Dee Rangers 1-15 St. Michaels 1-10 AET  

St. Micheals made the short trip to Syddan on Saturday for the intermediate semi-final clash with Dee Rangers. A huge crowd turned out to watch the game and they were treated to a thriller. 

The home side started the brighter of the two, Lisa Young with a fine point from the edge of the D. Alanna McNulty then won the St. Michael’s kick out and popped the ball over the bar. Dee Rangers were ahead by two.

St. Michaels got the next kick out away and the ball was passed to Marion Farrelly who took off on one of her trademark solo runs, however Dee Rangers centre half back Alanna Reilly was hot on her heels, and disposed Farrelly on the edge of the Dee Ranger D, snuffing out the danger. 

St. Michaels were back in possession and were patient in their build up play. They worked it around the Dee Ranger 45 until they were eventually fouled. Marion Farrelly made no mistake with the free kick, recording St.Michael’s first score of the day. 

Lisa Young working hard around the midfield area won the Dee Ranger kick out and fed Eva McConnell a lovely pass down the wing. McConnell broke the St.Michaels tackle and was eventually fouled. Dee Ranger free taker Bríona Rowe stepped up and popped the ball over the bar to keep her side ahead by two. 

St Michaels Lorraine Curtis gathered her teams kick out and played it up the wing to her sister Alicia, Alicia spotted Farrelly out in front and delivered a quick kick pass. Marion wasted no time and passed the ball into the space in front of Shona Lynch. Lynch gave a quick ball inside to full forward Claire Reilly but it was well read by the Dee Ranger full back Orlaith Duff who got a hand in and was assisted with the clearance by corner back Anna Myles. 

Myles carried the ball to the midfield area and passed it off to her captain Orlaith Sheehy. Sheehy ran directly at the St. Michael defence and was immediately fouled. Rowe stepped up again and calmly popped the ball over the bar, extending her team’s lead to three. 

Orlaith Sheehy turned over the next St. Michaels kick out and carried the ball down the wing where she picked out Grace Durnin with a pin point pass. Grace and Emma Halpenny worked together to create space and draw the defence towards them, Sheehy made a cutting run and was delivered the ball at just the right time by Halpenny. Orlaith made no mistake and buried the ball low and hard into the St. Michael’s net, much to the delight of the large home crowd. 

The pressure from Dee Rangers continued and Sheehy was fouled as she carried the ball forward. Bríona Rowe was happy to step up and convert the free. Dee Rangers were now ahead by seven. 

St. Michaels sensing that the game was beginning to get away from them, stepped up their play. Claire Halpin won the St. Michael’s kick out and laid it off to Mia Griffen who thundered down the pitch, Griffen found Lynch on the wing and Lynch passed inside to Claire Reilly. Reilly got her shot away and over the bar. Dee Rangers 1-05 St. Michaels 0-02. Spurred on by this passage of play St. Michaels were on the attack again, Claire Halpin feeding Shona Lynch a lovely pass out to the wing. Shona fired for a point but was blocked down by Orlaith Duff. The ball spilled to Lorraine Curtis who was fouled. Marion Curtis converting the free, to leave five between the sides at the half time whistle. 

Dee Rangers started the second half well, Lisa Young winning the throw up and palmed it down to her midfield partner Orlaith Sheehy, Orlaith passed the ball to Eva McConnell who sensed an incoming St. Michaels defended, so cleverly flicked the ball into the path of Lara O’ Neill who popped it over the bar. 

St. Michaels kickout was won by Áine Sheridan who carried the ball up the field at pace. Sheridan passed the ball off to Mia Griffen who delivered a high ball into the full forward line. Full forward Claire Reilly plucked the ball from the sky, turned and fired the ball into the Dee Ranger net. 

Spurred on by the goal Griffen again delivered a high ball into her forwards, this time Shona Lynch was the recipient, Lynch was fouled and Marion Farrelly popped the ball over the bar to leave just two between the sides. 

Alanna Reilly and Alanna McNulty worked together to get possession of the Dee Ranger kick out, the ball was fed to Eva McConnell who was fouled. Rowe converted her fourth free of the day. 

Grace Durnin overturned the next St. Michaels kick out and headed directly for goals, she hand passed the ball into the path of Emma Halpenny who was happy to take her point. 

With ten minutes remaining Marion Farrelly scored three consecutive points leaving just one point between the teams. St. Michaels continued to pile on the pressure, keeper Laura Halpin launched the next kick out aided by the strong wind down to her half forward line. Shona Lynch was quickest to react and gave a lovely reverse hand pass to Marion Farrelly who fired over with her left foot to score the equaliser. 

Dee Rangers kept their cool and worked the ball up the field, Eva finding Lara O’Neill with an excellent pass, O’Neill passed the ball inside to Meena McConnell who put her side ahead by one in the dying stages of the game. 

The game wasn’t over yet and Farrelly recorded at further two points putting her team ahead for the first time with three minutes of normal time remaining. 

Credit to Dee Rangers who kept their cool and again worked the ball up the field in search of an equaliser. Orlaith Sheehy leading her team, passed the ball inside to Meena McConnell who found Alanna McNulty. Alanna steadied herself and put the ball over the black spot. The full time whistle sounded and the crowd were treated to extra time! 

Dee Rangers again started the brighter of the two teams, substitute Kelly Farrelly recording her first point from play after only one minute. Lara O’Neill got herself on the score sheet again with a well taken point from play. Dee Rangers were two points up at half time of extra time. 

Dee Rangers continued their spell of dominance in the second half of extra time, Grace Durnin, Meena McConnell and Kelly Farrelly all recorded a point each. Credit to the Dee Ranger defence who kept St. Michaels scoreless durning this period. 

The final whistle was blown and the game ended on a scoreline of Dee Rangers 1-15 St. Michaels 1-10. 

Dee Rangers now face Simonstown in the intermediate championship final. Date, time and venue tbc. 

Dee Ranger team: Sinéad Carolan, Anna Myles, Orlaith Duff, Ellen Cassidy, Ellen Carolan, Alanna Reilly, Niamh Byrne, Orlaith Sheehy (1-0), Lara O’ Neill (0-2), Eva McConnell, Lisa Young, Emma Halpenny (0-2), Alanna McNulty (0-2), Bríona Rowe (0-4), Grace Durnin (0-1), Subs used: Meena McConnell (0-2) for Niamh Byrne & Kelly Farrelly (0-2) for Grace Durnin. 

St. Michaels team: Laura Halpin, Anna Gilsenan, Lorraine Curtis, Ciara Reilly, Alicia Curtis, Mia Griffen, Sarah Bradley, Shauna Harten, Deirbhle Curran, Ellie Jackson, Marion Farrelly (0-9), Seona Lynch, Áine Sheridan, Claire Reilly (1-1), Claire Halpin. 

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