MW Hire O'Moore Park

Laois v Cork

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Westmeath v Wexford

Cullen Secures Last Gasp Leinster Intermediate Final Win For Wexford

Aoife Cullen split the posts with a late free as Wexford claimed a narrow one point win over Westmeath to engrave their name back as Leinster Intermediate Champions for the first time since 2019.

Drama of the highest order in Portlaoise as Wexford by the narrowest of narrow margins triumphed in the Intermediate decider as Cullen was composed to strike a free from distance with time running out on the clock.

Wexford have fallen at the final hurdle over the last number of year’s, they lost the last two Intermediate deciders to Kildare and when they needed to summon that desire and willpower right at the death they held firm to deny Westmeath the chance to force extra-time.

It was nip and tuck in the early exchanges between the sides, Sarah Dillon gave Westmeath an early lead before two Cullen frees helped settle Wexford into the tie and give them a narrow lead by the fifth minute. The lead lasted mere minutes as Rachel Dillon responded for Westmeath.

Points from Cullen, Caoilfhionn Ni Nuallain and Chloe Fox helped Wexford build a three point margin by the 13th minute. Just as the quarter ended Wexford were awarded a penalty, Catriona Murray stepped up but was denied by a strong hand from Lauren McCormack.

Minutes later Beibheann McDonald struck the crossbar as Wexford still could not find the net. Their lead did extend to three points however as Amanda Power recycled the effort and put the ball over the blackspot.

Despite Wexford having Kellie Kearney sent to the sin bin, points from Cullen and Fox helped keep their lead in place by the interval 0-8 to 0-6. Westmeath did however start the second half the stronger, Kelly Boyce Jordan finding the net in the opening minute to give Westmeath the lead, their first time leading since the opening score of the tie.

Again it was a closely fought quarter with Leanne Slevin’s free taking enough to keep Westmeath ahead, punishing Wexford’s ill discipline in their defending. By quarters end Westmeath were ahead 1–9 to 0-10, however they were down to 14 as Lucy Power was yellow carded.

Inside the final ten minutes Wexford needed to turn around the deficit and they certainly did that. Ni Nuallain kickstarted the comeback in the final minutes, kicking two quick points to reduce the deficit to a single point. Cullen stepped up minutes later and levelled from another free.

With the game in the melting pot it was there for both teams to take the result, in the end Wexford with Cullen cool and composed slotted her eight point of the tie and with time running out, Wexford put their bodies on the line to stop Westmeath in their tracks before the hooter sounded to crown them champions.

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Carlow v Louth

Louth Dethrone Carlow In Leinster Junior Final

Louth are Leinster Ladies Junior Champions for the first time since 2019 as they produced a strong display to dethrone Carlow in Portlaoise this afternoon.

Louth dropped down to Junior at the end of last year and will certainly feel that this win can give them a huge boost now going into the All Ireland Series. Carlow will certainly be kicking themselves as on three occasions they had players sent to the bin. 

Goals from Niamh Rice and Kate Flood certainly gave Louth that spark to drive them forward to win this tie. Louth had a narrow two point lead at the break 1-4 to 1-2, they kicked on as the second half wore on with their final quarter surge rubber stamping the win.

It was a cagey start between the two teams with both having scoring chances but unable to find the target in the early exchanges. Cliodhna Ni She was sent to the bin and with the numerical advantage Louth soon took the lead with Niamh Rice waving the white flag after nine minutes.

Carlow’s response was swift and direct. Rachel Sawyer with a swashbuckling run through the Louth defence and the forward struck a shot into the back of the net, Carlow ahead 1-0 to 0-1 after ten minutes.

Sawyer added a point soon after, as the quarter ended Louth however would regain their lead. Kate Flood cut the gap to two points before some nice passing saw Ciara Woods slip the ball in behind the Carlow rearguard and Niamh Rice struck low to the bottom left corner. Louth ahead 1-2 to 1-1.

Chances presented themselves to both sides as the opening half wore on, Ni She and Flood both were unable to convert frees, while Sara Doyle came close to adding another goal, her effort cannoned off the crossbar from close range. 

It would take 13 minutes for the next score to arrive, Rice creating space to fire over the backspot and extend the Louth advantage. Doyle managed to get Carlow back on the board in response, Aoife Halligan at the other end cancelled that out to keep Louth ahead by two points going into the break.

If not for an incredible block by Carlow defender Niamh Murphy, Louth easily could have added a second goal and furthered their lead going into the break. Aoife Russell ghosted away from the Carlow defence as Woods wrestled for possession, Woods found Russell close to goal, Murphy put her body in the line to ensure when the hooter sounded it was 1-4 to 1-2 at the interval.

Carlow drew first blood in the second half with Doyle again off the mark. Doyle would add a second point minutes later in response to Flood converting a close range free for the Wee County. 

Doyle soon saw yellow and again Carlow were down to 14. Louth took advantage and after Rice turned the ball over, a long ball inside found Flood and the full-forward shot for goal which looped over Nicole Hanley and into the net. Along with the Louth lead moving to five points, they had a further numerical advantage when Ruth Bermingham was also sent to the bin.

Louth finished the game with style and confidence. While Sawyer added a second point, it would do little to reduce the arrears. Russell, Halligan, Rachel O’Connor Leonard and Flood all waved the white flag to push Louth seven clear.

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Dublin v Meath

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Kildare v Wexford

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Carlow v Kilkenny

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Laois v Meath

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Kilkenny v Limerick

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Laois v Monaghan

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Dublin 2-14 – 1-7 Mayo

SFC: Dunne inspires Dublin win

Jennifer Dunne inspired Dublin to victory and top of Group A in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship at Mayo’s expense in MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.

BY KEVIN EGAN

This was Dublin’s third win from three in the group, as last year’s beaten finalists set up a clash with Donegal in the quarter-finals. Mayo are also into the last eight where they will face Cork.

Michael Moyles’ side had the breeze at their backs in the first half but Dublin still burst out of the blocks with two early points from Carla Rowe and Nicole Owens. With kicking from distance an option at the other end, Mayo were able to get on the scoreboard throughout the first half through Tara Needham,

Sinéad Walsh and Sinéad Cafferky, but they weren’t able to pile on the pressure, and Dublin secured an 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead, despite not kicking any score from more than 20 metres out.

Dunne took advantage of the increased scoring range when she hoisted over a magnificent point to open the scoring in the second half, and while Ciara Whyte replied immediately for Mayo, that was to be their third last point.

Defensively, Mayo held out for as long as they could but their faint hopes of pulling off an upset were all but extinguished when Rowe and Dunne set up Kate Sullivan for the game’s first goal in eighth minute of the second half, pushing the lead out to seven points.

A measure of the quality available to Dublin manager Mick Bohan was when he was able to spring four-time All-Ireland winner Lyndsey Davey off the bench and the Skerries Harps player made an immediate impact after coming in, adding the finishing touch to Owens’ pass for Dublin’s second goal.

Hannah Tyrrell also featured strongly in the second half, scoring three times, but she also picked up a yellow card with 10 minutes to play, and this opened the door for Mayo to enjoy an increased share of the play in the closing stages.

Their unflinching efforts were rewarded when Lisa Cafferky pounced on a breaking ball and sidestepped Ciara Trant for a late goal, but they still have questions to answer in advance of what’s sure to be a tough test against the Rebel County next time.

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