[caption id="attachment_67043" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Mary O'Rourke of New York get the better of Wicklow's Lorna Fusciardi during the All Ireland junior final."]
The All-Ireland ladies junior football final at Croke Park was a riveting affair with perhaps a draw being a fitting result, though both sides had realistic chances to lift the silverware. The Garden county fared better in the possession stakes but they squandered a number of very scorable opportunities. However New York also missed very critical frees especially when scores were at a premium in a very close game.
Overall it was an excellent game of football that was played at great pace with plenty of passion by both sides. It was a game where defenses generally ruled with the New York's defenders giving a sterling and stellar performance. They executed great block-downs, timely interceptions and their dogged determination was epitomized by Imelda Mullarkey taking the full brunt of a Niamh Carroll blast in the face as the shot was destined for the net. Emma Clarke had the opening score from a free for a foul on Molly O'Rourke while two minutes later Loretta Gilbert burst through the middle to get Wicklow on the score board. After five minutes Wicklow jumped ahead with a point from Lucy Mulhall, who was Wicklow's best player. Both sides squandered chances before Emma Clarke scored a super point from play after Catriona Brady made a great run out of defense. Another Clarke pointed free soon followed but the momentum switched to Wicklow as they hit three unanswered points, Mulhall had two while Ahern had the other. For the last ten minutes New York picked up the pace with incisive runs from Courtney Traynor, Maebh De Burca and Molly O'Rourke creating chances which Clarke converted into scores to leave the sides tied at 0-5 each at the break.
On the resumption Wicklow started aggressively as TA McCullagh was forced to execute a great block to deny Mulhall a certain goal. Still they kept the pressure on as Laura Hogan and Mulhall added points. However New York quickly reined Wicklow back with two fine scores. First Linda McKeon went on one of her trademark runs and linked up with Clarke before setting up O'Rourke for a point. A minute later a good run from defense by Mullarkey ended with the leveling point from Clarke after ten minutes. New York's defense once again came under serious pressure as the ever dangerous Mulhall kept poaching for goals. Midway she put her team ahead with a great long range point but Clarke restored parity as a promising run by O'Rourke was impeded. New York then spurned a good chance as a great interception and run by Catriona Brady ended in a foul with the resultant free being dropped short.
With ten minutes left the Big Apple girls went back in front as Clarke pointed for an infringement. The remainder was nail biting stuff as Wicklow attacked feverishly but several shots were wide of the mark before they were awarded a "45". The kick dropped in the goal mouth and as it bobbled about, Imelda Mullarkey pulled on it to clear the lines. However substitute Hogan snatched the ball out of the air to fire over the equalizer with just two minutes left. Wicklow did have a chance to grab victory at the death but Deeney's free from the corner drifted wide , setting the scene for a rematch possibly on Oct. 8.
New York: Alison Leyden ,Louise Lilly, TA McCullagh, Imelda Mullarkey, Jessie Garcia, Catriona Brady, Johanna Monaghan, Linda McKeon, Aine O'Dwyer, Molly O'Rourke(0-1), Kelly Roche, Courtney Traynor, Emma Clarke(0-8), Caroline McBrien, Maebh De Burca Subs Mary O'Rourke, Michelle Brennan, Katriona Lynch Wicklow: E Miley, J Miley, C Byrne, A Hefferan, L Fusciardi, C McKeon, N Kelly, J Kinch, L Gilbert(0-1), A.M. Doran, C Deeney, L Ahern(0-1), E Lenihan, L Mulhall(0-5), N Carroll Subs L Hogan (0-2), S Miley, M Lynch, M Deeney, A NiAnnaidh Referee Y Duffy (Cavan), Player of game Lucy Mulhall.
