ROUND UP: Drumlane put Killygarry out while Lurgan march on
Keogan’s Imperial Senior championship Round 2
Killygarry exit championship at group stages after Drumlane defeat
Drumlane 3-10
Killygarry 1-10
A strong opening quarter from hosts Drumlane was enough to guide them to a two-goal win over Killygarry. This victory sees the Milltown ladies advance to the semi-finals with a game to spare as last year’s beaten senior finalists Killygarry exit the championship after a disappointing campaign. Goals were the difference in the clash, with three goals in the opening fifteen minutes from Drumlane the difference at half-time and again at full-time as they managed to keep Killygarry at arms length.
Drumlane started the game very well and registered 1-02 inside the opening five minutes of the tie. It took the home side just thirty seconds to raise their first green flag as Bronagh Sheridan gathered the ball from an Amy Galligan block and buried to the back of Elaine Walsh’s net. Two points from Sheridan and Zara Fay extended their lead to five before Geraldine Smith opened her sides account in the 6th minute with a free. Smith started the half brightly and two more points from the forward left the deficit at two soon after. Killygarry had the opportunity to go ahead in the 11th minute but a shot from Sinead Levingstone went narrowly wide. From the resulting kickout the visitors were made rue the missed chance as Niamh Brady weaved through the defence and finished to the net. Minutes later the lead was further extended as Kiera Ward palmed to the net for the third goal after Walsh failed to clear her lines from a high ball in from Sheridan. Both sides finished the half with two more points to leave the goals the difference at the break. Kaioni Tuipolotu pointed after an excellent run while Smith pointed her fifth of the half. At the other end Niamh Brady and Cara Maguire pointed for Drumlane leaving the halftime score 3-06 to 0-06.
Killygarry started the half at a blistering pace creating several goal chances, however they failed to hit the net on their three opening tries. Levingstone once gain shot narrowly wide, Catriona Smith seen her effort at goal roll wide and Smith hit an effort off the crossbar. Luck was not on their side as Smith’s rebound of the crossbar was gathered by captain Ciara Brady and worked to the opposite end of the field for a Brady point. The visitors did however get the reward for perseverance in the 6th minute as Aisling Walls fired to the back of the net to bring the game to life. Walls then added a points before the outstanding Zara Fay added her second of the game to keep the gap at seven. Despite further drama and shouts for penalties the sides traded score for score as the half drew to a close with Killygarry failing to find the breakthrough score. Smith and Walls pointed one apiece to leave the deficit at five as shouts for a penalty came from the crowd after a foul on the lively Walls.
No foul came as Sheridan pointed a much-needed score for her side at the other end. The sides finished the game with two more each, two from Walls and one apiece from Fay and Brady as the home side held on to the victory ahead of a top of the table clash with Lacken next weekend.
Drumlane scorers: Niamh Brady 1-03, Bronagh Sheridan 1-02 (1f), Kiera Ward 1-00, Zara Fay 0-03, Aine Reilly 0-01, Cara Maguire 0-01
Killygarry scorers: Aisling Walls 1-04 (4f), Geraldine Smith 0-05 (2f), Kaioni Tuipolotu 0-01
Lurgan make it two wins from two
Castlerahan/Denn 0-06
Lurgan 2-12
Reigning champions Lurgan cemented their place in this years SFC semi-final with a game to spare after a convincing win over a well organised and hardworking Castlerahan/Denn side. A goal in either half from Captain Ciara Brady and youngster Shannah Galligan helped the visitors to a twelve point win.
The hosts opened the games scoring after a well struck effort from Roisin O’Reilly. Laura Keogan equalised matters before a double from Niamh Daly boosted them into the lead, which they would hold for the remainder of the tie. The home side closed the deficit to one in the twelfth minute after a Emer McEnroe effort minutes after Shanise Fitzsimons hit the post with an effort at goal.
The defensive set-up of Castlerahan/Denn wasn’t to be faulted in the opening quarter making scores hard to come by for Lurgan and an impressive save from Amy Kerrigan in the opening minutes kept her side in the tie also. It took Lurgan 15 minutes to register their fourth score of the half before finishing the half strong with a further 1-02.
Ciara Brady and Niamh Tolan added a point apiece before Brady hit the back of the net for the opening goal in the 27th minute. A third converted free from Daly left the gap at seven at half time with the scoreline 1-06 to 0-02.
Lurgan managed a further 1-06 in the second half as the home side hit four more points. Daly opened the half with another converted free after a foul on Laura Keogan. Enda Flanagan’s side made a direct reply with their first score from the boot of Shanise Fitzsimons and a pointed free from O’Reilly in the 9th minute brought the deficit between the sides to six points.
Again, Lurgan had to be patient in attack finding it difficult to breakthrough a rigid and tenacious backline led by Rebecca Fitzsimons and Rachel McEnroe. However, 15 minutes after their opening score they added their second of the half as Shannah Galligan fired to the back of the net to leave daylight between the sides. Substitute Onora Macken made a direct impact off the bench with a point as Caroline Smith replied with one for her team also coming off the bench. Once again, the visitors finished out the half strongest with three scores from Daly, Galligan and Eimear Corcoran as Shanise Fitzsimons closed the scoring for her side who now enter into a must win final group game against Gowna. The 2022 Intermediate champions need a win to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off whilst Lurgan play Crosserlough with top-spots in Group A up for grabs in that encounter.
