This article is from page 57 of the 2011-10-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 57 JPG
Bride Rovers 1-13 – Shannon Gaels 4-02 at Sean Tracey Park, Tipperary Town
SHANNON Gaels’ Munster club campaign was brought to an end on Saturday when they went down by two points to a fine Bride Rovers side in a keenly contested Intermediate semi-final at Tipperary Town. While the east Cork side registered fourteen scores to Shannon Gaels six and were the better team overall, much credit has also to be given to Shannon Gaels who played with great passion and were right in this contest up to the final whistle courtesy of their four goals.
The Clare Intermediate champions couldn’t have asked for a better start. Colette Corry won the throw-in and found Sarah Bohannon who in turn shot towards Bride Rovers goal. Her effort came back out off the crossbar and in raced Edel Dillon to boot it to the net all inside 30 seconds.
The impressive Sinead Walsh got the Cork side off the mark while in the eighth minute, Sarah Bohannon scored a second Shannon Gaels goal when her free went all the way to the top right after Michelle Madigan had been fouled on the 30 me- tre line at the end of a fine Shannon Gaels move. Elaine Dee replied with a point for Bride Rovers before a foul by Adrienne Nugent gave away a penalty which Sinead Walsh made no mistake with. The Cork side dominated the next 15 minutes in terms of scores adding three points while they also kicked seven wides to the Gaels’ two in the opening half. Grace Lynch was introduced for Ger Corry in the 18th minute and despite carrying an injury, she made a telling contribution. Four minutes from half-time, she rattled the net when expertly finishing a move that put the Gaels back in the lead and Sarah Bohannon pointed to see the Clare side lead 31 to 1-5 at the interval, much to the delight of their large following.
A feature of Shannon Gaels game was their workrate with Maryruth Neylon, Helena Flanagan, Susan Neylon and Adrienne Nugent particularly impressive in defence while Colette Corry and Sarah Bohannon really worked hard with the latter covering a lot of ground. Michelle Madigan and Carmel Bohannon all played their part but needed a better supply up front. The win against Clashmore of Waterford in the quarter-final definitely boosted their confidence and they battled hard for every ball.
The second half started very like the first for Shannon Gaels and Grace Lynch scored her second goal when she perfectly connected in flight to palm home her team’s fourth goal. Five points ahead, it was a pity that Shannon Gaels could not capitalise on this lead. Bride Rovers didn’t panic however and gradually, by kicking point after point they kicked seven unanswered scores, one from Colette Hogan, three from the impressive Grace Kearney, an All Ireland medal winner with Cork six days earlier, and three frees from Sinead Walsh to lead by two.
With three minutes of normal time remaining, Lynch pointed a Gaels free but Grace Kearney had the final say with her fifth point from play as her side held on for a deserved two point win despite playing the last ten minutes with fourteen players due to the sin-binning of wing-back Caroline Broderick for a high tackle on Colette Corry.
The season is now over for Shan- non Gaels and while they will be disappointed not to have reached the Munster Intermediate Final, they will look back on the year with satisfaction as they finally captured the county title and will look forward to playing senior championship football next year. Incidentally, Bride Rovers will play St. Ailbee’s of Limerick in the final on October 16.
Shannon Gaels
Serana Carmody, Eilis Moran, Maryruth Neylon, Imelda Kennedy, Helena Flanagan, Susan Neylon, Adrienne Nugent, Colette Corry, Kate O’Brien, Croidhe Glynn, Sarah Bohannon (1-1f), Michelle Madigan, Edel Dillon (1-0), Carmel Bohannon (Capt.), Ger. Corry
Subs
Grace Lynch (2-1 1f) for G. Corry (18 mins), Carla Beehan for Glynn (HT), G. Corry for Dillon
Bride Rovers
CatrionaVaughan, Emma O’Keeffe (capt.),Arlene O’Callaghan, Bridget Forde, Niamh Barry,Annette Raher, Caroline Broderick, Michelle McAteer, Jennifer Barry (0-1), Grace Kearney (0-5), Elanor Ahern, Colette Hogan (0-1), Jennifer Cahill, Elaine Dee (0-1), SineadWalsh (1-5 3f, 1-0 pen)
Subs
Sinead O’Driscoll for Cahill, Mary Hazelwood for O’Keeffe
Referee
Sean Joy (Kerry)