GAA: Drama galore in the various football grades
SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
COLIN O'BRIEN
Navan O’Mahonys bowed out of the SFC on Sunday evening, losing by 2-9 to 3-9 to Skryne in the quarter final of the competition. The game was played in Paddy O’Brien Park in the howling wind.
The visitors kicked into action right from the throw in and had split the posts within fifteen seconds of the throw-in. Navan O’Mahonys first score of the game came in the fourth minute, courtesy of a Orlaith Mallon free and was followed by a score from play from Sophia Fitzherbert a minute later.
Two points separated the sides after two minutes when Megan Collins scored from play, an impressive score from the end line. Four points in as many minutes meant the lead swung in the opposite direction and Skryne led by two points
Ten scoreless minutes passed until Skryne resumed things again with a score from play, followed quickly by a point from a free. Approaching the thirty minute mark, Mallon converted a free and into injury time, Collins found the net, albeit the goal was disallowed for a square ball.
Undeterred, the next ball that came in was again won by Collins who drove it home again to leave the sides level at the interval.
Navan O’Mahony’s 1-4 Skryne 0-7
With the wind behind them, Navan O’Mahonys were off to a good start in the second half with Mallon adding the first score of the half from play, bouncing over the bar. In the seventh minute, Collins again found the net after being set up by Lauren Woods and Ailbhe Leahy to put the Brews Hill side three points to the fore.
It was down to a three point game after twelve minutes when Skryne converted a free and two goals in very quick succession from the visiting side put them to the fore midway through the second half.
Olivia Callan and Orlaith Mallon pointed to leave a single point between the sides with twelve minutes to go, but Skryne added an insurance point shortly afterwards. A goal in the twenty-second minute left Navan O’Mahonys chasing the game and needing a goal of their own.
Robyn Murray managed a point from play bursting from the back line and a late free from Mallon left it a one-score game going into injury time. Try as they might, Navan O’Mahonys couldn’t get the goal they needed and ultimately ran out of time, with Skryne progressing to the final.
Navan O’Mahonys - Ciara Blake, Aoibhín McKenny, Hannah Heskin, Sophia Fitzherbert (0-1), Sarah Maguire, Robyn Murray (0-1), Lilly Dwyer, Eimear Fay, Rebecca Reilly, Tara Fay, Ailbhe Leahy, Lauren Woods, Orlaith Mallon (0-5) , Megan Collins (2-1), Olivia Callan (0-1).
INTERM
EDIATE
PASCAL REILLY
Seona Lynch put in an excellent performance to ensure that St. Michael's defeaed Ratoath 2-9 to 0-4 in front of a large crowd in Carlanstown on Friday evening last and in doing so booked a place in the Kepak Meath Intermediate semi-final next weekend against Na Fianna.
Lynch's personal tally of 1-4 outscored the entirety of Ratoath's output ensuring there was never any doubt surrounding her side's win.
With six minutes played Lynch had hit two minors, one from play and one from a free to give her side a strong start, points flowed from Claire Reilly (one) and Alicia Curtis (two) before Ratoath registered their opener at the end of the first quarter. A goal apiece from Lynch and Marion Farrelly brought the game to half time with St. Michael's out in front by eight points.
St. Michael's ruthless streak did not subside in the third quarter as Farrelly (one) Lynch (two) and Sinead McCormack (one) all got on the scoreboard with one minor from play coming from the visitors. This was an excellent all round team performance from St. Michael's who were full value for their victory.
St. Michaels team & scorers:
L Halpin; C McGearty, E McDonnell, L Curtis; D Curran, A Sheridan, C Reilly; M Carpenter, M Farrelly (1-1); C Reilly (0-1), S Lynch (1-4), R Stafford; M Rogers, C Halpin, A Curtis (0-2). Subs - S McCormack (0-1), P Owens.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
RUTH CHAMBERS
On an evening more conducive to the indoors rather than football, Walterstown booked their place in the Meath LGFA Kepak Junior A Football Championship semi final thanks to a nine point victory (1-13 to 1-4) over visitors Moylagh.
The rain pelted down and the wind blew with gusto and left conditions extremely difficult for both teams but the Skin and Bodyworks sponsored home side deservedly took victory and will now take on Clann na nGael in the penultimate round next weekend.
