Ladies: Glanmire end Na Fianna's double bid
December 03, 2023
Orlaith Roche of Glanmire in action against Meabh Downey of Na Fianna during the Currentaccount.ie LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship semi-final at Mallow GAA Grounds
Glanmire (Cork) 1-7 Na Fianna (Meath) 0-6
By GER McCARTHY
Glanmire will contest the 2023 currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship final after defeating Na Fianna at the Mallow GAA Sports Complex.
Both sides struggled throughout the opening half and Na Fianna’s Leah Devine’s converted free was the only score of the opening 10 minutes after both teams wasted several chances.
Michelle Dullea brought parity with a free before Kerrie Cole made space and fired over a terrific score to edge Na Fianna back in front.
The Cork and Munster champions’ attempts to seize control were thwarted by repeated turnovers and their opponents took advantage.
Maire Kirby and Meabh Downey (free) made it 0-4 to 0-1 prior to another Michelle Dullea free bringing the curtain down on a disappointing first half.
Glanmire, trailing by 0-4 to 0-2 at the break, were a team transformed immediately after the restart.
Substitute Riona Crowley made an instant impact by splitting the posts before Orlaith Roche did likewise a minute later.
Roche went one better shortly after, slicing through the Na Fianna defence to net a fantastic goal and make it 1-4 to 0-4.
Abbie O’Mahony extended Glanmire’s advantage prior to Riona Crowley converting a free as Na Fianna struggled to get out of their own half.
Leah Devine kicked over two late frees either side of another Roche point but it proved academic as Glanmire held on to win by 1-7 to 0-6 and will now meet Ballinamore Seán O’Heslins from Leitrim in the final at Croke Park on Saturday, 16 December.
Scorers - Glanmire: O Roche 1-2, M Dullea (2f), R Crowley (1f) 0-2 each, A O’Mahony 0-1.
Na Fianna: L Devine 0-3 (3f), M Downey (1f), K Cole 0-1, M Kirby 0-1 each.
GLANMIRE: A Carey; A Fitzgerald, M Barry, K O’Connor; C O’Donovan, Ellen Twomey (captain), E Dillon; A O’Mahony, E Murphy; Ally McCarthy, N McAllen, Ava McCarthy; Evie Twomey, O Roche, M Dullea. Subs: R Crowley for N McAllen (ht), L Greene for M Dullea (46), M Sheehan for C O’Donovan (53), C Murphy for Ava McCarthy (58), A Lehane for Ally McCarthy (60).
NA FIANNA: C Gallagher; A Slattery (captain), C Coffey, H Geraghty; A Flynn, E Regan, S Payne; K Queeney, E Fagan; D Flynn, M Downey, K Cole; M Kirby, S Ennis, L Devine. Subs: A McCormcack for S Payne (43), E Fagan for D Flynn (45).
Ref - Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).
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