Monaghan sparks title victory for St Mary’s
Sligo Rovers player Ruth Monaghan scores 1-3 as St Mary’s overcome Eastern Harps in Intermediate final
Sligo LGFA Connacht Gold Intermediate C’ship Final St Mary’s 1-14 Eastern Harps 1-8
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AST Sunday’s Sligo LGFA Intermediate Championship final was, to a large extent, the story of two players from the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League, Ruth Monaghan and Roisin Molloy.
Ruth Monaghan, who has become an important member of the Sligo Rovers senior women’s team in their inaugural WNL campaign, scored 1-3 and was named Player of the Match as St Mary’s won a county title with a six-point victory, 1-4 to 1-8, in the Quigabar sunshine.
Because of illness, Athlone Town’s Molloy was only a second-half substitute at the home of EnniscroneKilglass GAA Club.
To get an idea of Molloy’s mastery in the Sligo LGFA club scene consider how a week previously she scored 2-5 when helping Harps secure a lastgasp draw with Tourlestrane in the Sligo LGFA Adult League Division One decider that went to extra-time at Curry.
Even with Molloy not starting at the west Sligo venue, Harps appeared to have sufficient attacking options and they were two points up,
1-2 to 0-3, when the
HARPS BALL: Eastern Harps player Lisa Casey, during a break in play last
Sunday.
WELL DONE: Player of the Match Ruth Monaghan, St Mary’s, is presented with her award by Raymond Carden, Sligo LGFA chairperson.
first-half water break was called. Points from Tara Phillips, who converted a free, and Lisa Powell got Harps on the scoreboard and a quickly-taken free from Lisa Casey led to Megan McCormack hitting a shot to the St Mary’s net.
St Mary’s, who initially struggled, actually led by a point prior to the Harps goal, 0-3 to 0-2, thanks to points by Karen Maloney, Emma Corcoran and Michaela Gaffney.
Harps extended their lead when play resumed following the water break.
Points by Tara Phillips and Lisa Casey put the eventual runners-up four points clear, 1-4 to 0-3.
The remainder of the opening period saw St Mary’s control matters and three unanswered points, with Karen Maloney, Emma Corcoran and Ruth Monaghan on target, left just a point between the sides at half-time, 1-4 to 0-6.
St Mary’s would fare much better in the second-half and they outscored their opponents by six points, 1-8 to 0-4. The crucial score for St Mary’s was the goal from Ruth Monaghan – this helped them lead four points by the water break, 1-11 to 1-7.
Prior to Monaghan’s goal there were well-worked points by Karen Maloney, Kayla Breheny and Ciara Gilroy. Harps kept in touch through points
Player of the Match: Eastern Harps squad: by Megan McCormack, Tara Phillips and Eimear Connolly.
After the water break St Mary’s moved six points ahead, with Kayla Breheny supplying one of these points from close-range.
Lisa Casey’s second point of the day would prove to be the final score for Harps, who brought on Roisin Molloy in an attempt to revitalise their cause. But St Mary’s remained in command and, fittingly, their final score came from Ruth Monaghan, who had imposed herself on proceedings throughout.
Meanwhile, Tara Phillips and Eimear Connolly did well for Harps, with St Mary’s – aside from Ruth Monaghan – having key contributors in Karen Maloney and Sarah Keaney. There was another Rovers player on the pitch – Helen Monaghan, sister of match-winner Ruth.
FINALISTS: The Eastern Harps squad that finished runners-up in the Sligo LGFA Connacht Gold Intermediate Championship final last Sunday afternoon at Quigabar.