Senior Championship Glenmora Shield Semi Finals
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Kilmaley 4-10 Clooney Quin 0-14 (AET)
Kilmaley retained their senior status for 2020 having defeated Clooney-Quin on Saturday afternoon with the game going to extra time. Kilmaley were slow to settle into this game despite taking the lead five minutes in, with points from Clare McMahon through a free and Caoimhe Carmody.
Clooney-Quin dominated the next twenty minutes scoring point after point with Deirdre Murphy being accurate from placed ball, despite this Kilmaley still kept in touch with two further points by Clare McMahon and another by Chloe Neylon, trailing only by two points at break Clooney ahead 0-7 Kilmaley 0-5.
With the introduction of Emma O’Driscoll and Niamh O’Dea and a few positional changes, Kilmaley upped their game, and were confident and composed in their backline and a brilliant defensive effort limited Clooney-Quin getting in on goals.
The second half was a tight battle with both sides giving their all. Clooney Quin dominated for much of the half with great scores from Deirdre Murphy and Aoibheann Duggan who covered a huge amount of ground and worked tirelessly in the half forward line.
A well struck free from Clare McMahon found the ball in the back of their opponent’s net and gave Kilmaley a much-needed boost. Further points from Jodi Cahill, and another two from Clare McMahon, forcing the game to extra time with score Kilmaley 1-9 to 0-12. A fantastic display of skill was shown throughout by both teams despite the greasy conditions.
In extra time Kilmaley upped their intensity laying down a marker from the get go with two super goals from Clare McMahon and Jodi Cahill giving Kilmaley the lead at the break 3-9 to 0-12.
In the second half despite Clooney-Quin’s efforts of adding another 2 points onto the board, Kilmaley finished the half the stronger with Chloe Neylon hand-passing the ball into the back of the net and Clare Mc Mahon scoring a point from free, finishing the game with full time score of Kilmaley 4-10 to Clooney Quin 0-14
Kilmaley: Chloe McAleer, Alisha Pyne, Sarah Reidy, Lisa Kennedy, Nóra O’Rourke, Sarah Ni Ceallaigh, Sinead O’Keeffe, Megan White, Emily Cahill, Leona Grace, Ashling Cahill Caoimhe Carmody (0-1), Jodi Cahill (1-1), Clare Mc Mahon (2-7), Chloe Neylon (1-1)
Subs: Emma O’Driscoll for Nora O’Rourke, Niamh O’Dea for Leona Grace.
Clooney Quin: Marie Begley; Nicole O’Riordan, Mairead Kelly, Cliodhna Ryan; Sinead Mcgee, Ciara Grogan, Ciara Halpin; Mairead Ryan, Orlaith Duggan (0-1); Emma Considine, Deirdre Murphy (0-10), Aoibheann Duggan (0-2); Sarah Costelloe, Emma Deegan (0-1), Marie Halpin
Subs: Caoimhe Leamy for Emma Considine; Moya Dunne for Emma Deegan
Referee: Aidan Ryan
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Sixmilebridge 2-5 Kilkishen/Bodyke 0-9
Kilkishen/Bodyke opened the scoring in the first minute when a foul on Niamh O’Brien was accurately sent between the posts by Caoimhe Kelly. Sixmilebridge reacted at the opposite end when Chloe Morey rattled the net, her free being stopped and Morey getting to the rebound the fastest.
Orla O’Brien and Niamh O’Gorman notched up points for their side, before a scramble at the Kilkishen/Bodyke goal mouth saw Sixmilebridge raise a second green flag, Rosie Young getting the ball out of the ruck in front of goals to set up her sister Saoirse to find target.
Kilkishen/Bodyke were guilty of some wayward shooting, however, the bridge outfit were in doubt as to where the posts were, and Morey added a brace. Cara Close added for the amalgamation to leave the half time score in favour of the Bridge 2-2 to 0-4.
A determined Kilkishen/Bodyke came out fighting at the restart and kept Sixmilebridge scoreless until the closing minutes.
