Boyle and Brigid’s to collide for favourites tag ahead of quarter-finals
Boyle's Roisín Wynne tries to motor past Sorcha Bruen during her side's championship victory against Shannon Gaels at Tom Collins Park, Croghan, on Sunday last.
The final round of group games in the 2026 John Keane Kia Senior Championship takes place this evening (Thursday).
While none of the eight teams in contention for the Marie McAleer Cup will be eliminated, the battle between Boyle and St. Brigid’s at the Abbey Park (throw in 7 p.m.) already looks like a heavyweight contest that will tell a lot about whether the home side or the reigning champions will be the team that will be marked down as competition favourites going into the quarter-finals.
St. Brigid’s secured their second win of the competition after they overcame St. Barry’s by 5-19 to 6-9 in an entertaining shootout at Kiltoom.
Edel Beirne (St. Barry’s) and Lucy Sheffield (St. Brigid’s) both hit hat-tricks in a game where St. Barry’s started well, but Sheffield’s three green flags gave the home side a 3-8 to 2-4 interval lead.
Georgia Gerrity hit 1-5 from midfield for the Tarmonbarry-based club, with Cara Cox and Emer Callaghan also on target with green flags.
Aoife Creevy is another of this year’s successful county minor team who has transferred her good form with Roscommon onto the club arena as she stood out in the half-back line for St. Barry’s, but St. Brigid’s always had a more balanced threat up front in a fast-paced game, and they racked up the points before clinching the win with two fourth quarter goals from Marion Nolan.
Boyle made the short trip down the road to Croghan and came away with a 3-13 to 1-4 win over a competitive Shannon Gaels team, who put up a strong defensive showing in the first half, inspired by a string of fine saves from their goalkeeper Aisling Egan.
Amy Roddy marked her 21st birthday with a point to start the second half for Boyle but another milestone score — Sarah Meghan’s goal on her senior championship debut for Shannon Gaels — reduced the gap to a mere three points.
The introduction of the GPA August ‘Player of the Month’ proved to be a turning point, however, as Saoirse Wynne came on for Suzie Keenehan after 36 minutes and she was pivotal to a run of 3-6 unanswered for the winners.
Shannon Kerins, Megan McKeon, and Isabella King led a stalwart defensive effort for the 2023 county champions while Caoimhe Cregg (1-4), Aisling Feely (1-3) and Katie Conroy (1-1) led the scoring, despite the best efforts of a tireless Shannon Gaels defence, with Naimh O’Beirne very much to the fore.
St. Barry's play host to Shannon Gaels this evening at 7 p.m. with both sides aiming to get their first win on the board.
In Group B, St. Dominic’s and St. Ciarán’s were on the back foot after first round defeats but the outlook is much cheerier around Fuerty and Creggs this week on foot of their 3-13 to 2-11 win in Knockcroghery.
Ciara Dowd (2-6), Laura Mannion (1-3) and Shauna Kilroe (0-3) scored all bar one point for the winners, who were two points in front at half time, then overcame a surge from the hosts at the start of the second half through Dowd’s second goal, scored from the penalty spot.
Éire Óg will play St. Ciaran's at Ballaghaderreen while Clann na nGael will welcome St. Dominic's to Johnstown this evening. Both games are set to commence at 7 p.m.
