Minor B Semi Final V CC/Ballyea
St. Josephs winning run continued on Wednesday evening as they accounted for Clarecastle/Ballyea in the minor b semi final in Gurteen and book a place in the county final against the winners of Newmarket On Fergus and Clooney-Quin.
St. Josephs began with intent and were 1-2 ahead after 8 minutes through Hannah Meaney (0-1) and Ciara Whelan (1-1) before Doireann Murphy registered Clarecastle/Ballyea’s first point from play. The home side added two further points from Ciara Whelan and Keira McGrath mid way through the half. Aisling Reidy and Murphy exchanged points and with 7 minutes remaining in the opening half, Ciara Duggan goaled for the parish side with a high dropping ball into the back of the net to put daylight between the sides as Hannah Meaney pointed on the half time whistle to take a 2-6 to 0-2 lead into the break.
Ultimately this strong finish was the platform for a comfortable win, with two pointed frees by Ciara Whelan soon after half time. To their credit, Clarecastle/Ballyea kept the pressure on and while Doireann Murphy did her best to keep the scoreboard ticking over at the other end through frees, hopes were soon quashed when substitute Siofra Ní Chonaill pointed in the closing stages and by then the game had drifted away from them as St. Josephs progressed to next weeks final.
Strong performances on the day for St. Josephs from mid-fielder Laura Hayes, Michelle O’Neill, Mary O’Connor and Orla Moloney while Chloe Devitt, Sarah McGuane, Hannah Dinan and Ally Fleming were prominent for Clarecastle/Ballyea.
St. Josephs: Karen McMahon, Orla Moloney, Kate Dillon, Aisling Hannon, Orla Hoey,
Vanessa Meaney Capt. Áine Moloney, Laura Hayes, Aisling Reidy (0-1), Keira McGrath (0-1), Michelle O’Neill, Mary 0’Connor, Ciara Duggan (1-0), Hannah Meaney (0-2), Ciara Whelan (1-4) 3f.
Subs: Aoife Shannon for Ciara Duggan, Siofra Ní Chonaill (0-1) for Hannah Meaney,
Chloe Towey for Áine Moloney, Amy Lenihan for Keira McGrath.
Clarecastle/Ballyea: Laura Hogan, Hannah Dinan, Sarah McGuane, Ally Fleming,Chloe Devitt, Chloe Eustace, Ellen Barry, Roisín Fallon, Emily Barry, Sinead Cullinan, Ciara Lynch, Cathy Casey, Doireann Murphy (0-4) 3f, Alex Potter, Lisa Hogan.
Subs: Ann-Marie Meenahan for Cathy Casey.
