There were unbridled scenes of Joy when after 5 frustrating final losses Gabriel rangers finally reached their promised land when they defeated Kildorrery in wet miserable conditions at Ovens in the Co Junior final on Sunday evening. The first half was even enough and when the Schull girls tuned over with a 7-4 lead, it looked like we would be in for an exciting 2nd half with the North Cork girls being favoured by the elements. The essential difference between the sides was the ability of Claire O’Brien who had a tremendous game all through to take her points The game was virtually over as a contest in the opening 5 minutes. First a long free from brilliant Claire o’Brien slid in of the hands of the full back out of the reach of keeper Karen Barry. It was heartbreaking for the fullback who otherwise had an excellent game Within a minute Claire had another from the penalty spot when her had shot was parried by the keeper and found the net. It was all Gabriels for the next 15 minutes and they tagged on points through Nollaig Cleary Deirdre Cotter with the clinching goal coming from Claire Daley, Kildorrery to their credit virtually owned the ball for the last 15 minutes but outstanding defending from keeper Gretta Birchill Ellen Regan her sister and Capt Ann, Christine Deasy and Mary Kelleher kept them at bay.

The midfield exchanges were exciting all evening with Elaine Cotter and Deirdre Ward having good spells but Mairead Noonan and Niamh Hennessy had their moments as well. The hunger of Gabriels was plain to be seen and their well drilled outfit triumphed over a very game Kildorrery side When the Michael O’Sullivan brought a fine sporting game to its conclusion it sparked of amazing scenes of happiness. Gabriels had finally done it and nobody in the ground begrudged them their hour of glory

Scorers
Gabriel Rangers: Claire O’Brien 2-4 Claire Daly 1-1 Deirdre Cotter, 0-2 Nollaig Cleary 0-2 Emer Cleary 0-1
Kildorrery: Niamh Hickey 0-3 Laura Hanley 1-0 Trish O’Callaghan 0-1 Annie O’Callaghan 0-1.

Gabriel Rangers:Gretta Burchill, Christine Deasy, Ellen O’Regan, Siobhan Dineen, Mary Kelleher, Ann 0’Regan, Kate Crowley, Deirdre Ward, Elaine Cotter, Deirdre Cotter, Clodagh O’Driscoll, Claire 0’Brien, Claire Daly, Nollaig Cleary, Emer Cleary, Sinead O'Driscoll, Anita Hurley, Anna Ward, Aoife Coughlan, Verona O’Driscoll, Anita Johnson, Catherine Moynihan, Denise Hayes Maria Cregan, Hazel Byrne.

Kildorrery: Karen Barry, Eileen McCarthy, Caroline Coughlan, Sarah Coughlan, Annie O’Callaghan, Joanne Hennessy, Fiona Healy, Mairead Noonan, Niamh Hennessy, Laura Hanley, Caroline Hanley Orla Murphy Niamh Hickey Trish O’Callaghan, Val McCormack. Deirdre Murphy, Katie Barry Aoife Hennessy, Gillian O’Brien, Jean Donovan, Marie Wilson, Abina McCarty, Eleanor O’Gorman, Nollaig Baker. Denise Boyle.

By Fr. Liam Kelleher