The way is clear for the Louth LGFA League Division 1 semi-finals following the midweek final round of fixtures.
St.Mochtas booked their place in the semi-finals after a superb 3-10 to 1-10 win over St.Patricks in a thrilling game in Lordship. It was Pats who had the first score with Kate Flood firing over within 30 seconds of the start,but it was the visitors who dominated the next quarter and helped by a Ciara Callan goal, led by 1-8 to 0-3 after twenty minutes.
Niamh Kirk the Mochta’s keeper then produced a fantastic stop to deny Flood. After Meg Woods pointed, Pat’s were back in the game when Aine Breen shot found the net with a clinical finish. Mochta’s responded strongly with a goal of their own courtesy of the impressive Eimear Byrne with Woods and Quinn swapping points leaving the Louth Village side leading 2-09 to 1-06 at the break.
As in the first half Kate Flood hit an early point, as the home side pressed forward they hit two wides before Katie Conlon’s low shot came back off the post, and taking advantage of this let-off Mochtas broke downfield for Christine Carolon to see her effort crash off the bar, the rebound falling kindly to Laura Kieran who dispatched to the net from close range .
Pat’s never up give and altough Meg Woods and Kate Flood raised white flags, they were unable to create the goal chance they badly needed against a disciplined Mochtas defence.
After the game Mochta’s coach Gerry Smith expressed satisfaction with his side’s display; “We showed character when we came under severe pressure in the third quarter when Pat’s came back strongly. We didn’t panic and concede frees and our work rate was good and when they got a score we were able to reply with a score of our own. We were unlucky first day in Cooley, but this win after beating Fechins on Sunday will be a boost to belief and confidence with a Champioship game against Newtown Blues on Monday.”
St. Mochtas; Niamh Kirk, Laura McDonnell, Deirbhile O’Connor, Kate Enghlishby, Lauren Kieran, Sarah Englishby, Caitlyn Curley, Aoife Byrne, Katie Rafferty, 0-01, Ciara Callan, 1-00, Emer Byrne, 1-03,Emma Quinn, 0-04, Christine Carolan, Laura Kieran, 1-01, Nadine Muckian,
Subs used: Shauna Lennon, Caeligh Hoey, Leah Farrell.
St.Patricks; Nadine Callan, Melisa O’Hare, Donna O’Hagan, Ellen Barry, Aoife Quigley, Anna Whyte, Deirbhle O’Doherty, Aine Breen, 1-00, Denise Finnegan, Grace Trainor, Kate Flood, 0-07, Aisling O’Doherty, Meg Woods, 0-03, Kate Cumiskey, Chloe Barry
Subs used: Evelyn Donnelly, Katie Conlon.
Holders, Cooley Kickhams bowed out of this years competition following defeat to St Fechins in Termonfeckin on Wednesday evening.
The final score was 1-10 to 1-07 for the home side. At half time the score was 0-3 to 1-08 in favour of the south-Louth side.
Cooley Kickhams; Coirin Rice, Laura Grills, Lisa Mc Carragher, Aoife Traynor, Renee Mc Glynn, Claire Donnelly, Shauna Murphy, Niamh Quigley, Katelyn Quinn, Alice Ferguson, Eibhlin Rice 1-02, Ciara Quinn, Laura Traynor, Niamh Rice 0-4, Leanne Touhy
Subs; Sinead Rice, Ciara Donnelly, Mary Ryan, Kate Arnold, Blaithin Malone, Megan Ferguson, Orlagh Mc Guigan, Georgia Hanlon, Kelly Carolan, Lauren Boyle, Trinity Larkin, Laoise Mc Elroy 0-1, Hazel Malone, Deborah Malone, Aoife Mc Daid, Sarah Jane O Reilly, Kerrie Ferguson.
St Fechins; Maia Savage, Erin Mc Donagh, Jenny Mullery, Anna Redmond, Hazel Haughney, Rachel Beirth, Orla Briscoe, Rachel Kinch 0-2, Roisin Kavanagh, Rebecca Howell 0-3, Hayley Mc Donnell, Sarah Moore 0-1, Emily Murphy 1-01, Catherine Mc Glew 0-1, Shayleen McDonagh 0-2
Subs; Grace Haughney, Louise Mc Cullough, Katie Flynn
Newtown Blues narrow 2-07 to 1-09 win over St.Brides also saw them into the last four alongside Geraldines who received a walkover against Stabannon. Former county star Laura Collins was again to the fore for the Drogheda side hitting 1-2 with Ciara Nugent getting 1-1.
Div 1 League semi-finals:
Newtown Blues v St. Mochtas
Geraldines v St. Fechins
In Division 2 Clans beat Dreadnots 4-11 to 2-11 with Ciara Woods hitting 2-7 of their total to ensure a semi final place.
Kilkerley suffered a shock defeat away to Naomh Fionnbarra, with Laura Sharkey (2) Amy Grant, Siobhain Markey and Becky Woods getting their goals in a 5-7 to 3-9 win.
In Group 2 Gleann Mhairtin had an good win over Glyde in Monasterboice on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-3. Katie Ryan was the goal scorer with Mari-Clair Fahy, Aoife Russell, Mary McKeever and the Tully sisters all contributing points in a strong display by the Monasterboice/Tullyallen combination.
Meanwhile Kevins/Hunterstown held out for a two point win over Roche Emmetts on Thursday evening.
The mid-Louth combo got off to a flyer and led by 2-2 to 0-00, the goal’s from a penalty by Roisin Maguire and Abbie Sheridan before Louise Byrne opened Roche’s account with with a well taken point after 13 minutes. Further points by the outstanding Murray left David Fedigans charges well placed as they led by
2-4 to 0-2 at the change over.
When Kevins/Hunterstown added a further three unanswered points to give them an 11 point cushion, Roche’s cause looked a hopeless one but when scores from Byrne and Abi Keenan were quickly followed by a goal from 16 year old Keenan the big Kevins lead was down to three (2-7 to 1-7).
A water break was then called, and the two minute breather would certainly have been welcomed by the Kevins management. They resumed with much needed points from Susan Byrne and Maguire, while another brilliant goal by Keenan set up a tense finish. Roche had chances to snatch at least a draw but it was Kevins/Hunterstown who preveled on a 2-9 to 2-7 scoreline.
St.Kevins/Hunterstown; Donnelly Farrelly, Grainne Murray, Eimear Murray, Cara O’Boyle, Niamh Murray, Katie Matthews, Katie Doheny, Susan Byrne, 0-01, Eleanor Smith, Theresa Russell, Paula Murray, 0-04, Jennifer Trainer, Stephaine Callaghan, Roisin Maguire, 1-03, Abbie Sheridan 1-00
Roche Emmetts; Deirbhle Begley, Katie Halligan, Niamh Callan, Aoife Savage, Anne Murphy, Kelly Murray, Caoimhe Trainor, Aoife Halligan, Claire McDonald, Ashling Begley, Jennifer McCourt, Louise Byrne 0-02, Tracy Rogers, Shona Halligan 0-1, Abi Keenan 2-02
Div 2 League Tables
Group 1
Clans 3 9 pts +30
Kilkerley 3 3 pts +1
Dreadnots 3 3 pts – 12
Nh. Finbarra 3 3 pts – 19
Group 2
Kevins/Hunterstown 2 6pts +18
Roche Emmetts 3 6pts +29
Gleann Mhairtin
Glyde Rangers 3 0pts
Remaining Fixture; Gleann Mhairtin v St Kevins/Hunterstown