Lurgan Scorers: Niamh Daly 0-06 (5f), Ciara Brady 1-01, Shannah Galligan 1-01, Niamh Tolan 0-01, Laura Keogan 0-01, Eimear Corcoran 0-01, Onora Macken 0-01
Castlerahan/Denn Scorers: Roisin O’Reilly 0-02 (1f), Shanise Fitzsimons 0-02 (1f), Emer McEnroe 0-01, Caroline Smith 0-01
Goals the difference as impressive Crosserlough advance to semi-final
Crosserlough 5-10
Gowna 0-08
It was another tough group A encounter for Gowna as they travelled to Kilnaleck to take on a Crosserlough side who recorded a win in the opening round after a nervy meeting with Castlerahan/Denn. Fergal Hennessy’s side knew that a win would book their spot in the semi-final of the competition ahead of their closing round game against Lurgan a week later whilst Padraig Gunner’s side needed to bounce back after a heavy defeat the week prior to Lurgan. Crosserlough were still without a number of starters include taliswoman Lauren McVeety while Gowna welcomed the return of Niamh Halton to thee starting team.
The opening quarter was a cagey affair with both sides registering a number of early wides as they adjusted to the playing conditions with only five points registered. Crosserlough were first to draw blood as Kate Smith converted a free after a foul on Muireann Cusack and then pointed from play after Aine Smith won the resulting kickout. Gowna made a direct reply with their opening point from forward Laura Pearson. Karen Harten and Ciara Cadden traded points as the deficit remained at a single score in the 14th minute.
The home side came to life in the closing quarter of the half finishing with a flourish of 2-02 as Gowna added just two more points from Niamh Halton and Jessica Houldsworth. For Crosserlough, Boylan pointed a double as Smith added her third to leave the home side up by two points. The sucker blow for the visitors came in the 24th minute and four minutes later as Muireann Cusack buried the ball to the back of the net on two occasions to leave the half time score 2-06 to 0-04 in favour of the hosts.
The travelling side managed a further four points in the second half as Crosserlough continued to build momentum hitting the net on three more occasions and pointing four more points also. Halton opened the halves scoring on the fifth minute before Smith made a reply at the other end. From the resulting kickout Aine Smith got the hosts third goal to further extend their lead and added a point to her tally minutes later. The impressive Halton hit three on the bounce, but it was the home side who again finished the half in style. Two goals from the boot of Boylan wrapped up a second campaign win for her side who are growing with confidence as the competition progresses. For Gowna it is a repeat of the 2022 division 2 league final as they face Castlerahan/Denn in the final group game where the winner solidifies their place in the SFC for 2024.
Crosserlough scorers: Ella Boylan 2-04, Muireann Cusack 2-00, Kate Smith 0-04 (1f), Aine Smith 1-01, Karen Harten 0-01
Lacken advance to semi-final after comprehensive win over struggling Templeport
Templeport 1-06
Lacken 6-26
After a two-point win in the opening round over championship contenders Killygarry Lacken knew a win on Sunday would help them to the semi-finals, a step further than they managed last year. Whilst for the hosts they looked to bounce back from a heavy defeat over neighbours Drumlane. However, Sunday was always going to be a difficult task as they faced the experienced and formidable Lacken side who look like they are getting back to the form they were in in 2020 when they claimed the Michelle Keating cup.
The opening quarter was evenly contested in Templeport however a second quarter goal spree from Lacken was enough to seal the result midway through the encounter. With 15 minutes played in the tie the visitors led by just four after an exciting opening. Lacken opened the tie with an Erinn Galligan goal and an Eimear Brady point. Katie McNulty replied with one back for Templeport before the visitors scored two more points from Marian McGuinness and Josephine Maguire before Galligan struck the net for her second goal. Sinead Greene pointed for the home side after a fantastic run before Noelle Maguire found the back of Cathriona Leddy’s net after a well worked team move to reduce the deficit to four.
However, Sean Finnegan’s side finished the half strongest scoring 4-06 to Templeport’s three points in the closing quarter to open up a significant lead at the break. Full forward Eimear Brady had a double brace of goals as Marian McGuinness also found the net with a powerful strike. As half-time approached the outstanding Galligan got her hattrick goal with points coming from Josephine Maguire, Lucy Crowe, McGuinness, Shona Smith and Emma Keogan (2). For the hosts Cara McCaffrey registered a double as Greene finished out the halves scoring with her second point of the game.
The second half continued the same with Lacken continuing to dominate notching over some excellent points with the aid of the wind at their backs. They managed seventeen more points as the home side registered just a single point in 14th minute from the boot of Cara McCaffrey after lovely link up play between Eloise Power and McNulty. The visitors had an array of scorers throughout the game with second half points coming from Galligan (6), five apiece from Brady and Keogan and a point from Lucy Crowe wrapping up an impressive all-round display for their side.
Lacken now enter a top of the table clash with Drumlane with winner taking top spot in group B. For Templeport they face Killygarry in the closing group game next Sunday with both sides in search of their opening win, which see them avoid the relegation play-off.
Lacken scorers: Erinn Galligan 3-06, Eimear Brady 2-06, Emma Keogan 0-08, Marian McGuinness 1-02, Josephine Maguire 0-02, Shona Smith 0-01, Lucy Crowe 0-01
Templeport scorers: Noelle Maguire 1-00, Sinead Greene 0-02, Cara McCaffrey 0-03 (1f), Katie McNulty 0-01
Sunday, August 20
Keogans Imperial Senior Championship
Castlerahan/Denn 0-06 V 2-12 Lurgan
Crosserlough 5-10 V 0-08 Gowna
Templeport 1-06 V 6-26 Lacken
Drumlane 3-10 V 1-10 Killygarry