Donaghmoyne reach final
Ballyboden, who had home advantage, were gunning for a third successive All-Ireland SFC club title this year but there will be no hat-trick after Donaghmoyne’s powerful display in this semi-final.
It was also a case of sweet revenge for Donaghmoyne as they had lost to Ballyboden in last year’s All-Ireland decider. They will now meet Carnacon in this year’s final after the Mayo champions accounted for Cork’s Donoughmore in the other semi-final, 2-11 to 0-8.
However, Donaghmoyne’s triumph is the real talking point of the semi-finals and in truth they were full value for their win yesterday.
They led 0-8 to 0-1 after just quarter of an hour with Caitriona McConnell scoring five of those eight early points. Fiona Corcoran replied for Ballyboden but Donaghmoyne still led 0-9 to 0-2 coming up to the 20th minute.
The home side then proceeded to dominate the remainder of the half but they couldn’t make that superiority count on the scoreboard. They hit the woodwork twice and for all their pressure managed just one point, courtesy of Teresa Monahan, and trailed 0-3 to 0-9 at the interval.
Ballyboden continued to set the pace on the resumption and scored four consecutive points — from Caroline Conway, Monahan (2) and Gemma Fay — to reduce the deficit to two.
Sarah Denvir hit the woodwork during this period as well before Donaghmoyne finally ended their drought — which it started back in the 18th minute of the first half — in the 18th minute of the second half with a Niamh Lynch point.
That score swung the momentum back in Donaghmoyne’s favour and they won a penalty soon after. McConnell missed the spot kick but made something of amends moments later by curling over another point.
Amanda Casey added another towards the end to give the Monaghan girls a three-point win.
Carnacon will provide their opposition in the final and the Mayo girls will pose a huge challenge after using home advantage to dispose of a fancied Donoughmore yesterday.
Meanwhile, an Amy O’Shea goal earned Cork’s Inch Rovers an All-Ireland ladies intermediate club semi-final victory over Parnells of London in Ruislip, 1-14 to 1-3.
They will face Dublin’s Naomh Mearnog in the final after they beat Lisnaskea 3-14 to 4-1.
And it was a good day all round for Monaghan ladies football as Emyvale advanced to the All-Ireland junior club final following a 5-17 to 1-6 victory over John Mitchells.
They will face Eadestown in the final after the Kildare side beat Cork’s Kildorey yesterday, 2-11 to 1-5.
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