St. Bride’s 2-11 Roche Emmets 1-7

The seniors suffered a first league loss of the campaign in Knockbridge on Sunday morning as St. Bride’s maintained their perfect opening in Division One.

While Roche remained in touch until midway through the second half, Bride’s were the better outfit and had it not been for a high tally of wides, their superior set-up and organisation would almost certainly have earned them a more considerable margin of victory.

Abi Keenan led the Emmets charge up front, kicking some sublime points, Jennie McCourt played her heart out at midfield and there were committed displays by Aisling Sloane and the half-back trio.

But Gerry Curran’s charges were ultimately left with too much to do having conceded 1-4 in the early exchanges – Keenan’s first point being the girls in blue’s sole response.

However, given the quality of Roche’s forwards, the visitors were able to strike in rapid fashion as a clinical move between Seona Halligan and Keenan resulted in Shauna Finn being put through on goal and she made no mistake with a blast to the net.

At that juncture, given Bride’s had the advantage of the considerable breeze, Roche would have been fairly content with their position and it seemed as though the teams would retire to the interval on level terms when, after Tracey Rogers was felled, Keenan stepped up to the penalty spot.

Her kick was subsequently deflected over the top, but a 1-5 to 1-3 deficit appeared surmountable on the evidence of the game’s second quarter.

And following a blazing resumption, the teams were level as Halligan ripped through the home rear-guard for a brace.

Though that was as good as it got with Bride’s building another head of stream to kick 1-6 over the remaining 20 minutes in sealing the points.

They were incisive and driven – Emma McArdle and Kodie McEneaney typifying their fearless, offensive approach – whereas Roche were reserved and gifted possession away too easily at both ends of the field.

Still, however, with Aoife Halligan, Sarah McArdle, Lauren Meehan and Kelly Murray to come back into the fold over the weeks to come, this result is more likely to be a blip than a recurrence.

Roche: Caroline O’Neill; Aisling Sloane, Aoife Savage, Anna Murphy; Caoimhe Treanor, Niamh Callan, Aisling Begley; Jennie McCourt (0-1), Claire McDonnell; Seona Halligan (0-2), Louise Byrne, Ellie Grant; Abi Keenan (0-4), Tracey Rogers, Shauna Finn (1-0)

Sub: Lauren Briscoe for Rogers

Referee: David Loughran