Kate Lynch converted from three placed balls, following fouls on Siobhan Lenihan and Alannah Ryan. A point from play midway through the second half from Siobhan Lenihan levelled the sides and put Kilkishen/Bodyke right back into this semi-final where a position in the Glenomra Shield Final was all to play for.
A save on the line by Ciara Ryan denied Morey her second green flag, the ball going out for a ‘45, but this effort went to the left and wide. Tough underfoot conditions and with rain streaming from the clouds made this semi-final a tight contest with most of the scores coming from placed balls, and anything but entertaining.
No score from either side for the next ten minutes of play but Sixmilebridge were the hungrier of the sides to get to the Final and secured the last three points in the dying minutes.
Shauna Doyle, Roisin Minogue, Kate Lynch were strong for Kilkishen/Bodyke, with Kate O’Gorman a notable absence could have made all the difference but now Kilkishen/Bodyke find themselves in the all too familiar position of fighting relegation to secure their senior status that they only won last year after losing it for a season.
Sixmilebridge: Sarah Loughnane; Mary O’Connor, Deanna Considine, Hannah Wilson; Chloe Morey (1-2), Aoife Hurley, Emma Kennedy; Niamh Corry, Rachel Kelly; Niamh Lyons, Ailíse Roche, Olivia Phelan; Finia O’Brien (0-1), Saoirse Young (1-0), Rosie Young.
Subs: Naomi Carroll (0-2) for R. Young, R. Young for Aoife Hurley.
Kilkishen/Bodyke: Edel McNamara; Hannah Minogue, Roisin Minogue, Nollaig Baker; Ava Quigley, Alannah Ryan, Ciara Ryan; Kate Lynch (0-04F), Caoimhe Kelly (0-01F): Niamh O’Brien, Niamh O’Gorman 0-01, Siobhan Lenihan 0-01; Shauna Doyle, Orla O’Brien 0-01, Cara Close 0-01
Referee: Aine nic Cormaic
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Intermediate Championship Semi Finals
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St Joseph’s 1-9 Eire Og 1-8 (AET)
St Josephs and Éire Óg produced a thriller as they battled it out on Saturday evening in Clarecastle with both sides setting their sights on an intermediate final place v Feakle Killanena. In a nail-biting finish, it was St Josephs that earned that place, after extra time separated the sides by a single point.
Conditions were challenging and that was reflected on the scoreboard. While Éire Óg held the majority of possession in the opening 15 minutes, they notched up just three points from placed balls courtesy of Grainne Nolan. It was into the 18th minute of play when St Joseph’s opened their account.
They quickly cancelled out Éire Ógs lead as Aisling McMahon was unerring from three frees. Siofra ni Chonail gave the Parish a slender half time advantage as she gathered a sideline ball and split the posts in the 32nd minute.
At the resumption of play, Louise Woods pointed in the 2nd minute to stretch St Josephs lead.
Éire Óg won the puck out and the ball was driven into the forward line where mid-fielder, Sarah Redmond finished to the net, putting the townies in the ascendancy for the second time. A Grainne Nolan free stretched the Éire Óg lead to two points. Joseph’s levelled matters once again as Aisling McMahon retained her perfect record from placed balls.
A pointed free from Grainne Nolan nearing the end of normal time looked to have secured the coveted final place for Éire Óg, but, St Josephs battled on and were granted a reprieve as the ever reliable Aisling McMahon fired over an injury time free to bring the match to extra time.
The Parish girls had a dream start to the opening half as substitute, Ciara Guilfoyle, got on the end of a ball from Louise Woods and fired to the back of the Éire Óg net. Grainne Nolan and Aisling McMahon exchanged points to leave St Josephs three points to the good at the break.
At the restart, Amy Russell reduced Éire Ógs deficit to two points as she scored a super point from distance. A Grainne Nolan free left a single point between the sides. Éire Óg mounted attack after attack, but the Parish girls showed great character, dug deep and held on to secure the win.
