Fantastic Fleming guides Ciaran’s to Intermediate glory

Six points from Laura Fleming helped St. Ciaran’s secure Senior football for 2025 as they overcame St. Barry’s 1-12 to 1-9 in a thrilling Intermediate final.

Ciara Dowd, who scored 1-4 in the contest, grabbed the game winning goal in the 52nd minute to help her side come from a point behind to see off a gutsy St. Barry’s outfit.

These well matched sides provided thrills from the off as Orlaigh Tighe’s fifth minute goal gave St. Barry’s an early 1-1 to 0-1 lead.

Laura Fleming led the fightback with two quick points but back came St. Barry’s as a sumptuous effort from Grace Cox helped her side lead approaching half time. Fleming kicked two points while also hitting the crossbar when going for goal with Shuana Fitzmaurice pointing the rebound.

This helped St. Ciaran’s lead 0-8 to 1-3 at half time and they stretched that lead through Fleming and Dowd early in the second half. The winners suffered a blow when Aideen O’Brien was sin binned as St. Barry’s hit back through Tighe and Shannon McGuinness (two). Georgia Gerrity, who was part of the Roscommon U-16 team this year, equalised from a free just after O’Brien returned. McGuinness propelled her side in front with a long range effort.

However, Dowd finished off a brilliant team move in style before McGuinness cut St. Barry’s deficit to the minimum. In a tense finale, Fleming and Dowd pointed late on while Cara Cox’s deflected effort hit the crossbar as Jonathan Conroy’s side claimed sweet victory after many tough defeats on the big stage.

In the first of the double header, St. Dominic’s were crowned Junior C champions as they produced a dramatic second half comeback to deny St. Michael’s/St. Ronan’s a first title at adult level.

Maria Tiernan netted in the first half for St. Dominic’s but they trailed 1-7 to 1-1 at half time as Leah McCawley finished a penalty to the net for the runners up. St. Dominic’s produced a powerful second half display as Aine Cassidy and Heather O’Sullivan netted as the Knockcroghery based side secured a 3-8 to 1-10 triumph.

Meanwhile, in the Connacht Junior Championship, Pádraig Pearses suffered a 3-7 to 2-6 defeat to Sligo’s Coolera/Strandhill. Pearses enjoyed a dream start and led 1-5 to no score as Aine Ryan netted but the home side fought back to trail by just two points.

Michaela Keogh found the net for Pearses to help them lead by five points but Aine Galvin kicked their only point of the second half as Coolera/Strandhill booked their semi final spot.