Senior ladies’ football championship quarter-final pairings confirmed
St. Brigid's defender, Róisín O'Donovan, emerges with possession despite being under pressure from Éire Óg's Rebecca Madden during Sunday's senior ladies' football championship game in Kiltoom. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
The pairings for this year’s senior ladies’ football championship quarter-finals have been confirmed following Sunday’s final round of group games.
While St. Brigid’s comfortable 2-15 to 1-6 victory against Éire Óg in Kiltoom catapulted last year’s beaten finalists into the last four, having topped their four-team group, victories for defending champions Clann na nGael and league champions, Boyle, will see them have home advantage in their quarter-finals.
St. Brigid’s were always in control against Éire Óg, despite hitting 14 wides, and Kate Nolan’s 16th minute goal handed her side a 1-7 to 0-4 interval lead.
With the excellent Áine McGrath leading a fine defensive effort, Brigid’s kept the scoreboard ticking over at the other end, and Sarah O’Rourke’s 39th minute goal put the game to bed.
Rebecca Madden did reply for the visitors with a 40-metre free that ended up in the net, but points from Alison Nugent and Áine O’Brien — her side’s top scorer with 0-5 from play — enabled Brigid’s to take the direct route to the last four.
Éire Óg will now travel to Abbey Park to play Boyle who confirmed home advantage for their quarter-final with a 7-17 to 0-6 thumping of Shannon Gaels.
A hat-trick of goals from Sinéad Glennon alongside a pair of green flags for Aisling Feely and Emma Duggan gave the home side an unassailable lead at the break.
Micheala Ward and Aimee Roddy rubbed further salt into their neighbours’ wounds in the second half with two further goals.
Sineád Glennon hit 3-2, while Aisling Feely struck 1-8 over the hour for a side that bounced back impressively following their opening round defeat against St. Ciaran's.
Shannon Gaels must now travel to Johnstown to play Clann na nGael who defeated St. Dominic’s by 3-13 to 2-10 in Knockcroghery.
Kara Earle, Caoimhe Lennon and Susie Kelly scored the goals for the winners who also welcomed back Ruth Finlass to the fold alongside a host of other experienced players to their bench.
The other quarter-final will see last year’s intermediate champions, St. Ciaran’s, host St. Dominic’s.
*First team with home advantage
St. Ciaran’s v St. Dominic’s
Clann na nGael v Shannon Gaels
Boyle v Éire Óg
St. Ciaran’s/St. Dominic’s v Clann na nGael v Shannon Gaels
St. Brigid’s v Boyle/Éire Óg
