A second national award has come to a Leitrim player as Sarah McLoughlin’s player of the match performance earned the Ballinamore girl the Lucozade Sport/Irish Independent Ladies player of the month for September. This award is all the more noteworthy taking into account performances by players in all of the semi finals at Senior, Intermediate and Junior level in addition to the three All Ireland finals would have been considered. Well done to Sarah.

07-Oct-07 by Patricia Bohan – Ladies PRO

Played in sunny conditions in Leitrim Gaels Community pitch, Kiltubrid made little of their previous days exertions to fashion a wonderful first half performance and left the result in no doubt by half time. Visibly tiring in the second half, they still managed some crucial scores to prevent any possibility of a Swinford comeback. The difficulty in scheduling the county final due in the main to the All Ireland run of the county team, meant that Kiltubrid had to face games on two successive games as there was no possibility of rescheduling the Connacht championship dates.

Both teams missed an early opportunity to open the Scóring before a wonderful pass from Aine Tighe set up Aoife McWeeney for a super finish to the net to give the Kiltubrid the perfect start. Niamh Cunningham, Swinfords most dangerous forward replied with a fine point from play. Swinford recoginsed the threat of Tighe almost immediately and brought in Susan Lavin to mark her. Miranda Burke fired over a point from play as Kiltubrid found a great rhythm to their play. Lisa McWeeney pointed from distance and Siobhan Kelly added to the growing tally. Lisa McWeeney pointed again after Aoifes original shot was well blocked. Another fine run by Aine Tighe resulted in another point under tremendous pressure. With a rare attack at the other end, Cunningham found herself unmarked in front of goal and gave Emer Horan no chance with a goal. Any possibility of a Kiltubrid collapse was certainly not on the cards as they responded almost immediately when Siobhan Kellys effort founfd the far corner of the net. Kiltubrid did have a let off with ten minutes of the half remaining when a penalty was awarded to Swinford. Cunninghams effort hit the post but Emer Horan went down well to save the rebound and clear to safety. With Aine Meehan, Sinead McKieran and Clare Kelly in brilliant form in the defence, Kiltubrid easily repelled all of the Swinford attacks. Emer Horan was equally inÓgood form and saved brilliantly from Tara Henry. Aine Tighe relieved the pressure with a pointed free while Cunningham pointed from play at the other end. Miranda Burke turned proveder for Tighe as she fired to the net and Kiltubrids confidence grew with some wonderful free flowing football. Another goal from Aoife McWeeney when Lisas original shot was only parried by Sinead Loftus with five minutes remaining was added to with points from Miranda Burke and Aoife McWeeney to leave Kiltubrid leading by 4-8 to 1- 2 at the break.

Swinford attacked first in the second half and Sinead Fadden pointed before Siobhan Kelly responded with another fine point from play. Three unanswered points from Fadden (2) and Cunningham signalled a mini revival as Kiltubrid began to tire. Sandra Early pointed well to keep distance between the teams as the defence came into their own with many crucial blocks and interceptions while Clare Kelly moved back to mark the dangerous Cunningham. There was stalemate for fifteen minutes as the half wore on and indeed it was Kiltubrid that finished the strongest with a goal from Siobhan Kelly, another Tighe point and to put the icing on the cake and seal a famous win, hard working midfielder Sinead Tighe goaled in the final minute to start a double celebration.

Kiltubrid: Emer Horan, Aine Meehan, Sinead McKiernan ,Breda Holohan, Siobhan Carroll, Claire Kelly, Jenny McKiernan, Sinead Tighe, Lisa McWeeney, Miranda Burke, Siobhan Kelly, Regina Bohan, Aoife McWeeney, Sandra Earley, Aine Tighe. Subs: Carol Keaney, Anya Auhl, Niamh Tighe, Helene Duignan, Sinead Byrne, Clodagh Foley, Ciara McWeeney, Aisling McGourty, Emma Burke, Claire Judge.

