Despite a gallant effort from Holloway Gaels the London side had no answer to St Sylvesters firepower
St Sylvesters 2-12
Holloway Gaels 0-05
St Sylvesters blew away the post Christmas cobwebs with a convincing win over Holloway Gaels in yesterday’s All Ireland Intermediate club championship quarter final.
Holloway Gaels put in a gallant effort throughout with midfielder Cliona Twohig and full forward Caroline McCarthy particularly impressive for the London side.
But Holloway came up against a well organised and drilled Sylvesters defence that consistently overturned the ball to keep scoring opportunities for Holloway Gaels at a premium.
At the other end of the pitch the Holloway defence just couldn’t contain the movement, interplay and attacking threat from St Sylvesters and they found it particularly difficult to contain Dublin stars Sinead Aherne and Nicole Owens who contributed 2-07 between them.
It was Owens who grabbed the first score of the game four minutes in when she drilled the ball to the net for the games opening goal.
Five minutes later and Sylvesters had doubled their lead with points from Owens, Kate Sullivan and Sinead Aherne.
The Malahide side continued to drive forward and further points from Aherne with two converted frees and a fine point from play from Emma Sullivan stretched Sylvesters lead to nine points.
Holloway Gaels grabbed their first score of the game in the 18th minute with a well struck point from midfielder Caroline Hanley. Three minutes later and the side from London were awarded a penalty, but Syls goalkeeper Sophie Brennan was up to the task and saved the spot kick.
Sylvesters cleared their lines and drove up field and added two more points in as many minutes from Kate Sullivan and Emma Sullivan.
Four minutes from the break Holloway scored their second point of the half from a Caroline McCarthy free.
Just a minute later and Sylvesters were reduced to fourteen with corner forward Louise Ryan shown a yellow card and a ten minute spell in the sun-bin.
Despite being down a player Slys continued to control the tempo and dictate the play and just before the short whistle Sinead Aherne split the post for a fine point to give Sylvesters a ten point lead at the break with the score 1-09 to 0-02.
Despite starting the second half still a player short St Sylvesters all but wrapped up the win in the opening four minutes, Sinead Aherne put eleven between the teams with a point in the 32nd minute and two minutes later Aherne finished off a sweeping Slys move to the net.
In fairness to Holloway Gaels they never let their heads drop and had their best spell of the game in the run up to the second half waterbreak.
Caroline McCarthy who caused problems with her direct running style popped over two points in a row the first from open play and the second a converted free to give Holloway some momentum, but a couple of missed opportunities before the waterbreak halted their progress.
Sylvesters regained the upper hand and tagged on two more points the first from Kim White and the second from the impressive Nicole Owens.
There was just one more score in the final thirteen minutes of play and it went to Holloway midfielder Cliona Twohig in the sixtieth minute, the full time whistle was blown shortly afterwards to confirm the St Sylvesters win and their progression to the All Ireland Intermediate club championship semi final and a meeting with Kinawley of Fermanagh in two weeks time.
St. Sylvesters Scorers
14. Sinead Aherne 1-05 (3f)
8. Nicole Owens 1-02
10. Kate Sullivan 0-02
11. Emma Sullivan 0-02
3. Kim White 0-01
Holloway Gaels Scorers
14. Caroline McCarthy 0-03 (2f)
9. Caroline Hanley 0-01
8. Cliona Twohig 0-01
St. Sylvesters
1. Sophie Brennan
2. Cliona Fitzpatrick
3. Kim White
4. Leah Harrold
5. Lisa Murphy
6. Dannielle Lawless
19. Caitlin Guiden
8. Nicole Owens
17. Kyrah Tanner
10. Kate Sullivan
11. Emma Sullivan
12. Niamh Harney
13. Sophie McGlynn
14. Sinead Aherne
15. Louise Ryan
St. Sylvesters Substitutions
18. Grainne McGinty for 11. Emma Sullivan (HT)
21. Aine McDonnell for 10. Kate Sullivan (52)
22. Chloe Bryan for 12. Niamh Harney (52)
20. Sadbh McCann for 15. Louise Ryan (52)
Holloway Gaels
1. Aisling Clifford
2. Ciara Flanagan
3. Ruanne Hunt
4. Sam Grozotis
22. Anna Ní hUiginn
6. Niamh Kelly
7. Martha Jordan
8. Cliona Twohig
9. Caroline Hanley
10. Aine Maguire
11. Emma Mulhern
12. Eimear McCarthy
13. Rosemarie Dullea
14. Caroline McCarthy
15. Marian O’Donnell
Holloway Gaels Substitutions
27. Annie Cooper for 13. Rosemarie Dullea (51)
17. Sarah Morrissey for 2. Ciara Flanagan (55)
23. Kate O’Brien for 12. Eimear McCarthy (57)
26. Katherina Bradshaw for 10. Aine Maguire (57)
30. Grace Cahalane for 22. Anna Ní hUiginn (59)
