TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship final

Roscommon 2-12

Fermanagh 0-6

By Ivan Smyth

Roscommon were crowned TG4 All-Ireland intermediate champions for the first time since 2005 as Aisling Feely’s two opening half goals set the winners on their way.

Roscommon laid the foundations in the opening half as they powered 2-7 to 0-2 ahead at half-time following a first-half display filled with sharp movement up front, control of both sets of kickouts and a tigerish defensive display with sweeper Saoirse Wynne in particular impressing.

Unsurprisingly the early stages of this contest were nervy as Feely got Roscommon off the mark with a classy right footed effort. But, Fermanagh managed to respond through a converted free from sharpshooter Eimear Smyth. From there Roscommon made their move as 2-4 without reply allowed Finbar Egan’s charges take firm control of the contest.

A Caoimhe Lennon effort, after excellent work by Laura Mannion, proved the spark that ignited the Roscommon flame as they excelled in every sector of the field. A further Caoimhe Lennon effort pushed Roscommon 0-3 to 0-1 and when Feely turned over Áine Haren’s resulting kickout and finished to the net, Roscommon were purring.

That goal kickstarted a run of 2-1 in six minutes for Feely as she latched on to Abby Curran’s through ball before her long range effort found the roof of the net. A Smyth free ended Roscommon’s scoring barrage but Niamh Feeney and Curran efforts pushed them 11 points clear at half time.

Roscommon produced a deft second half display as they controlled possession yet always carried a strong threat in attack. Sub Lauren Shanagher impressed upon her introduction as she twice went close to netting while fellow replacement Ria Lennon executed an excellent turnover that allowed Caoimhe Lennon to open the second half scoring.

Ella Thompson bagged a score her all-action performance merited while Laura Mannion arrowed over a free to push Roscommon 2-10 to 0-2 in front. To their credit Fermanagh continued to battle as Smyth bagged three late scores (two frees) while Cliodhna Martin also slotted over.

But there was no doubting Roscommon’s superiority as they ensured their first Croke Park appearance in 25 years ended with them lifting the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup.

Scorers – Roscommon: A Feely 2-2, C Lennon 0-3, E Thompson 0-2, N Feeney, A Curran, K Nolan, L Mannion (1f), L Shanagher 0-1 each.

Fermanagh: E Smyth 0-5 (4f), C Martin 0-1.

ROSCOMMON: H Cummins; M McKeon, A Connaughton, Á McGrath; N Feeney, S Wynne, E Thompson; R Cox, A Curran; K Nolan, E Irwin, L Mannion; Róise Lennon, A Feely, C Lennon. Subs: L Shanagher for Róise Lennon (36), Ria Lennon for K Nolan (41), R Fitzmaurice for L Mannion (47), N Watson for N Feeney (54), R Brady for A Connaughton (57).

FERMANAGH: Á Haren; S McQuade, C Breen, A O’Brien; CC Bogue, S McCarville, B Bannon; A McCarney, J Doonan; S Britton, N McManus, S Barrett; B Smyth, E Smyth, C McGarrigle. Subs: C Gallagher for C McGarrigle (33), C Breen for B Smyth (43), E Carrigan for B Bannon (47), C Martin for A McCarney (47), M Mulligan for N McManus (56)

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).

TG4 ALL IRELAND FINALS SUNDAY

Antrim and Fermanagh will be aiming for All Ireland glory on Sunday as they meet Carlow and Roscommon respectively in the TG4 All Ireland junior and intermediate finals.

Antrim kick off the trio of games at Croke Park as they play Carlow in the All Ireland junior final at 11-45am. Antrim go into the final full of confidence having defeated a tough Sligo side 3-14 to 2-13 in the semi final. They have been playing well all season and in Maria O Neill they have a match winner. O’Neill is out in front on a haul of 11-16 (49 points) in the race for the coveted individual golden boot accolade.

At 1-45pm Fermanagh meet Roscommon in the TG4 intermediate decider. The Erne girls have turned in some fantastic displays this year including a semi final performance against Down which they won, 1-11 to 0-12. If Roscommon are to prevailed they will have to stop the amazing Eimear Smyth who has already contributed 4-30 to her sides cause.

ZuCar All-Ireland U-18 C championship final

Armagh 4-18

Longford 0-9

By Kieran Lynch

Ten points from Lily Mc Bennett and an excellent team performance powered Armagh to victory over Longford in the ZuCar All-Ireland U-18 C championship final at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones.

Armagh started the game brightly, with Lily McBennett splitting the posts from a free. Minutes later, that was followed up by the score of the day when Caoimhe Gollogly pointed a free from what would be two-point territory at senior level, but just a white flag was raised on this occasion.

At the other end, Longford got up and running after a well-worked move was pointed by captain Zara Drake, and although Armagh forwards McBennett and Alanna O’Neill split their side’s next four points evenly, Longford remained within touching distance with scores from Mia Kiernan and Shauna Madden.

Indeed, David Tiernan’s team had a chance to go level when Kiernan shot for goal, but her effort was blocked by Orchard full back Mia O’Hara. Instead, Armagh pushed six clear with scores from Gollogly, O’Neill and McBennett.

