Leinster semi-final awaits Killeshin as they defeat Wicklow’s ABG
Niamh Graham (Killeshin) on the attack for Killeshin in their Leinster LGFA Club win over ABG Photo: Paul Dargan
KILLESHIN have a Leinster LGFA Junior Club semi-final to look forward to after they had six points to spare over Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney (ABG) of Wicklow on Saturday afternoon’s semi-final in Killeshin GAA.
The Laois Junior champions came through the preliminary quarter-finals last weekend when they defeated Offaly’s Naomh Ciaran, 6-14 to 4-6, to set up Saturday’s quarter-final.
The wind didn’t really favour anyone as it blew diagonally across the field, and it took a few minutes for both sides to adjust to the weather conditions.
Six minutes passed before the game’s first score as Cara English split the posts for her side. Ceire Ní Fhaolain and Emma Malone made it three points to no score two minutes later before Killeshin raised the game’s first green flag.
English took a shot for a point, which was half-blocked, and the spin on the ball took it over the head of goalkeeper Isobel Carr and into the net.
All of 19 minutes went by before the Wicklow champions got on the scoreboard as Aine Ní Chonchúir raised their first white flag. That would prove to be their only point of the first-half, as Killeshin finished with a flourish and registered four points without reply before half-time.
Cara English took her tally to 1-2 after she played a one-two with Ciara McDonald. Ní Fhaolain added two more points to her name while Ciara McDonald also got her name on the scoresheet as Killeshin led 1-7 to 0-1 at the half-time whistle.
ABG came out all guns blazing in the second-half and scored 1-2 within two minutes of the restart. Molly Garland and Emma Guilfoyle scored the points while Keeva Kelly was quickest to react when she caught a rebound off the crossbar to fire past Siobhan Dowling.
Killeshin maintained their dominance with four points on the trot. The first came in the 35th minute from Chelsea Dooley, before 12 minutes later Niamh Graham scored their only placed ball of the contest.
Another 10 minute scoreless period went by before Dooley scored her second of the contest. Killeshin’s final score came from the boot of substitute Chloe Whelan ensuring they led by eight points with 59 minutes played.
ABG ended the game with two points courtesy of Muireann O’Connor as Killeshin held firm in defence and made sure the Wicklow didn’t get any chance of scoring the goals that might give them a glimmer of hope late on.
Killeshin will now play Meath champions St Colmcille’s in a Leinster semi-final next weekend.
Cara English 1-2, Céire Ní Fhaolain 0-3, Chelsea Dooley 0-2, Chloe Whelan, Emma Malone, Ciara McDonald and Niamh Graham (f) 0-1 each.
Keeva Kelly 1-0, Muireann O’Connor 0-2 (0-1f), Molly Garland, Emma Guilfoyle and Aine Ní Chonchúir 0-1 each.
Siobhan Dowling; Seoighe English, Mary Clare Kelly, Orla Davis; Katie McGrath, Lucy Gaffney, Darien Hughes; Ciara Malone, Niamh Graham; Ceire Ni Fhaolain, Emma Malone, Aisling Cawley, Cara English, Chelsea Dooley, Ciara McDonald.
Eadoin Cawley for McGrath (40m), Eva Kavanagh for McDonald (43m), Chloe Whelan for E Malone (57m).
Isobel Carr; Rebecca Cleary, Divine Luke Letlhake, Ellie Doran; Naoise Ni Chonchuir, Aimee Fox, Catherine Bourke; Molly Garland, Naomi Devereuz; Keeva Kelly, Katie Nuzum, Eireann O’Reilly; Laoise Mellon, Aine Ni Chonchuir, Muireann O’Connor.
Emma Guilfoyle for Devereuz (24m), Farrin Wolohan for O’Reilly (43m), Anna Hyland for N Ni Chonchuir (43m), Kate Conway for Nuzum (52m), Sophie Hurley for Cleary (52m).
Sinead McHugh (Dublin).
