Intermediate Camogie Championship Semi Final
Derrymacash 2-12 Mullaghbawn 2-4
A first half blitz from Derrymacash sees them take their place in this year’s Intermediate Camogie Final at the expense of Mullaghbawn who gave their best but it wasn’t enough on the night. Andrea McAlinden and star performer Michaela Doyle ran riot in the opening half, allowing Derrymacash to build an unassailable half time lead.
McAlinden and Doyle opened for the eventual victors with two points each in the opening six minutes while two more Doyle points saw the score 0-6 to 0-0. Things only got worse for Mullaghbawn when McAlinden got her third point before hitting the opening goal of the game with 12 minutes of the first half remaining.
Mullaghbawn’s first point of the game followed through Blaithin O’Brien but was soon matched by Aoibhinn McCarthy who made the margin 10 once again. McAlinden raised another white flag just before the break with Derrymacash well ahead at half time with the scoreboard reading Derrymacash 1-9 Mullaghbawn 0-1.
Mullaghbawn opened the scoring for the second period with Blaithin O’Brien trading scores with Michaela Doyle before Orlagh Kane rattled home a second goal for Derrymacash with the second half just 10 minutes old. Brianna McKinley gave Mullaghbawn a lifeline with a goal, reducing the gap to 11 with time running out.
Laura Shannon split a brace from Michaela Doyle before Blaithin O’Brien struck 1-1 to bring the margin to six, however it was too little too late as the referee called for the ball seeing Derrymacash into the final where they will face Namoh Mhuire An Port Mor who also came through their semi final quite convincingly, beating Cullyhanna 4-18 to 3-5.
Derrymacash: Elaine Caughey, Eimear Lavery, Leah McCorry, Emma McStay, Siobhan McCann, Niamh McCarthy, Caoimhe Phillips, Aoife Kane, Orla Ward, Michaela Doyle (0-7), Aoibhinn McCarthy (0-1), Eadaoin Ward, Andrea McAlinden (1-4), Erin McArdle, Orlagh Kane (1-0)
Mullaghbawn: Pauline Quinn, Catriona Crilly, Ellen Daly, Orla Loye, Aimee Murchan, Blaithin O’Brien (1-3), Laura Leonard, Roisin Murphy, Jayne Hearty, Janine McKinley, Catriona Byrne, Brianna McKinley (1-0), Ciara Leonard, Leanna McKinley, Caithlin Grant.
Senior Camogie Championship Semi Final
Crossmaglen 1-7 Madden 5-19
Crossmaglen were right in this game during the opening period, until two quick fire Madden goals stole an eight point half time lead that Cross couldn’t pull back. The two goals just before the interval from Kelly Mallon and Michelle Morgan (less than 60 seconds apart) propelled Madden into an untouchable second half performance.
The signs were there early on when Madden built up a three point advantage through Sinead Kiernan and Orlagh Vallely (2) after just four minutes of action but Crossmaglen came roaring back with a goal from their full forward Melissa Hughes. The sides were only tied for two minutes when Sinead Kiernan’s long ball to the square was captured by Eimear Grimley who fired passed the keeper and gave Madden their three point lead once again.
Faye Fitzpatrick was Crossmaglen’s main threat all evening and she opened her account on the 11th minute and could have raised a green flag but for a fantastic save from Madden keeper Amy McGuinness. Eimear Grimley tagged on another before Cross levelled the score through Aislinn McMahon and Fitzpatrick to leave the score 1-4 each.
Unfortunately for Cross they wouldn’t score again until the 21st minute of the second half with Madden going on a rampage, striking an incredible 2-12 in that time. Two Laura McGuinness points saw them go two in front just on the edge of half time before the goals from Kelly Mallon and Michelle Morgan gave Madden a comfortable 3-6 to 1-4 lead at the half time break.
A long range point from Geraldine Kiernan began proceedings for the second half while Crossmaglen could have been straight back into the game but Melissa Hughes’ shot came bouncing back off the upright. Madden rattled on more scores with Eimear Grimley (2), Hannah Hughes (4), Orlagh Vallely (2), Gemma McCann seeing their side go 3-16 to 1-4 ahead with 10 minutes left to play.
Faye Fitzpatrick pulled one back for the depleted Cross side, although it was soon cancelled out by Kelly Mallon. Megan O’Callaghan and Fitzpatrick got points for Crossmaglen before Madden struck their 4th and 5th goals through Laura McGuinness and Hannah Hughes while Gemma McCann also hit a brace to give Madden a 5-19 to 1-7 victory.
