Ballyfin edge St Brigid’s in eight-goal thriller while Shanhoe crush Crettyard
Ballyfin's Emma Fitzpatrick gathering this ball Photo: David Maher
BALLYFIN are sitting pretty at the top of the Laois LGFA Intermediate Championship after they edged out second-placed St Brigid’s by two points in an eight-goal thriller at Arles Kilcruise GAA on Tuesday evening.
Both sides came into the game with two wins from two, with Ballyfin having defeated St Paul’s and Shanahoe, while St Brigid’s had seen off Killeshin and Shanahoe.
Ballyfin led 3-5 to 1-6 at half-time, with Niamh O’Rourke converting a penalty before Niamh Gorman and Sophie Sweeney also found the net. St Brigid’s goal came from Lucie O’Reilly in the 14th minute. Ballyfin were reduced to 14 players for the final 10 minutes of the first half after Rachel Wheeler was shown a yellow card.
They extended their advantage early in the second half when Aoibheann O’Rourke found the net, but St Brigid’s responded strongly. Two further goals from the outstanding O’Reilly saw St Brigid’s move two points ahead with 10 minutes remaining, completing her hat-trick in the process.
However, Ballyfin showed great character to regain control, with Gorman scoring her second goal of the evening in the 55th minute to put them back in front. Ballyfin held on from there to secure a two-point victory. O’Reilly was outstanding for St Brigid’s, finishing with an impressive 3-8 of her side’s 3-14.
Ballyfin will welcome Killeshin in Round 4, while St Brigid’s are due to face Crettyard in Ballylinan.
Chloe Scanlon 0-7 (0-6fs), Niamh Gorman 2-0, Niamh O’Rourke 1-1 (1-0 pen), Sophie Sweeney 1-0, Sinead O’Rourke and Caoimhe Drennan 0-1 each.
Lucie O’Reilly 3-8 (0-5fs), Caoimhe Simms and Kelly Farrell 0-2 each, Anna Maguire and Aine Lacey 0-1 each.
Laura McEvoy; Kate Maher, Aine Seale, Rachel Wheeler; Eva Cullinan, Rachel Walsh, Emma Fitzpatrick; Niamh O’Rourke, Caoimhe Drennan; Sophie Sweeney, Sinead O’Rourke, Jessica Horan; Aoibheann O’Rourke, Ella Dunphy, Chloe Scanlon.
Subs: Niamh Gorman for Dunphy, Holly Murphy for Wheeler, Molly Kelly for A O’Rourke.
: Katie Wall; Laura Mulhall, Katie O’Reilly, Ella Murphy; Niamh Downey, Tessa Harris Byrne, Holly Hughes; Emma Hickey, Aine Lacey; Caoimhe Simms, Lucie O’Reilly, Jessica Byrne; Anna Maguire, Kelly Farrell, Fay Dunican.
Subs: Melissa Jacob for Hughes.
SHANAHOE picked up their first points of the Laois LGFA Intermediate Championship with a comprehensive victory over Crettyard on a wet Tuesday evening.
They dominated from the outset and led 0-11 to 0-1 at half-time. Mary Fitzpatrick opened the scoring, while Maya Donoghue, Paige Hyland and Jane Madden all contributed two points. Megan Walsh added three points, including two from frees. Freya Jones registered Crettyard’s only score of the half.
Shanahoe continued to control proceedings after the restart, with Hyland completing her hat-trick of points before Hannah Bailey found the net for the game’s opening goal.
Fitzpatrick then added a goal and a point in quick succession before Walsh brought her tally to four points, with two of those coming from play.
Maeve Hennessy added Shanahoe’s third goal before Fitzpatrick raised her second green flag of the evening. Grainne Phelan also got on the scoresheet as Shanahoe moved on to 16 points. Crettyard managed just one further score after the break, with Finola Keogh providing their only point of the second half.
The victory gives Shanahoe their first points of the campaign after they suffered defeats to St Brigid’s and Ballyfin.
Crettyard face a local derby against St Brigid’s in Round 4, while Shanahoe will look to build on this result when they welcome St Paul’s.
Mary Fitzpatrick 2-2, Megan Walsh 0-4 (0-2fs), Hannah Bailey and Maeve Hennessy 1-0, Paige Hyland and Jane Madden 0-3 each, Maya Donoghue 0-2, Grainne Phelan and Molly Cassin 0-1 each.
Finola Keogh and Freya Jones 0-1 each.
Niamh Stackpool; Isabel Finlay, Marian Ferns, Ruth McDermott; Hannah Bailey, Leanne Hyland, Ava Tynan; Maeve Hennessy, Megan Walsh; Molly Cassin, Paige Hyland, Sarah Bergin; Maya Donoghue, Mary Fitzpatrick, Jane Louise Madden.
Sub: Grainne Phelan.
Eleana Rice; Lexi Willoughby, Aoibheann Kelly, Eugenie Wheatley Kelly; Lara Willoughby, Ella Kelly, Nicola Kelly; Siofra Fitzpatrick, Freya Jones; Finola Kehoe, Carrie Murphy, Shauna Hanley; Mia Kearney, Patrice Whelan, Sara Fleming.