Swinford: Sinead Loftus, Dorothy Cassidy, Heather Walsh, Sarah Ansboro, Claire Tierney, Melissa Coleman, Linda Kenny, Tara Henry, Leanne Lenehan, Deirdre Callaghan, Ciara Price, Sinead Fadden, Niamh Cunningham, Jessie Coleman,Michelle Gavin

Referee: J Cox (Roscommon)

01-Oct-07 by Patricia Bohan – Ladies PRO

Pyramid Bookmakers Intermediate Championship Final

Kiltubrid joined Aughawillan and Cloone in the senior club ranks with a six point win over Mohill in Leitrim Community Pitch on Saturday evening. This was a close tough competitive game with the sides level at half time and it was only well into the second half before Kiltubrid put some daylight between the teams.

Mohill missed the first effort for a point at a shot hit the post and rebounded to safety before Siobhan Kelly opened Kiltubrids account with a point from play after Sinead Tighe intercepted a Mohil move in the middle of the field. A minute later the sides were level with an Eimear Beirne free following a foul on Katie Tyrrell. Mairead Stenson carried the ball from full back line into the heart of the Kiltubrid defence and her pass to Beirne was pointed to put Mohill into the lead after eight minutes. Siobhan Kelly saw her effort hit the crossbar and in a scramble for the ball Aine Tighe was fouled and pointed the free to level the game. Christine Quinn and pointed for Mohill and after thirteen minutes Caroline Egan was first to react to a dropped ball from a Deridre McDermott free to hit the back of the net as Mohill got on top. Twoi minutes later Kiltubrid responded with a fine goal from Aoife McWeeney after a great run by Lisa McWeeney. A Caroline Egan shot was saved by Emer Horan as the play moved from end to end. Eimear Beirne fired over a fine point but missed an easy free to increase the Mohill lead. Some fine defending by Kiltubrid set up Aoife McWeeney for a great point as Kiltubrid dominated the next five minutes. An Aine Tighe free levelled the game again and was involved in a great move that was finished to the net by an inrushing Aoife McWeeney. Caroline McGarry had to be alert and made a fine save from McWeeney before Regina Bohan pointed from play. However Mohill fought their way back and finished the half on top when a Deirdre McDermott point and Eimear Beirne free cut the gap to two. Beirne pointed another free before Charlene Tyrrell won the kickout and hit a long range point to leave the sided level at 2-5 to 1-8 at the break.

Emer Horan was in action in the Kiltubrid goals immediately after the restart as she made a god save from Caroline Egan. Beirne pointed a free as Mohill pushed forward strongly but some great defensive work from the Kiltubrid defence kept their goal intact. Mohill increased their lead to two points after ten minutes with a Caroline Egan effort that hit the crossbar an went over. The next twelve minutes proved the winning of the game for Kiltubrid with a point from Lisa McWeeney and a goal from Player of the Match Miranda Burke following great combination play from Sandra Early and Aoife McWeeney. The goal was quickly followed by points from Aine Tighe, Sandra Early, Siobhan Kelly and another Tighe point all from play. Mohill tried to respond but wides from Deirdre McDermott and Eimear Beirne didnt help matters. With ten minutes remaining Kiltubrid seemed secure in their lead, however Mohill fought back again and Erin Reynolds found the far corner of the net from a long ball in to leave only a goal between the teams. An Aine Tighe point was matched by an Eimear Beirne free as the final seconds were played. The last action of the game saw a long clearance from Kiltubrid find Aoife Mcweeney in space and she made sure of the win with a well take goal before the final whistle blew.

Kiltubrid: Emer Horan, Aine Meehan, Sinead McKiernan,Breda Holohan, Siobhan Carroll, Claire Kelly, Jenny McKiernan, Sinead Tighe, Lisa McWeeney, Miranda Burke, Siobhan Kelly, Regina Bohan, Aoife McWeeney, Sandra Earley, Aine Tighe

Mohill: Caroline McGarry, Paula McGarry, Mairead Stenson, Olivia Gilmartin, Christine Quinn, Deirdre Ward, Kathy Keegan, Bernie Egan, Charlene Tyrrell, Eimear Beirne, Deirdre McDermott,Katie Tyrrell, Ciara Keegan, Caroline Egan, Erin Reynolds

Referee: Maeve Quinn

01-Oct-07 by Patricia Bohan – Ladies PRO