Intermediate Championship

Gurteen: St Josephs 2-13 Whitegate 3-2

Under lights in Gurteen was the venue for this final round game for St. Joseph’s and Whitegate, Joseph’s having three wins notched up out of four and Whitegate two.
It was a ‘dog eat dog’ sort of first half with only seven points scored in total at half time, six for the homeside and one for the visitors, and five of the seven coming from frees and ‘65’s! 
Aisling McMahon for Joseph’s scored three points from frees and another from a ‘65 while her team mate in corner forward Ciara Duggan scored two points from play. Number one for Whitegate Lauren Solan slotted over their only point of the first half from a ‘65.  Half time St. Joseph’s 6 points, Whitegate 1 point.
The second half saw a more free flowing game with plenty goals and points on the scoreboard for both teams. 
Aisling McMahon registered the first score of the half for Joseph’s, again from a free while her fellow midfielder Orlaith Lynch soloed through a strong Whitegate defense to rattle the back of the net raising the first green flag of the evening. Sarah Hoey, Erinn Hennessy and Hannah Meaney and Duggan again added to Joseph’s point tally before Louise Woods struck with another goal for the homeside. 
Whitegate did rally however striking no less than three goals as well as a point but it wasn’t enough to see off a determined St. Joseph’s side and when the final whistle blew it finished on a scoreline of St. Joseph’s 2-13 Whitegate 3-2
St. Josephs: Karen McMahon; Orla Moloney, Megan O’Brien, Kate Dillon; Eimear Casey (Captain), Chloe Towey, Aisling Hannon; Orlaith Lynch, Aisling McMahon; Erinn Hennessy, Sarah Hoey, Ciara Guilfoyle; Ciara Duggan, Síofra Ní Chonaill, Louise Woods

Subs: Hannah Meaney (for Aisling McMahon), Meadhbh O’Connor (for Aisling Hannon), Vanessa Meaney (for Síofra Ní Chonaill), Fiona Tuohy (for Kate Dillon), Laura Hayes (for Orlaith Lynch), Ciara Whelan.
Whitegate: Lauren Solan; Amy Solan, Orla Burke, Katie Hynes; Susan Fahy, Triona Kelly, Aisling Treacy; Molly Spazzi, Cait Keenan; Ciara Geoghegan, Greta Hickey, Lisa Donoghue; Ciara McDermot, Michelle Dooley, Anna Burke

Kilkishen/Bodyke 1-9 Feakle/Killanena 0-12

A last minute goal by Cara Close saw Kilkishen/Bodyke pip Feakle/Killanena for a place in the 2018 Intermediate Cup Final. This was a must win tie for Feakle/Killanena. Nothing less than two points would keep their 2018 Championship hopes alive. This dream was shattered when a last minute goal on the stroke of full time to level matters took Kilkishen/Bodyke through to the cup final, and Feakle/Killanena will contest the shield final for the second consecutive year.

Feakle/Killanena opened their scoring in the 10th minute with a Robin Conway point. They were to maintain this lead to the last minute when they were pipped at the post by the only goal of the match. Kate O’Gorman levelled matters just four minutes later.

Feakle/Killanena made more of their scoring opportunities in the first half and trojan defending under sustained pressure from their strong defence of Eileen Daly, Ciara Minogue and Aoife Tuohy repeatedly thwarted Kilkishen/Bodykes attack on goal. Centre back Evelyn Duggan flanked by Ellie O’Neill and Ella MacNamara drove forward to supply their forward with the ammunition to keep the score board ticking over. Caoimhe Kelly converted a brace of frees won by Shauna Doyle to keep the Kilkishen/Bodyke side in touch. Two frees from Regan Conway and a point from play from Roisin McMahon left the score 0-5 to 0-3 at the break.

