Brigid’s make fast start to take county champions’ scalp
Clann na nGael forward, Hope Glynn, sends an effort towards goal during Sunday's senior ladies' football championship match against St. Brigid's at Johnstown. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
St. Brigid’s scored five goals in the first quarter but they still had to stave off a Clann na nGael comeback to get the better of the county champions in Sunday’s second round Dermot Hughes Cars Senior Ladies’ Football Championship clash at Johnstown.
Player of the Match Marian Nolan, Lucy Sheffield, Aine O’Brien, Sarah O’Rourke and Alison Nugent raised green flags before the first water break.
Although Clann stemmed the bleeding somewhat in the second quarter, a 5-3 to 0-7 deficit looked insurmountable.
But Clann continued to climb the mountain, led by the outstanding Róise Lennon and Caoimhe Lennon.
The former scored a brilliant individual goal, but the home side also left chances behind them to just fall short on a scoreline of 5-6 to 1-15 after a thoroughly entertaining game of football between two fine footballing sides.
Éire Óg are still in with a shout of securing top spot in Group One and an automatic semi-final berth after they came away from Knockcroghery with a 2-7 to 0-12 win over St. Dominic’s on Sunday morning.
The visitors dominated the first half and took a 2-5 to 0-5 lead into the dressing room, thanks to goals from Rebecca Madden and Alannah McGreal.
Aimee O’Connor and Aoife Gavin began to find their groove early in the second half as St. Dominic’s chipped away at their opponents’ lead but, once again, Éire Óg goalkeeper, Lily Vickers, made a number of superb saves — the most impressive, and important, of those when she denied Niamh Watson what would have been a winning score.
In Group Two, St. Ciarán’s proved that their first round win over Boyle was no fluke as they travelled up to Croghan and were full value for a 1-16 to 1-6 win against Shannon Gaels.
With Ciara Dowd to the fore for the second week in succession, Jonathan Conroy’s side built up a 0-10 to 0-4 interval advantage.
That lead was halved when an effort for a point from Christina Beirne dropped just under the St. Ciarán’s crossbar, but Hollie Gavin responded with a goal for the visitors to see them home.
