Fethard fall at Leinster hurdle

CARRICKEDMOND 2-15 FETHARD 1-6

FETHARD EXITED the Lidl Leinster ladies’ football Junior club championship at the hands of Longford Intermediate champions Carrickedmond on home turf.

The seasiders were making their first trip into Leinster having won their first Junior ‘A’ title last month. However, the young Fethard girls were a little too raw for an experienced Carrickedmond side.

While the result didn’t go their way, the New Ross District side are growing all the time. They are an improving team and this jaunt into provincial competition can only stand to them in the coming seasons.

There were still several good performances for Fethard with Stephanie Foley excellent in defence. The midfield of Fiona Rowe and Eimear Whelan put in huge effort, and Sandra Foley was always a thorn for the hosts in attack.

They got off to a slow start as the Longford ladies, boasting three members of the county’s All-Ireland Junior-winning side, blitzed into a 2-3 to nil lead after the first quarter.

However, when Sinéad Rowe hauled in a long ball and fired to the net, Fethard had something to build on.

Fiona Donohoe picked off a nice score from play in the 20th minute as Fethard closed within five. They didn’t score again until first-half added-time, when Sandra Foley kicked her first point to leave her side trailing by 2-6 to 1-2 at the interval.

Dangerous attacker Foley notched another point at the start of the second-half but the visitors were picking off scores themselves as they moved 2-9 to 1-3 clear. A pair of frees from Fiona Rowe and Foley did cut the deficit.

Rowe scored her club’s final point in the 42nd minute. At that stage they trailed by 2-10 to 1-6. Ballyedmond finished with the last five points as the hosts ran themselves into the ground in a losing cause.

Fethard: Kathryn Whelan; Maura Tubrid, Stephanie Foley (joint capt.), Rebecca Foley; Shirley O’Neill, Siobhán Rowe, Louise Carroll; Eimear Whelan, Fiona Rowe (0-2, 1 free); Róisín Donohoe (0-1), Sinéad Rowe (1-0), Chloe Waters; Gillian Barry, Eimear Mullan (joint capt.), Sandra Foley (0-3, 1 free). Subs. - Ciara Nolan for Sinéad Rowe, Nóirín McMahon for Tubrid, Libby Sutton for Carroll, Megan Murphy for R. Foley, Ciara Walsh for Waters, also Stephanie A. Roche, Aoife Roche, Katie Kelly, Nicole Tubritt, Mairéad Foley, Leah Molloy.

FRI. OCT. 14 VENUE TBA: Division 1 league semi-final, Shelmalier ‘A’ v. Adamstown, 8 p.m.

AT FETHARD: Division 3 league semi-final, Fethard v. Horeswood, 8.30 p.m.

SAT. OCT. 15 AT TOMNAHELY: Minor Division 4 shield final, Naomh Eanna v. Kilanerin, 3 p.m.

AT OYLEGATE: Division 5 league final, Starlights v. St. Brigid’s, 3 p.m.

4.30 p.m. - Division 4 league final, Clonee ‘B’ v. Kilmore ‘B’, 4.30 p.m.

AT TAGHMON: Division 2 league final, St. James’ v. St. Anne’s, 11 a.m.

1.30 p.m. - Under-14 Division 4 shield final, Clongeen v. Shamrocks.