Ladies News
St Galls (Antrim) 2-3
COUNTY senior champions Donaghmoyne easily advanced to the last four following a 14 point victory over Antrim side St Galls in Fontenoy Park on Sunday afternoon.
Fielding without the injured Amanda Casey and Gina McGowan, the home side were always comfortable without playing to their very best. Heavy overnight rain made conditions difficult and with it both sides struggled with the underfoot conditions and it was a match littered with unforced errors.
However, Francie Coleman and his side will not worry as they did what was needed and now get ready for a semi final encounter with Armagh side Clan Eireann. In all nine players got their name on the score sheet for the eventual winners including substitutes Hazel Kingham and Sandra McConnell, both of which showed plenty of promise and will be pushing hard for a place in the starting lineout the next day.
The visitors led once, that the opening point of the day from Emer Gallagher with a free. Donaghmoyne were out of sorts in the early stages before Orla McKeown raised the white flag on eight minutes. Eileen McElroy added a point soon after to edge them in front and a lead they were never to lose. Following points from Cora Courtney and Lisa Kingham, Cathriona McConnell netted the opening goal on 17 minutes after good play from both Sharon and Cora Courtney.
Cathriona McConnell stretched the lead before St galls were handed a lifeline on 25 minutes when a rash challenge from ‘keeper Linda Martin on Gallagher saw a penalty awarded which Michelle Drayne expertly dispatched. The opening half was wrapped up with points from McKeown and Cathriona McConnell to give Donaghmoyne a 1-7 to 1-1 lead at the break.
While Donaghmoyne continued to make errors after the resumption the introduction of Hazel Kingham did brighten up their display and it was the substitute that opening the second half scoring with a points. Four further points followed to extend the lead before Gallagher hit St Gall’s first score of the half with 18 minutes remaining.
Niamh McCarthy and Sandra McConnell replied at the other end before Kingham found the net with her sides second major 12 minutes from time. The McConnell sister Sandra and Cathriona added points but to their credit the young St Gall’s side, who were making their senior debut fought to the end and were rewarded with 1-1 coming from Maebh McCurdy. The final say went to Cora Courtney with a point to wrap up a convincing victory.
Donaghmoyne: Linda Martin, Joanne Geoghegan, Michelle Grimes, Niamh Lynch, Arlene Keenan, Sharon Courtney, Fiona Courtney, Aine Finnegan, Eileen McElroy (0-1), Niamh McCarthy (0-1), Cora Courtney (0-2), Lisa Kingham (0-2), Annette Duffy (0-1), Cathriona McConnell (1-4, 0-1f), Orla McKeown (0-2).
Subs: Hazel Kinghan (1-2), Sandra McConnell (0-2), Frances Finnegan, Karen Hall, Laura Lynch.
Lisnaskea proved too strong for Monaghan Harps in the Intermediate championship on Sunday last with the Little sisters making a big contribution for the Fermanagh girls. In the opening stages of the first half, both sides were evenly matched but as the game progressed lisnaskea took control of the game with the half time score Lisnaskea 2-8 Monaghan Harps 1-4 .From then on Monaghan Harps were always playing catch up and needed to get that all important goal to try and put them back in contention. But the Lisnaskea keeper and indeed the crossbar denied Monaghan Harps on numerous occassions. In the end Lisnaskea ran out comfortable winners. Final scoreline
