LADIES|Senior Football Championship Semi-final.

Saturday 06.08.2016

Club

Patrick Fahy and Co Solicitors

Senior Football Championship semi-final

Killeeshill St Mary’s 3-11

Clann na nGael  0-11

Killeeshill booked their place in their first ever senior football final at the expense of last year’s beaten intermediate finalists Clann na nGael at Pairc Colmcille. Three goals from Shannon Stevenson, Chloe Collins and veteran Catriona McGahan helped edge them home by nine points, but they certainly didn’t have it all their own way.

Clann, missing Alannah McShane from their line up, were in contention right up to the latter stages in what turned out to be an entertaining affair. To the winners’ credit they turned in a good display, they produced some fine defending and up front carved out plenty of openings. Grainne Rafferty, McGahan and Stevenson were all denied goals by Clann keeper Maureen Dooher.

Three points separated the sides at the break as both sides traded some fine points with the St Mary’s finding the net twice. Anne Daly opened the scoring, Stevenson levelled things before the very impressive Ciara Donnelly who finished the game with 0-7 opened her account with Stevenson finishing well to the Clann net within ten minutes of the start. Good work by Claire Hegarty put the nippy forward in for the score which was well finished into the top corner.

Mairead Conwell and Carol Dooher responded with points for the north Tyrone girls although Donnelly landed another Killeeshill point before turning provider for Catriona McGahan who scored a fine goal with eight minutes left in the half. Conwell closed the gap in the closing stages.

Both teams traded second half points, Donnelly 0-4 and Rafferty for the St Mary’s Sinead O’Neill, Conwell and Tracey Douglas for the Aughabrack side to leave five points between the sides going into the final quarter.

Lisa Marie Skeffington and Donnelly increased the Killeeshill grip on a final berth before Collins knocked home a late goal. Great combination play between Donnelly and McGahan on the left saw Donnelly’s shot fall across the face of the goal as goalkeeper Dooher could only watch as the young substitute fired home from close range.

There was no hope of a comeback but Daly never stopped working. Leanne McShane and Carol Dooher battled gamely as their side just came up short.

Take nothing away from Killeeshill as this was a real quality performance. The winners enjoyed plenty of ball in all sectors and while the Mc Gahan’s worked hard, Shannon Stevenson, Ciara Donnelly, Claire Jordan and midfielders Genevieve Scullion and Vanessa Doyle also impressed.

An historic first final appearance awaits the Killeeshill club who have battled away for years. They will enjoy the build up to September 10^th. Clann certainly gave a good account of themselves safe in the knowledge  they will play senior football again next season.