Gers advance as semi-final line-ups are revealed

LOUTH LADIES SFC GERALDINES 5-9 ST.MOCHTAS 2-10

GERALDINES claimed a place in the semi-finals of the Louth Senior Championship with a comfortable victory over St. Mochtas on Wednesday night in Haggardstown. THE game saw county star Rebecca Carr return to club action after a lenghty absence and marked her return by hitting 3-4 of the winners total.

In the opening period chances were scarce although Leah Farrell was only denied by a fine stop by Caoimhe Byrne in the home goal. The first score came in the sixth minute when Aoife Byrne last year’s Louth captain pointed.

Gers replied almost immediatley when Rebecca Carr won possession and drilled a low well placed shot into the corner of Mochta’s net.

The Haggardstown/Blackrock side then took a firm grip on procedings with further scores from Lorna Moriarity, Carr (2) Victoria Prendergast to a solitary Mochtas reply from Christine Carolan leaving Geraldines well placed 1-5 to 0-2 ahead in the 18th minute. Mochtas hopes took a further blow just after this as a Prendergast pass fell invitingly into the path of Bonnie Fleming and the Monaghan native made no mistake from close range. Carr added a further point to extend the lead to ten points. Mochtas in dire need of scores then created two goal chances, the first fell to Leah Farrell who failed to make clean contact when well placed.

Eimear Byrne then was most unlucky to see her shot go inches wide after a surging run.

The Louth Village side did get the reward their preserviance deserved on the stroke of half time when Emma Quinn hit a well taken goal after good play by Aoife Byrne leaving Geraldines 2-6 to 1-2 in front at the interval

Two early points from Quinn and Byrne give Mochtas renewed hope but any hope of a comeback were quickly dashed as the Gers hit three goals in as many minutes with two of them coming from the outstanding Rebecca Carr and Lorna Moriarity also finding the net.

Mochtas fought hard to to find a way back and points from Kerry native Niamh Clifford( Saoirse McCoey, Eimear Byrne,and a Emma Quinn goal cut the deficit to 5-7 to 2-9. However points from Carr and Prendergast ensured there would be no way back for Mochtas.

Caoimhe Byrne, Sharon O’Connor, Lisa McCabe, Irene Hoey, Andrea Lennon, Gemma McCrave, Megan Scully, Helen Ryan, Aine Lynch. Rebecca Carr 3-4, Lauren McFaul, Maebh O’Hagan, Lorna Moriarity 0-1, Bonnie Fleming, 1-2, Victoria Prendergast 0-2

ST. MOCHTAS: Niamh Kirk, Kayle Hoey, Dearbhla O’Connor, Orla O’Neill, Caitlin Curley, Lauren Kieran, Aoife Byrne, 0-2, Sarah Englishby, Terri Englishby, Eimear Byrne, 0-1, Niamh Clifford 0-2, Emma Quinn 2-1, Leah Farrell, Christine Carolan 0-1 each. Sub, Saoirse McCoey 0-2

REFEREE: Tommy McEnteggart

SFC semi-finals

Geraldines v Newtown Blues St.Mochtas v Cooley Kickhams

IFC Semi-finals

St.Patrick’s v Mattock Rangers Dreadnotsv St.Fechins Dates / venues tbc. Mattock Rangers/Hunterstown Rovers v Cooley Kickhams/Glen Emmets, ref tbc, 4.00 U14B Championship

St Patrick’s GFC v O’Raghallaighs/Wolfe Tones, ref tbc, 2-30

U16 Championship Play-off

St Kevins/Glyde Rangers/Westerns/Sean McDermotts v Kilkerley Emmets/Naomh Malachi, ref tbc, 2-00

CTI Business Solutions IFC

Mattock Rangers v Oliver Plunketts (Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda), ref tbc, 5.30; St. Kevins v St. Fechins (Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda), ref tbc, 7.00

Sunday 26th August

Junior 2C Competition

Wolfe Tones Football v O’Connells GFC, ref tbc, 11-30; Na Piarsaigh v Naomh Mairtin, ref tbc, 11-30

Anchor Tours SFC Relegation Play-off

Kilkerley Emmets v O`Raghallaighs (The Grove), ref tbc, 11-30; Ardee St. Mary’s G.F.C. v Geraldines (The Grove), ref tbc, 1-00

CTI Business Solutions IFC

St Brides v St Mochtas (Páirc Naomh Bríd, Dowdallshill), ref tbc, 3-00; Cooley Kickhams v Naomh Fionnbarra (Páirc Naomh Bríd, Dowdallshill), ref tbc, 4.30