Intermediate Championship Semi Finals

St Josephs 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 Josephs 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. Josephs 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. Josephs: 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

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/Killanenas 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