The Ranelagh Gaels Ladies returned to winning ways with a well deserved away victory against Ballyboughal on Wednesday evening.
Still smarting from their first defeat of the season on their previous outing, the Gaels began as if determined to erase the memory of that reversal.
Although missing some key players, such as Lil, Martina and Claire, Ranelagh were bolstered by the return of Laoise at centre-forward, whose class was immediately underlined by two well-taken points to open the scoring.
Indeed, this opening phase of the game belonged to the away team, with an impressive half back line of Mary, Edel, and Kate acting as a springboard for constant Gaels pressure.
Enjoying an advantage in both territory and possession, the Gaels’ superiority finally began to be reflected on the scoreboard as Kirstie embarked on a scoring spree, helping herself to a total of 2-02 as the first half progressed.
At this juncture the Ranelagh forwards were causing the Ballyboughal defence all sorts of problems, with Laoise, Ger, Claire Larkin and, in particular, Fiona, dominating their markers.
Unfortunately, a series of wides halted the Gaels scoring progress, while the Ballyboughal girls, cheered on by a sizeable home support, began to exert some pressure of their own.
The ten minutes preceding half-time saw Ballyboughal begin to reel in the Gaels, with the latter only enjoying a slender four point lead at the half-time whistle.
Any thoughts the home team may have harboured of achieving a notable comeback were quickly extinguished on the resumption of play, with the Ranelagh girls now playing some of their best football of the year.
The catalyst for this impressive performance was undoubtedly Aoife Long in midfield, her work-rate and link-up play driving the Ballyboughal team to distraction.
With all avenues to the Gaels goal-mouth shut off by a most solid full-back line of Caoimhe, Claire Gleeson and Mags, and complimented by the goalkeeping skills of Patricia, it fell to the forwards to finish off the game.
Spreading the scores more evenly in the second half, Laoise, Kirstie, Ger and Maria all registered points, with Maria also finding the net with a well taken goal.
On her final appearance for the Gaels before departing for Australia, corner-forward Sile was denied the perfect send-off as two goal scoring chances were twarthed, the first to an excellent piece of goalkeeping, while an obvious foul denied her on the second occasion.
With Edel Brennan in your half back line, sure how could ye lose!!!