to the end, the air was thick with the sound of timber and all 30 players were giving everything. In the end Adare had too much and finished ahead by 3-8 to 1-6, but Mungret St. Pauls were magnificent and it was one of those rare occasions where, despite being beaten, every player, mentor and parent in attendance went home on a high. The U-16s have challenge matches away to Granagh Ballingarry and Bruff (groan) this week, while they await the outcome of playoffs in the other group to see who they will play in the semi final. Well done to the squad of Ellie Mulqueen, Ella Mason, Caoimhe Holmes, Dearbhail Mangan, Saoirse Casey, Zoe Page, Ciara Brennan, Ella Page, Emma Fitzgerald, Cliodhna Byrne, Amy O'Halloran, Caoimhe O'Rourke, Katie O'Callaghan, Aoife Long, Eibhlin O'Grady, Amy Connolly, Leah Nolan, Rachel Lynch, Jayne Casey, Aoife Lyons, Mollie Tobin.