Tesco All Ireland Junior Ladies Club Semi-Final
Na Gaeil 4-17 Shannon Gaels 0-5
Shannon Gaels travelled to Tralee in the high hopes of
reaching the All-Ireland Junior club final but were dealt a harsh lesson by a
Na Gaeil side who justified their tags as favourites in clinical display to run
out comfortable winners.
Na Gaeil started in whirlwind fashion and immediately put Shannon
Gaels on the back football but despite all this the Roscommon outfit seemed to
have to have weathered the storm by the 9th minute and even had done
enough to level matters with a marvellous 40-yard effort by Aisling OâHart.
Indeed Hart had opened her sides account in the 3rd minute and they
even took the lead a minute later when Aishling McDermott stuck a fine effort
from 30 yards. Sarah Cunningham, Emily Brick and Marie Quirke having the home
sideâs scores.
However, this was a good as it was going to get as Na Gaeil
who missed a penalty hit a purple patch were 1-7 to 0-3 ahead by the 20th
minute. Shona Heaslip a late replacement getting the goal.
A Claire Cregg point on the 22nd minute only gave
Shannon Gaels some mild respite as Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Sarah Cunningham
added late first half goals.
They went to the break 3-9 to 0-4 in total control.
Shona Heaslip wrapped the game up inside just forty seconds of
the re start with another super finish.
Na Gaeil were totally dominant in all sectors and even when
Shannon Gaels got their first chance to score on the 42nd minute Ciara Murphy
plucked Sorcha Bruen 30M free from under the crossbar as the Na Gaeil side
showed very few signs of easing of.
Claire Cregg did manage to raise a white flag a minute later
from a 21M free but it was to be their last score in this yearâs championship
and with it their interest in a place in the All-Ireland final.
Both sides made a number of changes late on as the game lost
all championship intensity as Sarah Cunningham picked off a personal tally of
1-11. Worryingly Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh was forced to retire in the 44th
Minute with an ankle injury however; it was to matter not as Na Gaeil booked
their place in the All-Ireland Junior club final with incredible ease.
Teams:
Na Gaeil: Laura
Fitzgerald, Niamh Moriarty, Ciara Murphy, Maura OâConnor, Shona Roche, Riona Ni
Chinneide, Brid Connor, Mary Doody, Eilis OâConnor, Maire Quirke 0-2, Louise Ni
Mhuircheartaigh 1-2 (0-1F), Shona Heaslip 2-0 , Sarah Cunningham 1-11 (0-4F),
Emily Brick 0-1 , Kate Anne OâConnor 0-1.
Subs: Deirdre
Kearney for Niamh Moriarty (38M), Meabh Horgan for Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh
(40M, Niamh Hannifin for Mary Doody (40M), Anna Murphy for Maire Quirke (52M),
Aisling Kelleher for Shona Heaslip (55M)
Shannon Gaels:
Aishling Egan, Martina Hanly, Clodagh Corrigan, Linda Duigan, Christine Glancy,
Niamh OâBeirne, Aideen Filan, Tess Murtagh, Sile OâDowd, Claire Cregg 0-2
(0-1F), Aisling OâHart 0-2, Ruth OâHart. Aine OâDowd, Sorcha Bruen, Aishling
McDermott 0-1,
Subs: Connie Doyle for Christine Glancy (11M), Niamh
Flanagan for Ruth OâHart (15M), Mairead OâDowd for Niamh OâBeirne (Blood Sub
29M) ), Lisa Collins for Aideen Filan (H/T) Stella Cregg for Linda Duigan
(39M)Bridgette Keane for Martina Hanly (45M)
Player of the Game:
with so many marque forwards in the Na Gaeil ranks. Shannon Gaels did their
best to get the match up right and while they can certainly be pleased with
their efforts on the two inter county Kerry players Maire Quirke and Louise Ni
Mhuirtcheartaigh they just did not have an answer to Sarah Cunningham who finished
the day with a personal haul of 1-11 of which 1-7 was from play.
Referee Watch:
Keith Delahunty (Tipperary) had a fine game. The most two controversial
incidents were the awarding of a penalty to Na Gaeil and a late sin binning for
Riona Ni Cinnede. He got both calls correct.
Up Next: All
Ireland final on November 30th at a venue to be decided. Dunedin
Connollyâs of Scotland will be the opposition. Many may see their win over St
Helens of Longford as a surprise but the Edinburgh based college team have no
fewer than 7 inter county footballers in their ranks with Caoilfhionn Deeney of
Wicklow an exceptional talent and former golden boot winner at junior level.
