A goal three minutes from the end of normal time from St. Joseph's substitute Shannon Dolan was the key score in this tight but entertaining encounter played at Shane McGettigan Park, Drumshanbo last Sunday morning.

In a closely fought opening half, it was the home side who hit the front in the second minute with a pointed free from Ailish Cornyn, but St Josephs responded well with four unanswered points from Bronagh O’Rourke (2), Aine Heslin and Rachel McIntyre.

They were the better team and deserved their three point advantage but the losers ended the half the best, outscoring their opponents three points to one, their points coming from Eimear Gibbons, Ciara McPartland (2) with Carmel O’Rourke responding with a point to give her side a single point advantage at the break.

The third quarter belonged to the winners, Louise Maguire, Aine Heslin and two from Bronagh O’Rourke, with a single point reply from an Ailish Cornyn free to leave four points between the sides.

But as in the first half, the home team fought back, another Cornyn point left just a goal between them, and when a high ball was dropped by goalkeeper Mikala Mitchell, second half substitute Alannah O’Dowd was on hand to fire the ball to the net.

Teams level with seven minutes of normal time remaining, the next score was going to be vital and it came the way of Bronagh O’Rourke who hit over a free.

The next score was even more important when another substitute Shannon Dolan finished the ball to the net following a good passing move by the winners, but it all came from a wayward line ball for the home team which was gathered by Clare Owens and eventually found its way to Dolan for the all important score.

A free from each side ended the scoring to leave four points between the teams at the finish.

Aine Heslin was shown a black card by referee Vinny McMorrow late in the game but it made no difference to the outcome of the game.