Ladies Sen Champ Semi-final – Crosserlough: 1-8(11), Killygarry: 2-8(14)
The ladies dug out a brilliant morale-boosting win against a fancied Crosserlough side on Sunday morning in Drumalee. Playing conditions were very wet throughout the game making it very difficult for both sides. Ball-handling was very challenging. Crosserlough probably got the rub of the green in the first. They won a lot of the loose scrappy breaks. They also marked tightly one-to-one which didn’t allow us to find loose players to pass to from open play or placed balls. Our players persevered throughout and they deserved to be on level terms at the break after three pointed frees by Deirbhaile Lynch and a point from play by Aisling Walls. Half-time score Crosserlough: 0-4, Killygarry 0-4.
We made a very sluggish start to the second half. Crosserlough were totally dominant in the third quarter. They scored 1-3 without reply to establish a six-point lead. The comeback was triggered by the speed merchants. Geraldine Smith broke the line and scampered on to set up Sinead Livingstone. Sinead sprinted through and buried to the net. Crosserlough were stunned by further points from Sinead (2), Aisling Walls and a Deirbhaile Lynch free to put us into a one-point lead going into the final five minutes. Crosserlough levelled with a point and the game looked to be heading for stalemate. Then a brilliant move involving Clodagh Kennedy, Aisling Walls and Ally Cahill set Geraldine Smith sprinting forward to score a fantastic team goal. They comfortably saw off any Crosserlough challenges until the final whistle blew.
It was a great win in difficult conditions. The manner of the comeback must also be encouraging for the whole squad. Forwards usually get the plaudits when a team win but the backs played their part in this win too, particularly Clodagh Kennedy, Nicola Fortune and Kaioni T’uipilato. Dearbhla Brady also worked hard for the hour and Ally Cahill deserves a mention for her consistent tracking and powerful runs. It’ll be heads down now for everybody as they prepare for the county final against familiar rivals Lurgan.
Killygarry: Elaine Walsh, Aoibheann Morrison, Amy Galligan, Grainne Cahill, Kaoini T’uipilato, Nicola Fortune, Clodagh Kennedy, Ally Cahill, Deirbhaile Lynch (0-4), Maeve Young, Dearbhla Brady, Aisling Walls (0-2), Geraldine Smith (1-0), Kate McManus, Sinead Livingstone (1-2), Aoife O’Shea, Edel McLean, Eimear Cahill, Eimear Connolly, Eimear Kennedy, Blaithin Delaney, Emma Delaney, Gemma Cullen, Joanne Reilly, Katie Sheanon, Niamh O’Shea, Amy Fitzpatrick, Niamh Walsh, Shauna Gilsenan, Keelin Burke,