Level at the break (0-3 to 0-3), Walterstown, with the aid of the wind, outscored their opponents 1-10 to 1-1 after the turnaround, dominated possession and play and only a converted penalty from the visitors in the 56th minute, put a gloss on the final scoreline from a Moylagh perspective.
Walterstown corner forward Lisa O’Neill put in a hugely impressive shift. Indeed she was the Blacks’ only scorer during the opening 30 minutes, while after the turnaround she tagged on 1-4, while captain Mollie Browne led by absolute example from the centre back position.
The first half wasn’t a pretty one and despite having the advantage of the strong wind, Moylagh found themselves 0-3 to 0-0 in arrears as the first quarter ticked to a close.
O’Neill drew first blood four minutes in when she converted a free, and she followed that with two from play to ensure the three point advantage.
The second quarter belonged to the visitors and they kicked three without response to restore parity by the 29th minute and that’s how it remained until the interval. Both teams were guilty of some poor efforts but given the conditions, it was to be expected.
The second half firmly belonged to the Blacks however. Heading in to this encounter they would have been fancied to advance and they showed just why they held the favourites tag after the turnaround.
Jennifer Lynch nudged the home side in front two minutes after throw in when she split the posts before Lisa O’Neill struck over a free a minute later and Walterstown led 0-5 to 0-3. A brace of points from captain Mollie Browne followed, the second of those being a superb strike, as Walterstown extended their lead further.
By the end of the third quarter Walterstown found themselves 0-9 to 0-3 ahead and were in complete control.
And that lead was extended even further soon after when O’Neill dispatched a penalty kick with aplomb before former Cavan minor star Leticia Sheridan-Seery raised a white flag.
As the clock ticked on it was very evident that the Blacks were marching on but the concession of a penalty late on ensured Moylagh put some respectability on the scoreboard, followed by a point, which were, in fact, their only scores of the second half.
Two points from O’Neill and one from substitute Abbie Farrelly, finished out a successful evening for Joey Farrelly’s charges and now Clann na nGael await in the semi final; a game likely to take place at a neutral venue next weekend.
SCORERS
Walterstown - Lisa O’Neill 1-7 (4f, 1 pen), Mollie Browne 0-2, Jennifer Lynch 0-2, Leticia Sheridan-Seery 0-1, Abbie Farrelly 0-1.
TEAMS
Walterstown - Méabh McCarrick; Antonia Brady, Sophia Gillooly, Rosie O’Neill; Niamh McGuinness Óg, Mollie Browne (c), Zoe Harte; Leticia Sheridan-Seery, Ella Farrelly; Niamh McGuinness, Julie Donnellan, Lucy Reynolds; Jennifer Lynch, Kate McCarthy, Lisa O’Neill. Subs - Abbie Farrelly replaced N McGuinness 46 mins, Ali Browne replaced J Lynch 47 mins, Aisling Kelly replaced N McGuinness Óg 50 mins, Áine Downes replaced J Donnellan 51 mins.
Moylagh - Sarah McDermott; Selina Briody, Arlene Smyth, Sophie Garry; Fiona McGrath, Hannah Briody, Siobhan Traynor; Colette Kenny, Sinead Gilsenan; Cline Reilly, Suzie Mullaly, Donna Garry; Hannah Grall, Siobhan Kearney, Rosie Grall.
REFEREE: Sean Gaha
PAUL GREENE
Moynalvey got the better of Royal Gaels by 1-10 to 1-5 in this Kepak Ladies Junior A Football Championship quarter final at Moynalvey on Sunday morning.
With many of the Moynalvey girls having played a camogie championship game just 24hrs earlier, tired legs amid showery underfoot conditions saw them get over the line against a dogged Royal Gaels outfit to progress to the semi-finals.
The home side led from the throw in to full time, four early points from Jennifer McLoughlin (two), Rachel Garrett and Olivia O’Halloran, leaving it 0-4 to 0-0 with nine minutes played.
Royal Gaels opened their account in the 14th minute, but by the time their second scored arrived in the 29th minute, Moynalvey held a 0-6 to 0-2 half time lead courtesy of a further pair of points from Aoife Weston and Sarah Kelly.
