St. Michaels 1-07, St. Colmcilles 1-07                                                               

St. Colmcilles qualified for the semi-final of the Kepak Meath LGFA IFC while a draw was sufficient to see St. Michaels go on to meet their neighbours Dee Rangers in the quarter final on Saturday evening next in Carlanstown following this Group A top of the table clash in Piltown on Saturday last. 

St. Michaels had to come from behind to secure a share of the spoils in what was an entertaining contest as both sets of defences shone throughout and kept the scoring to a minimum. To add a further layer of impressiveness to the St. Michaels dogged performance, they had to dig out this result the hard way having been reduced to 14 players on two occasions during the match when they lost their influential players Marion Farrelly and Seona Lynch to the sin bin. 

The visitors got off to a brilliant start when top scorer Marion Farrelly found the back of the net in the opening minute, she followed that score with a fine effort from play to leave it 1-1 to 0-0 after 10 minutes.
The home side then replied with a brace of points before Alicia Curtis opened her account with a point at the end of the opening quarter. A Roisin Nulty effort from play restored St. Michaels 4 point lead. The home side pegged one back, however a good upfield move involving Aine Sheridan saw it finished off by Sinéad McCormack with a well struck point at the opposite end of the pitch. Laura Halpin then came to her sides rescue diving low to make an excellent save, one of many she made over the hour.  
The home side posted two further points during Farrelly's “rest” period however the St. Michaels ladies deservedly held a two point cushion at the interval, 1-4 to 0-5. 

St. Colmcilles hit the ground running in the new half with 1-1 in the opening 8 minutes but Farrelly split the posts in her first piece of action on her return to the field of play and a converted free from Sinéad McCormack on 55 minutes left the match all square. The return of Seona Lynch steadied St. Michaels ship somewhat but their defence came into their own with great work from Carmel Fay, Emma McDonnell, Lorraine Curtis, Mary Carpenter, Farrelly, Sheridan, and Cunningham who tussled for every ball and prevented the 'Cilles ladies getting a shot on target. St. Michaels did have their chances in  the second half but their many attempts were wide of the target.

St. Colmcilles converted a free to take the lead with 10 minutes remaining, however Alicia Curtis popped up to split the posts with a fine effort to save the day for her side with just four minutes remaining. 

St. Michaels team & scorers: Laura Halpin; Carmel Fay, Emma McDonnell, Lorraine Curtis; Anna Cunningham, Marion Farrelly (1-2), Aine Sheridan; Sarah Bradley, Claire Halpin; Sinéad McCormack (0-2), Roisin Nulty (0-1), Mary Carpenter; Seona Lynch, Alicia Curtis (0-2), Claire Reilly.                                                                                                                                                   

Subs used: Ciara Reilly for C. Halpin, Yvonne Farrelly for Claire Reilly.                                                                                                                                                   

Report: Pascal Reilly, PRO.

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