Barna ladies secured back to back county titles last weekend when they landed the Junior A championship with a fine win over Naomh Anna Leitir Moir in Moycullen . These two teams are well known to each other and this game was always going to be a close match . Leitir Moir dispatched Mountbellew Moylough with ease the previous weekend and would come into the game in good form and this showed from the start as they settled early to register the first score and were running well off the ball to cause problems for Barna. The Barna girls got their first score through Ciara Lynagh followed shortly after by 3 frees from Una Ni Mhainnin and another point from Ciara to lead by 0-5 to 0-2 well into the first half. Good blocks from Helen Feeney and Fiona Kilcoyne made life difficult for the Leitir Moir forwards. Leitir Moir were always dangerous on the break and this was rewarded with a well taken goal but with the next attack Barna also scored a goal with great play from Sarah Jane Flaherty who found Ciara and her shot was punched into the goal by Aisling Flaherty. A possible turning point in the game was when Leitir Moir were awarded a penalty but thankfully for the large Barna supporters the kick went narrowly wide. One more point from each teams left the half time score 1-3 to 1-6
The game was their for both teams to win and the Barna ladies after their half time talk seemed to want it more. Excellent kick outs from Goalkeeper Katie Kilbane set up several attacks with Melissa Casserly , Laura Sharkey and Noreen Breathnach having a major say in the game which led to scores for Una , Ciara , Aisling and Laura. Leitir Moir never gave up and needed a goal to push the Barna ladies but the defence marshalled by Grainne Ni Dhonnacha , Sinead Ni Cormaic and Maura Flaherty stood tall. A good move from Roisin Aspell, Valerie Brosnan and Caoimhe Faherty set up Sarah Cahill for a very well taken goal which put the game beyond doubt .
The final score was Barna 2-11 Leitir Moir 1-8 and the cup was presented to Team captain Noreen Breathnach by Galway ladies Chairman Con Moynihan to rapturous applause from the large Barna Following. Barna now move on to play St Ciaran’s of Roscommon in the Connacht Quarter Finals.