But for some poor shooting and a rasping effort at goal rebounding off the crossbar the Dunshaughlin outfit could have been much nearer the home side at half time. A third Royal Gaels point five minutes after the restart left it double scores, 0-6 to 0-3.
The following fifteen minutes saw Moynalvey build up a commanding nine point lead, with points from Roisin Murphy, Ashling McLoughlin and Olivia O’Halloran; and the goal coming from substitute Saoirse Corcoran after a defensive error, to leave the score 1-9 to 0-3 with ten minutes remaining.
Royal Gaels failed to give up and narrowed the deficit to six points with a goal in the 51st minute. But for a superb flying finger tip save from Aoibheann Corcoran Royal Gaels may well have raised another green flag.
A Roisin Murphy free was countered by two late Royal Gaels points to see Moynalvey run out five points winners on a 1-10 to 1-5 score line for last years runners up to secure their place in this years semi-finals.
In a good all round team performance, best for the winners were Abbie Killalea, Fia O’Brien, Stephanie Walsh, Cheyenne O’Brien, Rachel Garrett and Olivia O’Halloran.
Moynalvey - Aoibheann Corcoran, Ciara Mallee, Abbie Killalea,Bridgie Brennan, Stephanie Walsh, Aoife Weston (0-1), Fia O’Brien, Clodagh Murphy, Cheyenne O’Brien, Olivia O’Halloran (0-2), Roisin Murphy (0-2f), Rachel Garrett (0-1), Sarah Kelly (0-1), Jennifer McLoughlin (0-2, 1f), Ashling McLoughlin (0-1). Subs - Saoirse Corcoran (1-0) for J. McLoughlin, Shíofra Deegan for A. McLoughlin, Ciara Mulligan for R. Murphy.
CAMOGIE
COLIN O'BRIEN
Navan O’Mahony’s made it four wins and a draw in the group stage of the Intermediate Camogie Championship with a 3-8 to 2-5 win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the final round. They now look forward to the knockout stages.
Starting off well, Aoibhín Kielty opened the scoring with a goal for her side shortly after the throw-in. Five minutes later, Kielty added to this with a point to leave four points between the teams. After taking a while to get going, the visitors kicked into gear with a point followed quickly by a goal to leave the sides level.
A further point put Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the lead for the first time. With ten minutes remaining on the clock, a high ball landed in the square. Mags Tompkins, who would usually be clearing these balls as netminder but found herself in the corner forward position today, got a touch and found the net.
Tompkins added another point quickly after this to leave three points between the sides and a twenty-fifth minute free from Jorja Keogh was the final score of the game. Navan O’Mahony’s netminder Eva Stewart pulled off some impressive goalkeeping to ensure her side went in ahead at the break
Navan O’Mahony’s 2-3 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-2
Just as in the first half, Navan O’Mahonys opened the scoring, this time courtesy of a point from Izzy Kinsella. The visiting side reduced the gap to four again, converting a 45. Both sides had a number of missed opportunities, including balls dropping short and wides in the next ten minutes.
Just before midway through the half, Lizzie Brennan made her return to a blue and white jersey for the first time in two years following injury. Showing she never lost it, she soon added a point from a free.
Not content with this, she soon added two more points from play. A high ball towards the end line looked to be making its way wide until Brennan controlled it and found a fast-moving Kinsella heading for goal. A well placed ball found itself in the net , putting distance between the sides.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne refused to give up however and managed to score the last score of the game in injury time, a goal. Navan O’Mahonys had built up enough of a lead to withstand this however and maintained their unbeaten run in the championship.
Navan O’Mahonys - Eva Stewart, Muireann Corkery, Saoirse O’Regan, Caitlin Ball, Doireann Mellett, Alannah Brady, Anna Gardener, Róisín Tobin, Claire Mallon, Jorja Keogh (0-2), Izzy Kinsella (1-1), Aoibhín Kielty (1-1), Annie Hogan, Aine Donegan, Mags Tompkins (1-1). Subs - Lizzie Brennan (0-3) for Tompkins, Emma Byrne for Ball, Cara Ratty for Donegan, Zoe Shakespeare for Gardiner, Grace Gardiner for Mallon