Round-up: Crosserlough ladies record opening win

Cavan ladies SFC in full swing

Senior champions Crosserlough took on the 2019 Intermediate champions Gowna in the opening round of the Senior Championship on Sunday last. It was a difficult opening game for Gowna who played their first senior match since 2013.

Two goals in the opening half from Crosserlough’s Muireann Cusack all but sealed the tie at half-time with the score 2-8 to 0-2. Captain Niamh Halton kept the scoreboard ticking for Gowna, with a personal tally of 0-5, while Roisin O’Reilly in the Gowna nets prevented further goals for the visitors. Neasa Byrd, Ciara Finnegan and Muireann Cusack were the stand-out performers for the reigning champions who made a comprehensive start to their campaign.

Crosserlough scorers: Muireann Cusack 2-04, Neasa Byrd 0-5, Ciara Finnegan 0-5, Ciara Boylan 0-1, Sinead McKenna 0-1, Christina Charters 0-1.

Gowna scorers: Niamh Halton 0-5, Erin Pierson 1-00, Emma Halton 0-2, Jessica Houldsworth 0-1.

In the other Group A tie Lacken recorded a 29-point victory over Templeport. It was an impressive start to the campaign for the visitors with many standout performers on the day.

Senior county player Roisin O’Keeffe continued her impressive league form with a personal tally of 2-7 as full-forward Erinn Galligan got herself six points. Armagh native Marian McGuinness marked her Cavan club championship debut with a goal and a point.

Templeport, who were without the services of star forward Aisling Maguire due to injury, struggled to break down a Lacken defence led by Joanne Moore. On a tough day for the hosts Kathleen Maguire was a stand-out player scoring 1-1 as was Ciara Kellegher at half-back.

Lacken scorers: Roisin O’Keeffe 2-07, Erinn Galligan 0-6, Josephine Maguire 1-02, Marian McGuinness 1-01, Lucy Crowe 1-01, Shona King 1-00, Leanne Leddy 0-2, Aoife Crowe 0-2, Eimear Bogue 0-1

Templeport scorers: Kathleen Maguire 1-01, Keely Doonan 0-2, Becky O’Brien 0-2, Rachael Doonan 0-1, Sinead McGovern 0-1, Katie McNulty 0-1

In Group B Killygarry and Lurgan got off to a winning start. Lurgan who went into the championship without a league victory, showed their experience and class against last year’s finalists Mullahoran.

Mullahoran were dealt a blow last weekend with the injury to captain Sheila Reilly and her presence in the backline was a miss on Sunday. Lurgan captain Catherine Dolan was impressive throughout and her goals in the 15th and 17th minutes of the first half were the difference. Aishling Sheridan was a constant threat up front for the hosts finishing with 1-9 to her name but this was not enough to help her team to a victory.

Mullahoran will look back on their missed chances registering many wides at crucial times throughout the tie.

Lurgan scorers: Catherine Dolan 2-0, Laura Keoghan 1-2, Claragh O’Reilly 0-4, Edith Lynch 0-4, Niamh Daly 0-2

Mullahoran scorers: Aishling Sheridan 1-9, Mona Sheridan 0-1, Eve Brady 0-1, Abaigh Harten 0-1

Elsewhere, it was a comprehensive victory for Killygarry over a struggling Arva/Killeshandra team. Geraldine Smith made a welcome return from injury to the Killygarry team who are without Rachel Talbot who is ruled out due to injury. Arva/Killeshandra registered only three points in a game dominated by Aisling Walls (2-11), Geraldine Smith (1-7) and Niamh O’Shea (1-4).

Donna English and Caoimhe McDermott were the standout performers on a tough day for the hosts who travel to take on Lurgan next Sunday.

Sunday will also be a crucial game between Mullahoran and Killygarry, two sides who have already met in the league, with Mullahoran beating Killygarry on a score line of 3-13 to 2-5. With Mullahoran in need of a win on Sunday, this will be a game to watch out for.

Arva/Killeshandra scorers: Niamh Kelly 0-2, Kayla Brady 0-1

Killygarry scorers: Aisling Walls 2-11, Geraldine Smith 1-7, Niamh O’Shea 1-4, Eimear Cahill 0-1, Eimear Connolly 0-1, Kaioni Tuipulotu 0-1

Tomorrow (Sunday) at 11am, Lacken meet Gowna, Templeport face Crosserlough, Lurgan taken on Arva-Killeshandra and Mullahoran are pitted against Killygarry.