TG4 Ladies All Ireland Intermediate Semi-final
Leitrim 3 – 7
Clare 2 – 9
Leitrim battled determinedly to win Saturday evenings pulsating TG4 All Ireland Ladies intermediate championship semi-final over Clare by a point in Cavans Kingspan Breffni Park.
Second half goals by newcomers, Michelle Reynolds and Eileen Donaghue, provided Leitrims narrow victory platform and a place in the All Ireland final against Wexford in Croke Park on Sunday, September 23.
Following twenty-three minutes in the first half, it was level pegging on 0 – 4 all, with Clare getting on level terms after Leitrim had held a slight edge in the proceedings.
In this period Ann Marie Cox shot three Leitrim points and Eileen Donaghue added a point while Clare responded with three Majella Griffin points and a point from Niamh Keane.
An Áine Kelly point before the break gave Clare a 0 – 5 to 0 – 4 interval lead but Ann Marie Cox converted a Leitrim free within two minutes of the restart, to return the game to stalemate.
Over the next fourteen minutes the lead changed hands on three occasions with Áine Kelly and Fiona Lafferty hitting Clare points while Majella Griffin added a goal, to put the Banner women ahead by a point.
Meanwhile in this spell Leitrim responded with well-taken a Michelle Reynolds goal and a point from Ann Marie Cox.
Following that Leitrim went five points up after Michelle Reynolds and Eileen Donaghue shot 48th and 49th minutes goals.
But then a Clare rally cut the Leitrim lead to the minimum before the finish with Marie Kelly firing to the net and adding a point for the Munster women while Majella Griffin also shot a point.
During this Clare onslaught Leitrim hit back with a point from Ann Marie Cox, which at the end proved just enough for the win.
Leitrim: Louise Loughlin, Catherine Holohan, Sinéad Brennan, Mary McKeon, Charlene Tyrell, Lorraine Brennan, Teresa Mylott, Maeve Quinn, Aisling Brennan, Anna Conlan, Sarah McLoughlin, Eimear McGlade, Ann Marie Cox, Eileen Donaghue, Michelle Reynolds. Subs Sinéad Quinn for McGlade (HT), Claire Plunkett for Conlan (43 mins.), McGlade for Plunkett (52 mins.).
Clare: Denise Walsh, Lorraine Kelly, Carmel Considine, Ciara Cleary, Sinéad Kelly, Jane Kennedy, Grace Lynch, Louise Henchy, Una Downes, Niamh Keane 0 – 1, Majella Griffin 1 – 4 (1f), Marie Kelly 1 – 1, Áine Kelly 0 – 2, Fiona Lafferty 0 – 1, Helen Quinn. Subs Michelle Delaney for Kennedy (38 mins.), Bernie Kelly for Quinn (53 mins.), Lorna Murphy for Downes (57 mins.).
Referee: Eileen Jones (Tyrone).
03-Sep-07 by PJ Leddy
