Double top for Kinawley ladies

Kinawley ladies emulated the men’s senior team by completing the double on Sunday afternoon, in Donagh. In an historic year for the club, the Brian Boru ladies saw off the challenge of Newtownbutler, the team who beat the Boru’s on a score line of 3-03 to 2-11 in last year’s league decider.
The First Fermanagh ladies dominated the early stages of this match. Rose Connolly opened their account with a point before Marcella Monahan broke through the Kinawley defence. With a goal beckoning, Kinawley’s keeper Shauna Baxter pulled off a fantastic save to tip Connolly’s shot over the bar and deny her a goal.
Noelle Connolly added a third and Maria Connolly extended their lead to four points. Kinawley’s defence, led by Courteney Murphy were absorbing a lot of pressure as Newtown continued to press forward. Maura McDonald found the target from a free to leave the score 0-05 to no score with 20 minutes on the clock and the signs were looking ominous for the Boru’s.
In the last ten minutes of the first half, Kinawley started to show why they’re Fermanagh champions and they started to get into the game. Roisin O’Reilly registered Kinawley’s first and Aine McHugh added a second, to leave the half time score 0-05 to 0-02.
Newtown applied all the pressure in the opening five minutes of the second half and registered another point through Shannon Courtney. That was to be their final score of the match though, as Kinawley really got to grips with the game.
Substitute Kayleigh Magee added a third for Kinawley and Joanne Doonan, who had been well marshalled by Erin Cadden all afternoon, landed two frees and a point from play to leave the teams level. Two more points from Roisin O’Reilly put the Boru’s in the lead and with ten minutes of injury time to be played, Kinawley defended tirelessly.
The Boru’s match fitness after their Ulster club game seemed to stand to them and they were able to hold out for a momentous win for the club.
Kinawley’s joint manager, Noel Melanaphy said “We expected a very tough match and that’s what we got. We felt very relieved when the referee blew the final whistle. I think they (Newtown) tired near the end and our run in Ulster gave us that slight edge.”
After a successful year for the Brian Boru’s club, Melanaphy said, “It’s great that we emulated what the men were able to do. Now we’ll be looking for the minor ladies to do the same and win the double.”
There were a number of fine performances on both sides. For Newtown, their more experienced players showed well. Marcella Monahan, Aine McBrien, Noelle Connolly and Player of the Match, Erin Cadden all had good games.
For Kinawley, Courteney Murphy was outstanding in defence. In midfield Roisin O’Reilly played well and Lisa Maguire was a constant threat up front. 
Substitute Claire McCaffrey also made a good impact when she was introduced.