St Josephs take on Feakle/Killanena in the Fr Liam Murray Cup Final while Éire Óg will battle it out with Whitegate for Shield honours.
St. Joseph’s: Karen McMahon, Orla Moloney, Megan O’Brien, Kate Dillon, Aisling Hannan, Chloe Towey, Eimear Casey, Siofra Ní Chonaill (0-1), Laura Hayes, Hannah Meaney, Louise Woods (0-1), Aisling McMahon (0-7f), Ciara Duggan, Caoimhe Hoey, Orlaith Lynch.
Subs: Ciara Guilfoyle (1-0) for Ciara Duggan.
Éire Óg: Katie Malone; Leah Ryan, Laura Brown, Aimee Daniels; Amy Russell(0-1), Aoife O’Neill, Rae Wall; Grainne Nolan(0-7f), Sarah Redmond(1-0); Orla Devitt, Ciara Kennedy, Alana McInerney; Elizabeth Russell, Orla McMahon, Jodie Russell.
Subs: Karen Roche for Ciara Kennedy, Phoebe Boateng for Jodie Russell, Ciara Kennedy for Karen Roche
Referee: Noel Quinn
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Feakle/Killanena 6-10 Whitegate 3-5
Feakle/Killanena progress to the Intermediate Cup final following their victory over Whitegate this weekend. Played in calm but wet conditions made the going slow and difficult and Feakle/Killanena can thank their strong first half performance where they led 3-7 to 0-3 at half time for this victory.
Feakle/Killanena took the game to Whitegate straight from the throw in. Regan Conway opened the scoring from play and tapped over two points from frees before Whitegate raised their first white flag when Aisling Treacy split the posts with a fine point. A long ball from Evelyn Duggan was doubled to the back of the net by Jodi Guilfoyle.
Regan Conway was on target again from a free before a long Ella MacNamara clearance saw Robyn Conway split the Whitegate defence to crash to the back of the net. This sandwiched between two Lorna McNamara points pushed Feakle/Killanena’s lead further ahead.
Aoife Tuohy’s long-range effort for a point dropped short only to be flicked brilliantly to the net by a falling Guilfoyle. In the dying minutes of the first half a 21-yard free was stopped by Shauna Canny and the ensuing clearance by Regan Conway found Rachel McNamara who popped over the bar for the last score of the half.
Whitegate were first to attack from the throw in and a long free from Lauren Solan found its way to the back of the oppositions net. Feakle/Killanena found it difficult to gain possession in the first quarter of this half and it took fifteen minutes before Jodi Guilfoyle slotted over their first score of the half.
This settled the home side and straight from the puck out Robyn Conway raised her second green flag of the evening. Laura McGrath and Roisin McMahon worked tirelessly in the centre of the field providing that vital link from defence to attack. Shana Canny stood firm between the posts to repeatedly deny a menacing Whitegate attack.
Further goals from Aoife Tuohy and Robyn Conway combined with 2 points from Lorna McNamara ensured victory for the home side with a final appearance next weekend.
Feakle/Killanena: Shauna Canny; Ellie Edge O Neill, Eileen Daly, Ella MacNamara; Zi Yan Spillane, Evelyn Duggan, Maeve Brady; Laura McGrath, Roisin McMahon; Regan Conway (0-4 3f), Robyn Conway (3-0), Aoife Tuohy (1-0); Lorna McNamara (0-4 2f), Jodi Guilfoyle (2-1), Rachel McNamara (0-1).
Subs: Ciara Minogue for Maeve Brady, Ciara Minogue for Regan Conway, Adeomar Smyth for Ellie Edge O Neill and Clodagh Gray for Laura McGrath.
