Leinster U16 ‘B’ shield Final
Wexford 4-5 Kildare 2-8
Two late goals from Wexfords Aleisha Cullen ensured that the Leinster U16 ‘B’ title would be sitting along side the U14 and Minors trophies in the Wexford trophy room by the end of the day, when they over came a strong Kildare side in Tinryland GAA club on Saturday last.
Kildare came in to this game as slight favourites to take the title, which suited the Wexford side, and after conceding a goal by Roisin Byrne with in minutes of the throw in, it looked as though Kildare were starting as they meant to go on.
Wexford did not waste any time responding to the lilies threat, with Katie Kehoe, Emma Roche and player of the match Fiona Bennett tagging on a point apiece to draw the sides level with just eight minutes on the clock (0-3 to 1-0).
Both sides traded scores through out the first half, with Wexford going ahead for the first time in the game, after Wexfords top scorer Fiona Bennett rattled the back of Caoimhe McConnells net, but Kildare responded with three unanswered points from Roisin Byrne, Ciara Connaty and Briona Hoban to open a one point gap at the break ( 1-5 to 1-4) in Kildare’s favour.
Bennett was on target within a minute of the restart, to draw the sides level for the third time in the game, over the next seven minutes Kildare turned up the pressure on the Wexford backs, with Roisin Byrne raising the green flag for the Lilies followed by a point apiece from Ciara Connaty and Shauna O’Donoghue to put five between the sides (2-7 to 1-5) with ten minutes left on the clock.
For Kildare it was time to hold on to what they had , while for Wexford, it was time for all to put their shoulders to the wheel and make a final push for glory, Bennett led the charge, with an excellent goal to pare Kildares lead back to two, Wexford can also thank their number one Eadaoin Miskella, Miskella pulled off a great save to deny Ciara Connaty a certain goal at a
crucial time.
The final twist came in the dying minutes of the game, when Wexfords number eighteen Aleisha Cullen was quickest to react to loose defending by the Kildare side, and when the ball landed at Cullen’s right foot, on two occassions, the Cross/Ballymurn made no mistake, firing the ball to the back of the kildare net, to raise the green flag twice to put the Model County side
four points clear, when the referee called for the ball.
Leinster Secretary Cathal Friel thanked all those involved, before presenting the Leinster U16 ‘B’ trophy to Wexford captain Shauna Murphy, with the player of the match award going to Fiona Bennett.
Wexford scorers: Fiona Bennett 2-3, Katie Kehoe 0-1, Emma Roche 0-1, Aleisha Cullen 2-0.
Kildare scorers: Ciara Connaty 0-4, Roisin Byrne 2-1, Emer Farrell 0-1, Briona Hoban 0-1.

Leinster U16 ‘C’ shield Final
Kilkenny 5-6 Carlow 3-10
In the Leinster U16 ‘C’ shield final, Kilkenny and Carlow went head to head, playing out a close and exciting game, with the Cats collecting the trophy with two points to spare (5-6 to 3- 10).
Although Roisin Byrne raised the white flag for Carlow with in a minute of the throw in, it was not until the final minutes of the half that Carlow registered their next score, when Lauren McGrath and Amanda Kinsella tagged on a point apiece, to keep the home side in touch.
Kilkenny dominated the first half of this game and were five points clear at the break (2-2 to 0-3), Alish Butler opening Kilkenny’s account with a goal in the sixth minute, Niamh Donnelly added their second goal with Fionnula Quinnlian and Sinead Whelan adding a point apiece.
Both sides stepped up a gear in the second half, Carlow were once again quickest off the mark with Amanda Kinsella and Niamh Kelly firing over two well worked points, however the cats, Niamh Donnelly open the gap to six points with a goal in the ninth minute (3-2 to 0-5).
Carlow continued to work hard to break down the Kilkenny defence, which was being well marshalled by Player of the match Nelle Hendrson, the Carlow side added a goal from Jessica Byrne and a point apiece from Lauren McGrath and Orlagh Moran with Niamh Kelly firing over a brace to level the sides (4-2 to 2-8 ) , with less than five minutes remaining , Kelly had a
great game in the number ten shirt for the home side.
Jessica Byrne fired over to put Carlow one point clear, but lady luck favoured the cats when Alice O’Hanlon’s shot found the back of the Carlow net to put Kilkenny two points clear with the game going in to injury time, Byrne hit back with a point and a goal to turn the game in Carlow’s favour, however Kilkenny had the final say, Alice O’Hanlon and Sinead Whelan combining to put the amber and blacks two point clear when referee Mags Doherty called for ball.
Leinster secretary Cathal Friel was on hand to presented Kilkenny captain Niamh Quigley with the Leinster U16 ‘C’ shield final trophy, with Kilkenny’s number three Nelle Henderson collecting a well deserved the player of the match award.