Abbott Intermediate Championship Semi final
Emeralds 1-15 Glenmore 1-11
Emeralds were made to work hard but showed the composure of a team on a long winning streak this year to power through to the Abbott Intermediate County final in two weeks’ time after a hard-fought contest against a lively Glenmore side in Palmerstown on a pleasant October Sunday afternoon. This result means that Emeralds are now on an impressive 14 game winning run since losing their opening summer league clash in early April and the confidence gained from such an impressive run stood to them in the closing quarter in this match where Glenmore matched them for long periods. As well as dealing with a strong Glenmore side, they also coped with an injury to star player Davina Tobin during the warmup although she did come on to play a key role in the closing quarter. But perhaps the key reason for this win was the outstanding performance of Anne Dalton who scored a very impressive 1-13 of their sides total and whose class shone throughout the hour of this entertaining contest.
Glenmore, who may have been considered unlikely championship semi-finalists at the start of this campaign, opened backed by the breeze and showed greater energy than their opponents in the opening half which ended up with them holding a 0-9 to 1-5 lead at the interval. In truth they should have been further clear at this time as they had a number of missed opportunities to extend the lead still further – but the quality of play from many of their players particularly Marie Claire O’Dwyer at centre back (who contributed two points) and Helen Hoynes at midfield (who also contributed two points) was impressive. By contrast Emeralds looked to be slightly below their best in this period – but with Anne Dalton nailing every opportunity that came her way including a breakaway goal in the 12th minute, they were very much in the contest at the interval and would have been happy with the scoreline if not their performance at this time. The composure of players such as Siobhan O’Hara in goal and Niamh Leahy at full back also meant that they were competing hard all over the field and making it hard for Glenmore to create clear scoring opportunities.
The third quarter saw David Beirne’s Glenmore side continue to take the match to Emeralds and two early points from Helen Hoynes saw them stretch the lead to three points – and a number of missed chances at this time could have seen them extend the lead further. Emeralds were struggling to impose their game on their opponents but backed by some magic moments from Anne Dalton, they tied up the match (1-8 to 0-11) by the 40th minute and three further Anne Dalton scores added to one from Aoibhe Bourke saw them take a 1-12 to 0-11 lead by the 50th minute. Glenmore refused to die and when a long range shot from Helen Hoynes ended up in the Emeralds net a minute later, they were right back in the contest. It was at this time that Emeralds gathered their composure all over the field and with Davina Tobin now intercepting many Glenmore attacks and Anne Dalton & Roisin Gibbons adding points at the other end, they pushed the margin out to four points (1-15 to 1-11) and saw out the closing moments despite Glenmore’s best efforts. In short, a composed performance from Emeralds who did enough particularly in the closing quarter to ground out this win although they were largely indebted to Anne Dalton for almost all of their scores. For Glenmore, this was a fine performance to complete their season and with a lot of young players performing very well in this match, the future looks bright for them going forward in this competition.
Emeralds: Siobhan O’Hara, Alanna Russell, Niamh Leahy, Saoirse Bourke, Eimear Leahy, Emma Dunphy, Ruth Ryan, Davina Tobin, Emma Kenny, Roisin Ahern, Lucy Kavanagh, Anne Dalton, Aoibhe Bourke, Louise Hickey, Roisin Gibbons. Subs: Aine Carey, Aisling Hickey, Aobha Minogue, Aoibheann Ryall, Ciara Joyce, Clodagh O’Shea, Ella Minogue, Emily Kavanagh, Emma Fogerty, Emma Hickey, Jessie Newman, Leyla Ahern, Lilly Cleere, Megan Ryan, Mollie Kavanagh, Niamh Campion, Niamh Cleere, Rachel Phelan, Roisin Walsh, Ruth Hickey, Ruth Lyng, Victoria Lupton, Jayda Lalor.
Glenmore: Liz Phelan, Naoimh O’Connor, Sinead Jones, Sara May Walsh, Ella Dollard, Marie Claire O’Dwyer, Oonagh Malone, Helen Hoynes, Breeanna Beirne, Sophie Mullally, Amy Cody, Aisleann Mullally, Claire Aylward, Laura Doherty, Kadhla Croke. Subs: Alison Donnelly, Aisling Irish, Aoife Byrne, Annie Kirwan, Eabha Mullally Mairead Mullally, Saorlaith Mullally, Olivia Mullally, Aoife Murphy, Mia Barry, Ella Talbot, Evelyn Reid, Danielle Phelan Eimear O’Neill, Keelin Byrne, Jane Maher, Katie Boyle, Olive Donnelly, Aoife Daly, Chloe Mullally, Jennifer Dollard, Ella Sheehan.
Referee: Owen Beehan
By PRO Sat 10th Oct
