Glanmire through to All-Ireland ladies football semi after win in London
The Glanmire side who defeated Tir Chonaill Gaels in their currentaccount.ie All-Ireland quarter final in London. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan
GLANMIRE at through to the currentaccount.ie All-Ireland intermediate club semi-final after their win over Tir Chonaill Gaels at McGovern Park, Ruislip, London.
It was a close game all through and it was their first-half goals that were crucial scores for the winners who overall were the better side.
They had had some outstanding displays with once again Ellen Twomey and Abbie O’Mahony leading by example.
Just 40 seconds in Tir Chonaill had their first chance but Lisa Walsh’s shot was easily saved by Ava Carey.
They took the lead a minute later with their second attack when Roisin Considine raised the first white flag of the afternoon. They doubled their lead from a free, before Niamh McAllen scored for Glanmire, to make it 0-2 to 0-1 after five minutes.
They took the lead a minute later when a good team move saw Eibhlis Dillon in on goal and she made no mistake to find the top corner.
And it got even better for the Cork side after 14 minutes when they won back possession for a kick-out ending with Orlaith Roche raising their second green flag to make it 2-1 to 0-2.
Eimear Alcorn pulled a point back for Tir Chonaill’s but they were finding it hard to break through the Glanmire defence.
Michelle Dullea increased Glanmire's lead when she pointed as they were on top at this stage.
Aoife O’Neill hit two frees for Tir Chonaill to make it 2-2 to 0-5 with 25 minutes gone.
Denise Doherty reduced the deficit before Dullea got the last score of the half to see Glanmire lead 2-3 to 0-6 at half-time.
It took nine minutes for the first score of the second half to arrive, with Dullea on target again from a free to increase Glanmire’s lead.
Tir Chonaill started to come more into the game, with O’Neill reducing the deficit from a free before the home side had a goal chance.
Considine pounced on a rare mistake by the Glanmire defence and tried to lob Carey, but her shot hit the bar and went over when it could as easily have been dropped into the net.
The two points saw the home side now pushing forward in search of scores and with 10 minutes to go it was still all to play for, as Glanmire led by 2-4 to 0-8.
Glanmire had a number of chances to increase their lead as they hit the upright twice before Niamh McAllen pointed after 57 minutes.
By then the home side were down to 14 as Doherty was sin-binned with five minutes to go.
With time up it looked like Tir Chonaill’s were going to steal it, but Carey saved superbly from O’Neill to deny her what looked like a certain goal.
That proved to be the last action as Glanmire held on for a win they deserved overall and now play Na Fianna from Meath in the semi-final next Sunday at a Cork venue, most likely MTU or Mallow.
Meanwhile, in the All-Ireland Junior Championship quarter-final, O’Donovan Rossa had a 2-14 to 0-2 win over Glasgow Gaels.
They now face Gusserane from Wexford in the semi-final next Saturday at 1.30pm, with the Cork side having home advantage.
O Roche, E Dillon 1-0 each, M Dullea 0-3 (0-1 f), N McAllen 0-2 (0-1 f).
A O’Neill 0-4 f, R Considine 0-2, E Alcorn, D Doherty, L Walsh (f) 0-1 each.
A Carey; C Murphy, M Barry, K O’Connor; C O’Donovan, Ellen Twomey, M Sheehan; A O’Mahony, E Murphy; E Dillon, N McAllen, Ava McCarthy; Evie Twomey, O Roche, M Dullea.
A Fitzgerald for M Sheehan (25), L Green for M Dullea (52), R Crowley for Ava McCarthy (53), A O’Lehane for E Dillon (54).
E Mooney; S Friel, E Daly, U Hourihane; A Maguire, E Alcorn, D Doherty; R Considine, B Gallagher; N Nugent, M Jones, R McLaughlin; A Fagan, L Walsh, A O’Neill.
K Allenby for D Doherty (50 blood sub), E Creedon for A Fagan (45), N Galvin for N Nugent (50).
Anthony Marron, Monaghan.
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