Roscommon v Wexford

Roscommon v Louth

Laois v Cavan

Laois survive Cavan comeback in tempestuous clash

Laois secured their Senior status for 2024 despite a late comeback from Cavan in Kiltoom, Roscommon.

The midlanders managed to hold onto a two point lead, despite playing a considerable portion of the second half with just 13 players.

The weather conditions throughout the game were difficult as the rain was relentless and got worse the entire way through the hour but in all honesty some bizarre decisions from the officials, with no less than five yellow cards and a first half red, ruined the game as a contest.

Laois scored directly from the throw in as on a direct run from the throw in and Mo Nerney pointed a free on four minutes.

Nerney would add a third score for the midlanders just before Muireann Cusack got Cavan’s first score of the game with a dozen minutes on the clock.

The sinbinning of Cavan’s Aisling Walls after 13 minutes would make little difference to the games as both teams struggled to make an impression on the scoreboard. Cavan would score the only score of that period through Aisling Gilsenan as Laois struggled with their power play. 

Approaching half time Mo Nerney was adjudged to have charged into a Cavan player and the match referee issued his second yellow card of the game as the Laois sharp shooter was given a ten minute sojourn which gave Cavan an opportunity to fire back.

But it was Laois who found their range to double their advantage with a Sarah Ann Fitzgerald free. 

In injury time Fitzgerald would find herself the next one to come to the attention of the referee Eddie Cuthbert, a sliding lunge to attempt to keep possession for her team was adjudged to have been a sin bin offence and as she protested her card the match referee displayed a red card to Fitzgerald, seemingly for something said by the departing forward.

The thirteen players of Laois started the brightest in the second period with Grainne Moran finding her range to push the midlanders two points ahead in the opening minutes of the second half as Mo Nerney returned to the action.

Nerney hit a long range free in the 39th minute to stretch that lead to three points as the weather just became torrential.

Nerney showed her class to add another two points to the lead before the referee issued his fifth card of the game, his fourth to the leading side as Andrea Moran was cautioned for a high challenge on a Cavan defender. 

It could be argued that this was the only challenge to that point that genuinely warranted the sin bin.

Cavan did enjoy a larger share of the possession and territory with the two player advantage but struggled to affect the scoreboard. 

Aisling Gilsenan added her third score to reduce the deficit to four points but Laois were impressive with as they coped admirably with the deficit of their resources.

Shifra Havill almost got the goal the game had been missing when her lobbed effort came back off the post as Cavan worked the ball immediately down the field for midfielder Ellyanna Madden to find some space and round the keeper before slotting through a packed defence to find the net and leave just a point between the sides.

On the next attack Madden herself was over zealous with a charge and saw yellow which effectively killed the momentum Cavan had enjoyed as they playing numbers equalised for the closing stages with each side boasting 14 players for the final few minutes.

A late Orla Hennessy point settled the Laois nerves after great work from Mo Nerney created the opportunity for her club mate although Gilsenan would add a free to leave a single score between the sides as the clock ticked into the red. 

A Laois free from Nerney would prove to be the final score of the game as Cavan wasted a number of late chances and the Breffni women will need to do it all over again next week as the midlanders survive.

 

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Roscommon v Leitrim

Roscommon v Westmeath

Clare 2-19 – 2-21 Laois

Laois set up Intermediate Final battle with Wexford

Mo Nerney scored 1-14 and Laois found a second wind in extra time in Kiltoom to qualify for the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Final at Clare’s expense.

BY DARREN KELLY

The teams were level, 2-14 to 2-14, at the end of normal time before Clare hit four points through Cliodhna Blake, Fidelma Marrinan (two) and Catriona Callanan. But after Clare’s captain Orla Devitt left the field injured, two Nerney points reduced the deficit to two at the change of ends.

And within three minutes of the restart, she hit three more to put Laois 2-19 to 2-18 ahead. Marrinan levelled but the momentum was with the Leinster outfit. Erone Fitzpatrick scored and another Nerney free helped them into their first intermediate decider since 1998.

