Dee Rangers 2-08 Walterstown 3-04

Walterstown travelled to Drumconrath on Sunday afternoon to face the Dee Ranger Ladies in the semi-final of the Junior E Championship. 

With a place in the championship final up for grabs both teams were certainly up for the match. 

Dee Rangers started the brighter of the two sides. Megan Malone recording the first score of the day, a well taken point from play. Emma Carry won the subsequent kick out and passed a quick ball into full forward Jodie Loughran who fed the incoming Eimear McCluskey, Eimear slotted the ball over the bar stretching Dee Rangers lead to 2 points. 

Dee Rangers continued to pile on the pressure and a stray pass by Walterstown was intercepted by Sarah Duff who sliced open the Walterstown defence with a precision pass to Jodie Loughran. Jodie charged straight for the goals and made no mistake beating the keeper with a well taken goal. 

Walterstown’s Lily Hobbs recorded her first score of the day a well taken point from play. Michaela McMahon chipped in and added a second point for Walterstown. 

However Dee Rangers spell of dominance continued, a quick ball from Kellie Mooney Gorman was picked up by Eimear McCluskey who spotted Jodie Loughran heading towards the back post. McCluskey floated the ball into the path of Loughran and she palmed it over the bar. 

Walterstown began to settle into the game and put themselves right back into the game with a goal from Eleanor Hussey. The score board reading Dee Rangers 1-3 Walterstown 1-2 after 15 minutes of play. 

Dee Rangers midfielder Eimear Clare was fouled on the edge of the D and Eimear McCluskey made no mistake with the free, extending the Dee Ranger lead to two points. 

Walterstown midfielder Sophie Montgomery intercepted a Dee Ranger pass and promptly passed the ball into her full forward Caomhe McKenna, McKenna struck low and hard but was denied a sure goal by the feet of Dee Rangers keeper Aoife Dillon. 

McKenna found herself one on one with the Dee Ranger keeper moments later, but was denied again by Dillon who sensed the danger and charged off her line snuffing out the Walterstown attack. Walterstown had to settle for a point, popped over the bar by Emma Maher. 

Midfielder Aoife McNulty won the Dee Ranger kick out and carried the ball at pace up the middle of the field, she gave a low ball into corner forward Eimear McCluskey who gave a crisp off the shoulder pass to Hannah Carolan. McCluskey continued her run and got a return pass from Hannah. McCluskey spotted Jodie Loughran who buried the ball into the Walterstown net just at the stroke of half time. The half time score was Dee Rangers 2-04 Walterstown 1-03. 

Dee Rangers opened the second half with a converted free kick off the boot of Eimear McCluskey. Walterstown hit one of their own, a well taken point from their centre forward. Dee Rangers substitute Ava Curran wasted no time in getting her name on the score sheet with three fine points from her left foot. 

Walterstown rallied and piled on the pressure. They were rewarded for their efforts with two well taken goals, scored by Eleanor Hussey and Caomhe McKenna. But it was too late for the Walterstown side and the final whistle was blown. Dee Rangers winning by the minimum. 

Dee Rangers now face Clan na nGael in the Junior E Championship final. This is a repeat of the division 7 league final earlier in the year. Time, date and venue tbc. 

Dee Ranger team: Aoife Dillon, Ella Martin, Molly O’Rourke, Amy Byrne, Aoibhin Carolan, Emma Carry, Sarah Duff, Aoife McNuly, Eimear Clare, Kellie Mooney Gorman, Hannah Carolan, Megan O’Rourke, Megan Malone (0-1), Jodie Loughran (2-1), Eimear McCluskey (0-3), Subs used: Nicole Dardis, Ava Curran (0-3) & Emma Rafferty. 

Walterstown team: Martina O’ Neill, Eimear Farrelly, Amy Behan, Leanne O’ Neill, Katie Travers, Sarah Hussey, Aoibhe Sullivan, Sophie Montgomery, Helen Lenehan (0-1), Lily Hobbs (0-1), Abbie Farrelly, Michaela McMahon (0-1), Eleanor Hussey (2-1), Caomhe McKenna (1-0), Emma Maher. 

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