Na Fianna Wins 2007 League Title in Piedmont Park Nail-Biter

Na Fianna 3-8; Clan na nGael 2-10

At Piedmont Park, on July 28th last, Na Fianna finished the 2007 regular season undefeated, and claimed the title of Southeastern Division League Champions in the inaugural year for that particular accolade. Again, the weather was unseasonably mild, if not predictably humid for the time of year. Again, these two great clubs took full advantage and went at it hammer and tongs for the full hour. And once again, as in the previous encounter this season, it was defensive prowess from the girls in the white jerseys and a superlative performance from one of the forwards, on this occasion, Emma Mannion, that were the foundations of the Na Fianna effort, and ultimately their success.

So dominant was Mannion, in fact, that she got all of Na Fianna’s scores in the first half, bar a goal from Lil O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan’s goal came as the result of her cutting out a Clan na nGael attack, and then sending a speculative lob in to the square, which reaped rich dividends as it bounced all the way to the back of the net. It was the second such goal of the season for her, as a similar effort produced the same result in the away game to Charlotte, albeit minus the bounces. Mannion, for her part, finished the half with 1-4. Her goal came, when after a period of Na Fianna possession, she made her way out to the left wing to support the player with the ball. Upon receiving the pass, she rounded two opponents (although she didn’t so much round them as force her way past them) and sent a powerful flat drive that never lost height till it shook the drops of water off the netting behind the far post. Her other points came courtesy of two frees and two from play. It must be said that Mannion’s scoring exploits were well supported by her co-conspirators in attack and the aforementioned strong performance by the defence. Ivett Kyriacou too, was relentless in her pursuit of the opposition from her position in midfield. In fact, between herself and O’Sullivan, they made movement in the middle of the field very difficult indeed for their opponents. That said Na Fianna were not able to completely hold the Clan na nGael attackers at bay, and the score at the half was 2-4 to 1-5 in Na Fianna’s favour; a vital two point cushion to take into the second half.

If Na Fianna’s first half success was supported on a defensive platform, their very survival in the second half depended upon it, as Clan na nGael bombarded their rearguard for the majority of the second half. The half had barely started when they had drawn level courtesy of two frees from Andrea Nardello, and shortly thereafter, Na Fianna fell behind for the first time in the match. After this early bombardment Na Fianna were able to lift the siege, as the defence started to adjust to the intensity of the pressure that they were under. Nevertheless, the team needed a boost, and a boost they finally got courtesy of the opportunism of Kelly Kamees. A promising-looking attack seemed to peter out as a seemingly harmless ball was sent over the heads of all and sundry and into the Clan na nGael penalty area. To most of the onlookers it seemed destined for the safety of the goalies arms, but Kamees had other ideas, and she was in like a light to slap it to the back of the net: as gentle a finish as you could ever hope to see in your life, but none the less effective for it. The team seemed to get a collective lift, and soon Mannion twice, Kim Wilkins, and Kyriacou chipped in with points. Kyriacou’s effort in particular was a real gem of a score, as she was able to hook it over from out on the right wing whilst under extreme pressure. Clan na nGael never gave up, and soon they responded with a goal and a point of their own courtesy of Lisa Kiley, but Na Fianna were able to play out the remaining moments in the opposition half, and hold on for a famous victory for the club.

Some of the defending was nothing short of heroic on the day. Shannon Scott was her reliable self in goals, as were Joyce Sweeney and Emily Ely in front of her. Lil O’Sullivan was colossal in the centre of defence, and she was well-supported on her flanks by Marabella Alaniz and Natalia Kyriacou. The sight of Kyriacou reaching for the clouds to punch a ball away to safety, at a stage in the second half when it was needed most will live long in the memory. Lauren Carter won lots of good possession at midfield and Ivett Kyriacou was an absolute terrier wherever she went on the field, harassing, blocking, and tracking opponents…and then there was that match-winning point: surely her finest hour to date in a Na Fianna jersey. Kelly Kamees worked hard and provided the goal that sparked the revival. Kim Wilkins was equally tireless in her efforts and also played the crucial role of target-player when she was moved into full-forward in the second half. Linda Giuffre and Karina Clarke also played critical roles in the offence showing well for those around them. Nimara Snyder was extremely effective in her first outing, and we look forward to following her progress.

There were many candidates for MVP in this game: Scott again in goals, O’Sullivan and Kyriacou in defence; each turned in outstanding performances. However, 1-6 speaks for itself, and after a career spent in defence watching the forwards receiving the plaudits, Emma Mannion is fully deserving of an MVP for her scoring exploits. That said, it was simply impossible to overlook the work done by Ivett Kyriacou in midfield, and for that reason both players have been named as Joint MVP for this most important of games.

Na Fianna:
Shannon Scott,
Emily Ely, Joyce Sweeney,
Marabella Alaniz, Lil O’Sullivan, Natalia Kyriacou,
Ivett Kyriacou, Lauren Carter,
Kelly Kamees, Emma Mannion, Kim Wilkins,
Linda Giuffre, Karina Clarke
Substitutes:
Erin Whigham, Nimara Snyder

Scorers:
Emma Mannion (1-6), Lil O’Sullivan (1-0), Kelly Kamees (1-0), Kim Wilkins (0-1), Ivett Kyriacou (0-1)

Joint MVP: Emma Mannion and Ivett Kyriacou