Shels bow out after slow start in Offaly

NAOMH CIARAN (OFFALY) SHELMALIER 4-13 1-14

THE SHELMALIER ladies’ footballers travelled to Ferbane on Saturday to take on the impressive local team Naomh Ciarán in the Leinster Intermediate championship semi-final.

The home side got off to a flying start with goals from Róisín Ennis and Shauna Heffernan followed by a Kate Kenny point inside the opening 90 seconds.

After that the Shels were always playing catch-up against a quality side that won the Leinster final in 2016 and reached last year’s decider, only to lose to eventual All-Ireland winners Clontarf.

Shels attacked strongly after those setbacks and appeared to have earned a penalty for a footblock on Leona Tector, but the referee waived play on before Deirdre McMahon opened the scoring with a point from a free following a foul on Sarah Harding-Kenny.

Tector added two further points before the Shels were dealt a further blow when Emma Cahill slipped inside the defence to open up a 3-2 to 0-3 lead after ten minutes.

The Shels were attacking strongly, with Clara Donnelly, Kellie Kearney, Róisín Murphy and Eleanor Neville pressing hard, and their attack was posing problems for the home defence.

McMahon and Harding-Kenny were called back as they bore down on goal with only the ‘keeper to beat for previous fouls on them. Tector pointed the resultant frees.

Deirdre Fox pulled off a fine save to prevent Naomh Ciaran from what looked a certain goal before Fiona Kinsella and Ciara Banville combined for the latter to point. This was followed by two from play by Tector to leave the score 3-6 to 0-8 at the interval.

Tector and Ellie McEvoy exchanged points on the resumption before Kate Kenny added a further goal to open up a nine-point lead after 36 minutes.

The game was highly entertaining even though the score difference was considerable, with Keena, Kenny and Heffernan tagging on points. This trio, along with Róisín Ennis and Amy Mangan in midfield, posed a constant threat for the Shels defence and midfield.

Fox was again called upon to make two point-blank saves before the Shels hit back with points from McMahon and Murphy, followed by a Lauren Murphy goal after 52 minutes.

The Shels were pressing hard as Tector netted and Harding-Kenny put Róisín Murphy through on goal, only for both to be pulled back for frees in.

Tector traded three points with Kenny (two) and Aoibhe Kelly to leave Naomh Ciarán deserving winners on a score of 4-13 to 1-14.

They will now play the Wicklow champions, Tinahely, in the Leinster final- following their victory over Clanna Gael of Dublin – at the end of the month in Ashbourne.

These girls have a winning mentality stretching back to their All-Ireland Féile wins of 2012 and 2013.

Shelmalier: Deirdre Fox; Lisa Quill, Sadbh McCarthy, Eadaoin Fitzgerald; Maeve Quill, Shauna Murphy, Eleanor Neville; Kellie Kearney, Róisín Murphy (0-1); Clara Donnelly, Sarah Harding-Kenny, Fiona Kinsella; Leona Tector (0-10, 6 frees), Deirdre McMahon (0-2, 1 free), Ciara Banville (0-1). Subs. Lauren Murphy (1-0) for Kearney, Ailis Neville for L. Quill, Aobhe Manley for Fitzgerald, Deirdre Byrne for Banville, also Róisín Tobin, Jessie Harding, Katie Carroll, Ciara McMahon, Caroline Curran, Annemarie Hearne, Mikaela Lanigan, Enya Byrne, Aoibhe Murphy, Aoife Doyle.

FOOTNOTE: Clongeen travelled to Navan for the first round of the Junior championship recently and lost to the local O’Mahony’s by 2-12 to 2-6.