Ladies Intermediate B Final
St. Josephs Ladies made the best use of the elements as they built up an impregnable first half lead to see off Glencar/Manor in the Leitrim Ladies Intermediate B Final last Saturday in Leitrim Village.
LADIES INTERMEDIATE B FINAL
ST JOSEPHS 4-5
GLENCAR/MANORHAMILTON 3-3
The weather meant that both sides were competing with more than each other, they also had the elements to contend with. Perhaps not surprisingly the balance of power shifted between the sides as St Josephs enjoyed the advantage of the wind in the first half while Glencar/Manor had the wind at their backs in the second half.
Despite playing against the conditions, Manor got off to the best possible start when Karen Connolly scored a goal with just over a minute of the game played.
Having started the game so well, Glencar/Manor spent much of the half on the back foot as they went almost 25 minutes without adding to their tally.
Deirdre Moran pointed for St Josephs opening score in the second minute and such was the way they were playing it was looking as though they would make light work of the Manor challenge.
Despite the best efforts of Camilla McDonagh, Eimear O Connor and Dympna Boylan, the pace and movement of St Josephs half-forward line of Aine Heslin, Michelle Heslin and Clare Owens was proving to be a real handful and it was no more than St Josephs deserved when they struck for their first goal.
Some quick passing released Clare Owens and she completed the move with a nice finish to give her side the lead for the first time.
Points from Sharon Kerrigan & Aine Heslin helped extend the lead after 13 minutes but almost 10 minutes of play elapsed before the next score arrived.
When it came, it was worth waiting for as Sharon Kerrigan, Alanna Bohan and Aisling Cooke combined well to set up Michelle Heslin who finished off the move with a well-takenÓgoal.
That score brought the game back to life as Aisling Cooke pointed before Alanna Bohan scored her sides third goal.
Trailing by seven points, it seemed as if Manor were out of contention before the game had even reached half-time. But despite the fact that they were playing against the wind, Manor managed to fight their way back in contention.
A Siobhan Feely point helped settle the nerves before Marie Clerkin struck for her sides second goal of the game. Excellent passing between Claire Cullen, Mary Alice Maguire and Michelle McNulty resulted in Siobhan Feely having a shot.
Her shot struck the crossbar and quickest to react was to react was Marie Clerkin who had the straightforward task of putting the ball into the net from close range.
St Josephs responded in the best possible way to by Scóring their fourth goal on the stroke of half-time. Sharon Kerrigan ran through unopposed to score a fine goal.
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This full report is available thanks to John Connolly and Leitrim Observer
– its available in this weeks edition of the Observer and online here
30-Oct-08 by Philip Rooney – LeitrimObserver.ie