The game started frantically with two Nerney points giving Laois a 0-2 to 0-1 lead inside 90 seconds. Marrinan hit the Clare response but they were two up 60 seconds later when Roisin Considine found the net.

Eimear Barry produced two saves for the O’Moore county while at the other end Nerney (three), Jane Moore and Emma Lawlor made it 0-7 to 1-3, with Marrinan and Grainne Nolan responding.

Marrinan and Chloe Moloney overturned the deficit before Laura Marie Maher equalised but Eva Galvin’s goal on 22 minutes put Laois 1-8 to 1-5 up. But after a Moloney penalty miss, Amy Sexton capitalised on a poor kick-out to get Clare’s second goal and it was 2-5 to 1-8 at half-time.

Nerney struck Laois’ second goal straight after the restart before Galvin, Nerney and Erone Fitzpatrick put them 2-11 to 2-5 clear on 34 minutes. But after Considine and Nolan converted for Clare, Nerney and Fitzpatrick restored Laois’ six-point advantage entering the final quarter.

The Banner were struggling but finished strongly as Marrinan, Aisling Reidy, Considine and Niamh O’Dea brought it back to 2-13 to 2-12. Nerney put Laois two up but Ellie O’Gorman and Marrinan brought them back level at 2-14 to 2-14 at full-time.

Both teams started extra-time with 15 players despite yellow cards for Clare’s Emma McMahon and Laois’ Clodagh Dunne. However even though Clare went four clear, Laois turned it around with a miracle recovery, led by Nerney.

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Fermanagh 7-9 – 3-12 Limerick

Fermanagh reach Junior Final led by Eimear Smyth masterclass

Eimear Smyth led Fermanagh’s charge back into the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship Final as her 3-7 contribution was significant in their victory over Limerick in Kiltoom.

BY DARREN KELLY

The 2020 TG4 Player of the Year was joined by Bláithín Bogue, Laura Grew (two) and Cliodhna McElroy as the Ernesiders overturned an early six-point deficit to finally book a ticket to Croke Park, after missing their chance two years ago.

Limerick made a strong start with four scores inside as many minutes. Mairead Kavanagh and Caitriona Davis pointed before the former finished off a rebound after Amy Ryan hit the post. Cathy Mee then made it 1-3 to 0-0.

Sarah Britton got Fermanagh off the mark on six minutes before Mee responded. Three minutes later, Smyth opened her account before a free left it 1-4 to 0-3.

Iris Kennelly converted for Limerick on 13 minutes but they wouldn’t score again for a quarter of an hour. Bláithín Bogue finished to the net for Fermanagh following good work from Britton and Cliodhna McElroy.

Smyth added two more points and Grew got Fermanagh’s second goal on 25 minutes. Limerick had been denied by the crossbar and a Roisin Gleeson sae from Lauren Ryan. The pressure was telling at the other end as Bogue won a penalty and Smyth made no mistake, for a 3-5 to 1-5 lead.

The Shannonsiders needed a response and captain Roisin Ambrose ran right through the centre before offloading to Kenneally who got Limerick’s second goal. Mee’s free reduced arrears but Smyth in response left it 3-6 to 2-6 to Fermanagh at half-time.

Davis and Kennelly brought Limerick back to within one after the restart but they lost Leah Coughlan to a yellow card. Fermanagh were getting chances but hit five wides and it took McElroy on 43 minutes to get their next score with their fourth goal.

Smyth got her second goal 60 seconds later before two more Smyth scores made it 5-8 to 2-8. Limerick didn’t relent and struck 1-2 unanswered through Katie Heelan and 1-1 for Kavanagh to bring them back to within four but Grew’s second goal settled it for the Ulster finalists.

O’Brien made it 6-9 to 3-10 before Limerick replied through Mee and Kennelly. Smyth completed her hat-trick in injury time to send Fermanagh to Croke Park as the Munster outfit will rue hitting the woodwork four times.