Whitegate: Niamh Quirke; Orla Burke, Lisa Donoghue, Cait Keenan; Amber Nolan, Greta Hickey, Triona Kelly; Aideen Hickey, Leana Spazzi; Caitriona Apsel, Anna Burke, Michelle Dooley; Aishling Treacy, Lauren Solan, Molly Spazzi
Subs: Aine McDermott, Laura Burke, Anna Burke, Nicola Bugler, Ciara O’Leary
Referee: David Cunningham
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Junior A Championship
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St Joseph’s 1-13 Corofin 0-13
St. Joseph’s and Corofin contested a close encounter in the final round of the Junior A Championship in Gurteen on Sunday evening.
Ciara Whelan and Aoibheann Malone exchanged points in the opening five minutes, with Muirne Ní Chonaill, Amy Lenihan and Aisling Reidy firing over three points without reply for the home side. Siobhan Lane pointed from a free before Ní Chonaill split the posts midway through the half.
Strong defensive play from the St. Josephs backs Alannah Meaney, Muireann Collins and Emma Towey resulted in a well taken goal by Amy Lenihan. Corofin’s Siobhan Lane pointed from a free a minute later, but the Parish replied with three quick fire points to go eight points clear.
Lane and Ciara Corbett did manage to split the points in the closing minutes of the half, but Amy Lenihan pointed for St. Josephs to send her side 1-09 to 0-5 ahead at the halftime whistle.
Ciara Whelan fired her side eight points ahead before Louise Browne pulled one back in the opening five minutes of the second half. Whelan added another from a free, but Corofin kept battling and tagged on two points from frees from Aleisha Malone and Siobhan Lane.
Muirne Ní Chonaill fired over a point and with the game entering the final quarter Lane and Malone added two more from frees. Amy Lenihan scored a crucial point with 55 minutes on the clock. From here, Corofin reeled off a hat-trick of points in the closing minutes but St. Josephs had done enough to seal a hard fought win and a semi-final spot.
St. Josephs: Ann Marie McGann, Emma Towey, Naoise Slattery, Orla Hoey, Alannah Meaney, Muireann Collins, Aisling Reidy (0-2), Muirne Ní Chonaill (0-4), Keira McGrath, Aoife Shannon, Vanessa Meaney (0-1), Amy Lenihan (1-3), Ciara Whelan (0-3).
Subs: Keira McGrath for Aoife Shannon, Rebecca Devine for Amy Lenihan.
Corofin: Lisa Clancy; Laura Mullen, Orla Burke, Rebecca Collins; Emer Kierce, Ciara Heagney, Eva O Dea; Ciara Corbett, Rachel Fitzpatrick; Aoibheann Malone, Brenda Lee, Ava Carey; Noelle Crowe
Subs: Siobhan Lane for Aoibheann Malone, Aoife Forde for Orla Burke, Aleisha Malone for Emer Kierce, Corina McMahon for Noelle Crowe, Louise Browne for Brenda Lee (HT)
Referee: Andy McMahon
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Tulla 3-15 Ruan 0-8
With the wind at their backs and accurate shooting, Tulla quickly had the scoreboard ticking. Ruan struggled to gain possession and were behind 2-9 by the 15th minute. The visitors opening score came in the 17th minute and was followed by two more points before the break.
Into the second period, and Ruan picked up the tempo forcing Referee O’Brien to award frees against the home team. However, despite being fully committed, Ruan were outscored in the second period 1-4 to 0-4. One grey cloud for Tulla, was the painful sight of Gillian Ryan being carried off late in the second half after an awkward fall.
Overall, Ruan will take encouragement from some good passages of play, but at the whistle, it’s Tulla that progress to the semi-final.
Ruan: Niamh Lyons, Nicola O’Donoghue (Yellow card), Claire McDonnell, Rebecca O’Donoghue, Rebecca Crowe, Aoife Stankard, Lisa Whelan (0-5), Michelle Power, Lorna Crowe, Lauren O’Donoghue (0-1), Sarah O’Donoghue (0-2), Louise McDonnell, Rosin O’Loughlin
Subs: Natasha Hynes for Rebecca O’Donoghue
Referee: Neil O’Brien