Crossmaglen: Teresa Fanthorpe, Ciara Califf, Arlene Finnegan, Eimear Crummy, Riona McConville, Aveen Donaldson, Niamh McMahon, Aislinn McMahon (0-2), Caoimhin O’Neill, Marie Luckie, Faye Fitzpatrick (0-4), Orla Donaldson, Sarah Hanratty, Melissa Hughes (1-0), Megan O’Callaghan (0-1). Subs: Aoife McMahon for C. Califf, Ciara Murphy for C. O’Neill
Madden: Amy McGuinness, Helen McArdle, Emma McGuigan, Shannon McGuire, Geraldine Kiernan (0-1), Caoimhe Smith, Orlagh Vallely (0-4), Sinead Kiernan (0-1), Kelly Mallon (1-1), Orlagh Grimley, Hannah Hughes (1-4), Michelle Morgan (1-0), Laura McGuinness (1-2), Eimear Grimley (1-3), Leah McGoldrick. Subs: Eimear Smith for M. Morgan, Shannon Morgan for O. Grimley, Gemma McCann (0-3) for E. Grimley, Jodie Hughes for G. Kiernan, Aine Rafferty for L. McGuinness.
Senior Camogie Championship Semi Final
Ballymacnab 6-14 Keady 2-8
While the opening Semi Final was certainly competitive for the first 30 minutes of action the second game in the Athletic Grounds was essentially over before Keady registered their opening score. The deadly duo of Eimear Smyth and Ellie McKee tortured the Keady defence all night long while racking up 2-2 of the Nabs 2-4 inside the first 15 minutes.
Captain Aoibhin O’Hare shot Ballymacnab into the lead before an Eimear Smyth point doubled their sides’ advantage. Ellie McKee’s great catch allowed her to steal behind the defence and raise the first green flag of the evening, but certainly not the last. O’Hare tagged on another score before Smyth hit the net for Ballymacnab’s second goal, closely followed by a pointed free from Ellie McKee.
Keady did pull one back through Catherine Connelly but couldn’t halt the momentum the St Brendan’s club had build up and they continued to rally with another Ellie McKee point before the Nab hit third goal. The whole full forward line combined with McKee finding Smyth who flicked the ball past the Keady keeper to set up an easy finish for Emma McParland who made the score 3-5 to 0-1 after 20 minutes.
Smyth (2) and McKee both hit points as did Aoibhin O’Hare before Smyth got her second goal just before the break with Ellie McKee of course getting the final pass. Orlagh Murray got the final score of the half for Keady with the result beyond doubt at the short whistle, Ballymacnab ahead 4-8 to 0-2.
Eimear Smyth continued where she had left off from the first half and within the opening three minutes of the second period, she had the Keady keeper picking the ball out of the back of the net for the 4th time, Smyth expertly executing from the penalty spot this time after she had been fouled.
Aoibhin O’Hare traded scores with Keady’s Orlagh Murray before Eimear Smyth played in Alanna McKee with another goal the result. Ellie McKee knocked over a free, as did Keady’s Catherine McCooey while the Nab struck further scores from Ellie McKee and Aife Crilly, the score 6-12 to 0-4 with 10 left to play.
Keady did grab a goal of their own, substitute Caitlin Leer pulling on the ball after a scramble in the Ballymacnab square. Ellie McKee’s brace was matched by Orlagh Murray before Murray’s shot dropped short and found Catherine Connelly who buried the ball to the back of the net while points from Catherine McCooey and Murray saw the game end with Ballymacnab well in front 6-14 to 2-8.
Ballymacnab: Catherine Toner, Mairead O’Toole, Tierna Maguire, Aileen McParland, Louise Toner, Aife Crilly (0-1), Cara Crilly, Danielle McKee, Aine Maguire, Alanna McKee (1-0), Shelly McArdle, Aoibhin O’Hare (0-4), Emma McParland (1-0), Eimear Smyth (3-2), Ellie McKee (1-7). Subs: Laura Smyth for A. McKee, Meabh McAleavey for A. Maguire, Molly McKee for C. Crilly, Michelle McCone for E. Smyth, Ciara McKee for A. McParland.
Keady: Maeve Callaghan, Amy Harvey, Colleen Mone, Catherine McCooey (0-2), Erin McKee, Connie Conway, Aoife McCooey, Lucy Conway, Louise McCooey, Katie Carroll, Aislinn Harvey, Orlagh Murray (0-5), Nicole Conway, Catherine Connelly (1-1), Catherine Beagan. Subs: Eimear Gilmartin for C. Mone, Eve Molloy for A. Harvey, Sinead McCooey for K. Carroll, Shannon Burke for L. Conway, Caitlin Leer (1-0) for N. Conway.
