Stabannon and Cooley through to semi-finals
STABANNON and Cooley Kickhams advanced to the semi finals of the Louth senior championship on Sunday after both teams made it two from two with victories over Newtown Blues and Roche respectively.
Stabannon put in a strong second half display to run out 4-13 to 1-5 winners in a game that was point for point up until half-time.
Aine Mc Bride (1-1), Rachel and Ciara Mc Nally and two frees from Niamh Sadlier got on the scoreboard for Stabannon, while Kate Gerrard - with a goal -Ciara Nugent and Laura Collins kept the Blues in contention.
The second half was one-way traffic as the champions were dominant throughout the pitch and showed their extra gears by scoring 3-6, to a single Laura Collins point, to put the contest to bed.
There were goals from Hannah Carolan and a brace from Rachel Mc Nally who finished with 2-3, four points from new recruit Brenda Bannon and some excellent long range scores from Grace Rogers and Orla Byrne were enough to send Stabannon through.
Cooley Kickhams survived a second-half comeback from Roche to book their semi-final spot on a scoreline of 3-11 to 2-8 in a very evenly contested contest played in Roche on Sunday morning.
Both teams were short influential players, with Aoife Halligan missing from the Roche starting fifteen and last week’s hero Niamh Rice absent from the Cooley team through injury.
Cooley Kickhams got the better start and led 1-7 to 0-5 at the break, with Lauren Boyle hitting 3 frees and Emily Rice finding the net to leave Roche playing catch-up.
Jennie Mc Court settled the home sides nerves with 3 frees that were very hard earned and Claire mc Donnell added a point after Roche hit the upright with a goal opportunity before the break.
After the break Cooley seemed to put this game to bed, stretching their lead to 9 points, with Emily Rice again punishing the Roche defence to find the net and all looked lost for the home team.
But just as they did the previous week against Stabannon, Roche staged a comeback and dominated the last 20 minutes, hitting 2-2 without reply through Lauren Meehan, Jenny Mc Court, Aoife Halligan and Tracey Rogers to leave one point between the teams with 2 minutes remaining.
Cooley, however, breathed a sigh of relief when they broke quickly to score a late goal, followed by a Lauren Boyle point from a free.
Cooley now go on to play Stabannon to decide who tops the group.