The Leinster girls pulled the gap back to four with Drake and Orla McGann on target, but on the brink of half-time, Armagh landed a crucial score when Nicole O’Reilly superbly finished into the bottom corner of the net, to put her side 1-9 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

Longford’s Madden opened the second half’s scoring, but a burst of 2-1 for Armagh in a matter of minutes virtually put the game beyond doubt. First, Jessica McCreesh finished into the far corner of the net, then McBennett added another point before Moya McGrane raised her side’s third green flag of the day from close range.

McBennett and Drake then traded scores, before Cassie Henderson – who had a hand in so many of the Armagh scores throughout the day – got her just rewards with a point of her own.

The next four points were split evenly with McBennett and Gollogly finding the target for Armagh, whilst Madden and Lauren Maguire doing likewise at the other end.

With time ticking away, McBennett capped a superb display with three further points, whilst Gollogy knocked over another free. Gollogly then put the icing on the cake with the game’s final action, firing home Armagh’s fourth goal of the day.

Scorers – Armagh: L McBennett 0-10 (4f), C Gollogly 1-4 (3f), A O’Neill 0-3 (1f), N O’Reilly, J McCreesh, M McGrane 1-0 each, C Henderson 0-1.

Longford: Z Drake, S Madden (2f) 0-3 each, M Kiernan, O McGann, L Maguire 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: L O’Neill; E Melanophy, M O’Hara, C Carnegie; A Hagan, M McGrane, A Lavery (capt.); E Hart, C Henderson; J McCreesh, L McBennett, A Brennan; C Gollogly, A O’Neill, N O’Reilly. Subs: B Carragher for Gollogly (34), Gollogly for McGrane (42), O Campbell for O’Neill (46), S McKeever for Carnegie (46), C McGeary for Brennan (55), J Bann for McCreesh (56).

LONGFORD: S McDermott; A Tiernan, B Reilly, L Killian; E Kearney, O McGann, L Maguire; M Kiernan, A O’Brien; E Feeney, S Madden, Z Drake (capt.); E Dowd, M Lynn, A Mulligan. Subs: S Murphy for Dowd (42), M Campbell for Lynn (47), L Kiernan for Mulligan (58), A Lynch for Feeney (60), L Kenny for Tiernan (60+3).

Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo).

TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final

Galway 0-21

Armagh 0-8

By Kieran Lynch 

Galway were too strong for Armagh at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, as a superb team performance with ten different scorers powered them to a 13-point win and booked their spot in the TG4 All-Ireland senior final.

The Connacht champions got the first two scores on the board through two Noones, Eva and Hannah, before Aimee Mackin got Armagh up and running from a free.

The Tribeswomen began to take control during the middle phase of the first half, with two points from Leanne Coen and scores from Niamh Divilly and Kate Slevin putting them 0-6 to 0-1 ahead after 15 minutes.

Scores from Kelly Mallon (free) and Aimee Mackin either side of an Olivia Divilly point provided Armagh with some optimism, but Galway closed out the first half in style, with points from Kate Thompson and two from Olivia Divilly seeing them take a commanding seven-point lead into the changing rooms.

Daniel Moynihan’s side almost had the perfect start to the second half when Nicola Ward broke three tackles and supplied Slevin to the right of goal, but she was denied superbly by the outstretched leg of Brianna Mathers.

Galway did increase their lead to eight when Coen notched her third point of the game, and although Mallon pointed a free at the other end, the Armagh goalkeeper was called into action once more.

Again Ward caused the Armagh defence problems, this time playing a give-and-go with Thompson, but Mathers again stepped up to the mark, denying the centre half back in a one on one.

Galway didn’t go empty handed however, as Roisin Leonard stroked over the score of the game from the resulting ’45, raising an orange flag.

Galway pulled 11 points clear coming into the final ten minutes with Niamh Divilly, Shauna Hynes, Ward and Olivia Divilly (free) all pointing, with Armagh’s response coming via two Aimee Mackin frees.

Moynihan’s side closed out a classy display in style in the closing stages, with two scores from substitute Hynes and one from Eva Noone adding to their tally. Two points from Armagh captain Lauren McConville at the other end were mere consolations, before Hynes closed the scoring with her fourth.

Scorers – Galway: O Divilly (2f), S Hynes 0-4 each, L Coen 0-3, E Noone, N Divilly, R Leonard (1’45) 0-2 each, H Noone, K Slevin, K Thompson, N Ward 0-1 each.

Armagh: A Mackin 0-4 (3f), K Mallon, L McConville 0-2 each.

GALWAY: L O’Halloran; B Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty (capt.); H Noone, N Ward, E Power; N Divilly, S Divilly; O Divilly, K Slevin, K Thompson; E Noone, L Coen, R Leonard. Subs: L Ward for S Divilly (44), S Hynes for Leonard (45), C Trill for Power (48), R Quinn for Ní Loingsigh (51), S Healy for Quinn (53).

ARMAGH: B Mathers; A Donnelly, C McCambridge, C Towe; E Druse, L McConville (capt.), G Ferguson; B Mackin, C O’Reilly; L Marsden, A McCoy, C Marley; A Mackin, C O’Hanlon, K Mallon. Subs: C Henderson for O’Reilly (19), R Mulligan for Marsden (23), C McNally for Mallon (44), E Melanophy for Marley (48), N Reel for O’Hanlon (51).

Referee: Angela Gallagher (Meath).