James Stephens through Senior County Semi Final

Michael Lyng Motors Senior Championship Quarter Final

James Stephens 1-11 Clara 1-10

By Aoife Lanigan, PRO

James Stephens are through to the Michael Lyng Motors Senior County Semi Final after a hard fought win over Clara in Canon Kearns Park, Castlecomer last Sunday morning

Sophie O’Dwyer opened the scoring for James Stephens in the first minute. O’Dwyer added a second three minutes later

Roisin Leahy tacked on another points the Village straight from the puckout. Hannah Scott scored a fantastic point for the Cityside from her own 65m line in the 9th minute

Keara Ryan scored Clara’s first point from a placed ball in the 10th minute before Grainne Glynn tacked on another point for Clara

Sophie O’Dwyer slotted over three pointed frees to push the Village’s lead out to five points 0-7 to 0-2

Then Clara hit three points themselves through Mary O’Connell (2f) & Lucy Body to leave the interval score 0-7 to 0-5 in favour of James Stephens

On the resumption of play, Sophie O’Dwyer took a free from 50m line, it headed towards goal, Hannah Larkin caught the sliotar, turned and rattled the back of the net. Sophie O’Dwyer tacked on another two points and the Village lead was out to seven points, 1-9 to 0-5

But Clara didn’t panic, every time Mary O’Connell got the sliotar, she caused havoc in the James Stephens defence. O’Connell slotted over a pointed free

Then in the 39th minute, the said player ran at the James Stephens defence and she was brought down in the square. She got up, dusted herself down and took the Penalty

It was initially saved and cleared, but the sliotar landed back at O’Connell’s feet and she doubled on it and it sailed into the back of the net. Clara added another two points through O’Connell & Keara Ryan

In the 53rd minute, Mary O’Connell equalised the match, with a pointed free 1-9 a piece

Sophie O’Dwyer and Grainne Glynn swapped points

Heading towards the full time whistle, Sophie O’Dwyer tacked on a pointed free to finish the scoring

James Stephens had survived a scare and now head to next weekend’s County Semi Final against Reigning County Champions Dicksboro

Scorers – James Stephens – Sophie O’Dwyer 0-9 (6f), Hannah Larkin 1-0, Roisin Leahy, Hannah Scott 0-1 each

Clara – Mary O’Connell 1-5 (4f), Keara Ryan 0-2 (1f), Grainne Glynn 0-2, Lucy Boyd 0-1

James Stephens – Tara Murphy, Niamh Leahy, Michelle Teehan, Emma Gaffney, Aoife Cantwell, Niamh Deely, Hannah Scott, Emily Smith, Anna Doheny, Caoimhe Moran, Rachel Leahy, Sophie Meagher, Roisin Leahy, Hannah Larkin, Sophie O’Dwyer

Subs – Lucy Coomey for Caoimhe Moran, Tara Maguire for Sophie Meagher, Lucy McGrath, Anna Bergin, Molly Burke, Katie Larkin, Mia Dunne, Aoibh Lawlor, Hannah Joyce, Kerri Hennessy

Clara – Aoife Glynn, Lucy Cody, Katie Ryan, Aine McDonald. Tamsin English, Laoise Nolan, Grace Barcoe, Rebecca Nolan, Aisling Curtis, Mary O’Connell, Grainne Glynn, Lucy Boyd, Emma Shortall, Niamh Byrne, Keara Ryan

Subs – Margaret O’Connell for Niamh Byrne, Anna Walpole, Rachel Whelan, Aoife Treacy, Niamh Ward, Peig Carrigan, Roisin Kealy, Sarah Dunne, Siobhan Treacy