Lucan’s Under-12 girls won the Leinster final of the Community Games Ladies Football championship last week at Killoe’s GAA grounds in Longford.
Lucan had overcome Balbriggan and Knocklyon to become champions of the county, and progressed to the Leinster quarter-finals, where they faced Monasterevin.
In that match, Laura Quinn dominated the scoreboard with a personal tally of 2-8 out of Lucan’s 3-10 to 1-0 win.
The semi-final, played last weekend, saw the team face off against Ferbane of Offaly.
Lucan were slow to get started, and conceded a few points before taking a firm grip on the game. The defence tightened up and Ferbane had to work hard to create any scoring opportunity.
Ferbane’s strong midfield players made Lucan’s midfield work hard to maintain possession. Lucan seemed to grow stronger as the game progressed, and they finished the game 7-9 to 1-8 victors.
The challengers for the Leinster title came from Meath champions Rathoath, who could only field 14 players. Rather than seek any advantage, Lucan lined out with 14 for the final with minor changes from the first game.
Unlike previous games, Lucan were dominant from the start, going five points clear before Ratoath first scored from a 45. Fast movement, accurate passing and solid scoring were the mark of the match while Lucan’s well-disciplined defence held solid.
The second half was a one-sided game, with all of the Lucan players keen to get on the scoreboard, which led to them finishing out 8-23 to 1-3 winners.
This was exhibition football from a superb group of girls that left mentors Michael Bowler, Mick Wisdom, Gabriel Goodwin and Billy Egan and all the parents extremely proud and looking forward to the national finals.
The team will represent Dublin and Leinster at the national finals, to be held in Athlone on the weekend of August 17 and 18.