A Regan Conway point from the throw in saw the state of a purple patch from Feakle/Killanena.  Further points from Regan Conway and Robyn Conway saw them extend their lead to six points. Lorna McNamara who was beginning to cause problems for the Kilkishen/Bodyke defence added one more. But the never say die attitude of Kilkishen/Bodyke saw them slowly pull this game back from the dead.  Lead by a great save by goalie Edel McNamara from a point blank Lorna McNamara shot set up their revival. Points from Kate Lynch, Siobhan Lenihan and Kate O’Gorman narrowed the deficit. Going in to the final minute Feakle/Killanena held the dangerous two point lead. Kilkishen/Bodykes ongoing pressure finally paid off when Close raised the only green flag of the day.

Kilkishen/Bodyke takes on St Josephs in the Fr Liam Murray Cup Final, while Feakle/Killanenas opposition will be Whitegate in the shield final.

Kilkishen/Bodyke: Edel McNamara; Orla McInerney, Rosin Minogue, Nollaig Baker; Ava Quigley, Alannah Ryan, Ciara Ryan; Caoimhe Kelly (0-2F), Eilis Whitney, Siobhan Lenihan (0-1), Kate Lynch (0-2, 1F), Niamh O'Brien, Shauna Doyle, Kate O'Gorman (0-3), Cara Close (1-0).

Feakle/Killanena: Shauna Canny; Aoife Tuohy, Eileen Daly, Ciara Minogue; Ellie Edge O Neill, Evelyn Duggan, Ella MacNamara; Laura McGrath, Poly Edge O Neill; Regan Conway (0-5 , 0-3f ), Roisin McMahon (0-2), Rachel McNamara; Lorna McNamara (0-2), Robyn Conway (0-3), Clodagh Gray.

Subs: Ziyan Spillane for Rachel McNamara.

Junior A Championship

Ruan 5-7 Tulla 5-7

Tulla came away from Ruan with a share of the spoils in what was a very close and hard fought game, in a tough encounter of this 5th Round tie. The game had everything; scores, skill, yellow cards, great play, foul play, flying ash and passion both on and off the field.

Tulla hit their stride early settling more quickly into the game scoring 1-3 within 12 minutes, all from their highest scorer Bridin Dinan, with only a single point reply from Ruan. Both goal keepers were called into action regularly and did well to keep the green flags from being raised more often, going in at half time 2-4 to 2-5. A yellow card a piece late in the half and some extended breaks for injuries, pushed the half to 36 minutes on the clock.

The 2nd period was a continuation of the same high intensity camogie. Each score was matched and every ball was strongly contested. With 2 minutes of normal time remaining, Louise McDonnell created a yard of space in a crowded square scoring a goal from close range. With added time, the next 8 minutes were frantic. Finally, the levelling goal from Tulla came; despite an initial great save by Niamh Lyons, the sliotar couldn’t be cleared, was recycled and driven in from an angle to tie up the game.

Both teams will feel they dropped points on the day, though on this occasion the honours were shared.

Ruan: Niamh Lyons, Nicola O’Donoghue, Brenda O’Donoghue, Aoife Stankard, Claire McDonnell (0-1), Roísin O’Loughlin, Rebecca Crowe, Michelle Power, Amy O’Donoghue (1-0), Louise McDonnell (2-0), Lisa Whelan (0-1), Alice Casey (2-5), Lorna Crowe

Subs: Siofra Ní Lachtnain for Michelle Power (52 mins), Rebecca O’Donoghue, Hannah King for Nicola O’Donoghue (41 mins), Lauren O’Donoghue for Lorna Crowe (Half Time)

Tulla: Valerie Hogan; Gillian Ryan, Aoife Leyden; Lisa Meehan, Aine Dinan, Terese Murphy; Sinead Conlon(1-1), Leah Molloy; Orna Mulconroy, Sherena McGrath, Aisling Dooley(2-0); Bridin Dinan(2-6,3fs,45'), Amy McNamara. 

Subs: Nessa Flynn for Molloy. Leah Fox for McNamara. 

Referee: Colm McEldowney, Clarecastle