Kilkenny Feile Bennettsbridge

 Kilkenny Féile Na Gael Bennettsbridge 

“ It was a very proud day for Bennettsbridge as it was the first time since 1981 that they had competed in division 1 of the Féile” manager Alan Morrisey explains.

What a day it was for the Kilkenny girls as they managed to battle hard from start to finish but were unfortunately beaten by the eventually Féile winners in the semifinal.

Game 1

Newmarket on Fergus 2-4

Bennetttsbridge 1-7

There was nothing to separate these teams from start to finish as both sides shared a point each in this opening group game in Ferns Saturday morning.

In what was an end to end game from start to finish nothing could sperate these two sides. The opening half was eventful with goals coming at either end with Holly Ryan netting earlier on for the Kilkenny girls . 

Once play resumed it was much the same from both sides as they battled hard around the middle third . With the final whistle in sigh it looked like the Clare side who were four points up had done enough but the Kilkenny girls fought back with the last four points of the game .Bennettsbridge had Holly Ryan 1-6 and Katie Mulcahy 0-1 to thank to make sure they would start the day with at least one point on the board.

Game 2

Bennettsbridge 1-4

Granagh Ballingarry 4

In the second group game in division two only .A solitary Mia Rusnak  goal was the major difference against a tough Limerick side.

This division was very tightly contested from start to finish . The Limerick side never managed to break through a resolute Bennettsbridge rearguard to trouble the net all the way through the game . Eventually the only goal of the game was scored through Mia Rusnak who drilled an effort past the opposition keeper. It was Holly Ryan who top scored for her side as she was very hard to stop in any of the game adding another 0-4 to her  tally for the tournament 

Game 3 

Athenry 1-3

Bennettsbridge 0-6

In their final game to determine their semifinal placings the Kilkenny girls produced a fine performance  with a last minute point ensuring they would remain unbeaten in this tough group .

It has to be mentioned that in all their  games the sturdy Bennettsbridge defence nearly stood watertight but eventually the Galway side manage to break through for that elusive goal. This  was the difference between the sides as they kept one point ahead until nearly the final whistle . The tie was levelled in the last puck of the game as the Kilkenny girls never lost there cool and showed composure beyond their years to stay unbeaten in the group. The scores in this nerve racking tie came again courtesy of Holly Ryan 0-5 and Katie Mulcahy 0-1.

his result meant they would finish second in the group playing in the cup semifinal Saturday afternoon.

Cup Semi Final 

Bennettsbridge 0-7

Boherlahan Dualla 3-7

It wasn’t to be for the Bennettsbridge girls in the semi final as they were beaten by a couple of goals by the eventual champions.

In what was a very exciting opening few minutes it was eventually the division 1 champions from Tipperary the got the better of the Kilkenny girls who battled hard all the way through. The champions who had a team of 12 nearly all on the cusp were just too good in the end . Bennettsbridge  did get close to theme with another 0-5 from Holly Ryan along with 0-2 from Katie Mulcahy 

After the semifinal Morrisey details how he is very proud of a team that has a wide variety of ages on it. “ We achieved enormous things as our squad ranged from girls eleven years of age all the way up to fifteen.”

This experience may prove crucial in the next few years as these girls come up through the age groups . With  such a young team who knows the Bridge could be seen in the Féile again for the next few years.

Management team 

Paul Forde

Alan Morrisey

Bruce Nelson

Kevin Ryan

Caoimhe Shiels

Sinead Wall

Squad:

Leah Croke

Alice Nelson

Katie Holden

Sadhbh Hennessy

Amy Hughes

Erin Morrisey

Eve Byrne

Lauren Skehan

Katie Mulcahy

Sarah Forde

Holly Ryan

Lilly Mai Meighan

Kate Martin

Kayla Wall

Hollie Meighan

Isabel Nelson

Mia Rusnak

Aoibhe Walpole

Hannah Walpole

Alannah Drea

Brid Bolger

Isabel Brennan

Lily Dooley

Leah Farrell

Kristy Ozola.