Geraldine's, Arklow 2-7 Cahir, Tipperary 2-05

IN a case of saving the best to last, the final game of the outstanding Ladies weekend at Gaelic Park went down to the wire as Arklow and Cahir put on an outstanding display of football in the under-17 championship final.

With stars across the field for both sides and the crowd on hand screaming support on every play, the game kept all on the edge of their seats for the 40 minutes of football.

Arklow had a perfect start with Kelly Crammond quickly finding the net and then firing over a point within the first two minutes. It was followed by a point by Erinne Murphy, who earlier had won the under-14 player of the tournament. Murphy is a delight to watch. Despite her small stature she solos with both feet, and can kick points of left or right.

With Aoife Kavanagh and Crammond she made up one of the deadliest full forward lines seen in New York. She also reminds one of Emma Clarke of Cavan with her eye for goal.

Cahir finally started to come into the game after 10 minutes. Ann Marie O'Gorman had a free that drifted wide and stormed in on a run that deserved more at the end. It did show, however, that Cahir had no fears and had come to play.

Aoife Casey was doing great work in the back line as she fought to come to grips with the vaunted front three. Murphy had another point for Arklow but the final quarter of the first half was all Tipp.

O'Gorman slotted two frees over the lathe and set up Breda Casey in front of goal. Rachel Byrne intercepted at a critical moment, however, and the danger was averted. After a Ann Hickey point for Cahir it left the half time score line 1-4 to 0-3 in favor of Geraldine's.

The fast start to the half went in the other direction after Donal O'Donnell threw the ball up for the final stanza of the weekend as Sarah Harris of the bench linked with O'Gorman and Higgins to rattle the net and bring Cahir all the way back.

After points from Hickey and Bronagh Higgins, the stage was set for a pulsating finish. The teams did not disappoint as end to end football with both sides having chances ensued.

A brilliant save by Nicole Armitadge denied Kavanagh of a goal, but she was helpless when Murphy found the net in the fifteenth minute. A point by Kavanagh from a free again put Arklow into a three point lead 2-5 to 1-5, but Ann Marie tied the game up for the fifth time with a cracker of a goal when she did most of the work herself.

With five minutes on the clock the game continued at a hectic pace, but it was Arklow who finished strongest. They had points from Crammond and Kavanagh while Crammond also hit the post when she soloed in from the left.

Clearances by Hannah Tew and Sam Kelly stopped two last ditch attacks by Cahir, and the final whistle sounded to jubilant scenes for the winners and their traveling entourage.

Arklow: 1 Rebecca Condron, 2 Naomi Roche, 3 Hannah Tew 4 Nicole Kavanagh, 5 Niamh Arthur, 6 Sam Kelly, 7 Rachel Byrne, 8 Claire Kavanagh, 9 Orla Byrne, 10 Emma Marshall, 11 Jessie Melheron, 12 Danny Brandon, 13 Erinne Murphy (1-2), 14 Aoife Kavanagh (0-3), 15 Kelly Crammond (1-2). Subs: Amy Deveraux, Sophie Kennedy, Melissa Keane, Shanna Fleming, Calvin Swart.

Cahir: 1 Nicole Armitadge, 2 Ruth Cummins, 3 Aoife Casey, 4 Donna Casey, 5 Clare Harris, 6 Clare Fahey, 7 Aisling Higgins, 8 Breda Casey, 9 June O'Donnell, 10 Ann Hickey (0-1), 11 Ann Marie O'Gorman (1-3), 12 Bronagh Higgins (0-1), 13 Aisling Armitadge, 14 Gillian O'Keefe, 15 Carol Casey. Subs: Eileen Byrne, Sarah Harris (1-0).

Referee: Donal O'Donnell (Four Provinces).

Player of the game: Ann Marie O'Gorman (Cahir).