Crusheen secure Junior semi-final place

Crusheen 2-9  Tulla 1-0

CRUSHEEN are through to the league semi-final after defeating a physical Tulla team, with scores coming from Ann Marie McMahon from placed balls and Mary Rosengrave.
Crusheen were stronger throughout the field with good displays from the O’Grady sisters, Carol O’Donnell and Marian Meaney. Tulla fought hard with the Torpey sisters doing well but Crusheen were too strong on the day.
In the second half, Tulla came close on a number of occasions but just couldn’t get the scores that might have let them back into contention.

Crusheen: Caroline Brigdale, Teresa Rosengrave, Ann Fitzgibbon, Carol O’Donnell, Ann Marie McMahon, Clare O’Grady, Ann Griffin, Tina Meaney, Jacinta O Grady, Mary Rosengrave, Fiona O Brien, Marian Meaney, Aoife Loughnane.
Tulla: Rachel McNamara, Gráinne Corry, Aisling McNamara, Lorna Power, Katie McInerney, Siobhán Lynch, Áine Dinan, Gráinne McNamara, Sherena McGrath, Sinead McNamara, Angela Lynch (1-0), Siobhán Torpey, Sorcha Costelloe.
Subs: Caroline Stack for Gráinne McNamara, Niamh Torpey for Sinéad McNamara, Amy McNamara for Sherena McGrath, Aoife Quinlivan for Angela Lynch.

Éire Óg 6-5  Sixmilebridge 2-0

THIS final-round league took off at a lively pace, with a player from each side being issued with a yellow card in the opening minutes. Matters calmed somewhat and the home side attacked the Sixmilebridge goal with a vengeance. However, it was only after seven wides that they eventually settled and opened the scoring with a pointed Ruth Lillis free. It was all one-way traffic for the remainder of the opening half as Orla McMahon followed with a cracking goal, while twins, Alanna and Shaunagh O’Brien, notched up a goal apiece. Claire McMahon had the last score of the half with a fine point from play.
The Éire Óg defence were called into play as Sixmilebridge hit the ground running at the start of the second half. They held tough, however, and again the home side were first on the scoreboard with a great goal from Shaunagh O’Brien followed by points from Orla McMahon and Shauna Keane. The visitors never gave in and were rewarded with goals from Eimear Murphy-Considine, who tore through to hit the net twice. The tally would have been higher but for excellent defending by Emma O’Brien and Sally Wall and some brilliant saves from Katie Malone. Éire Óg came to life again when substitute, Noelle Kirwan caught a fine pass from Orla McMahon and sent the ball to the net. Áine Courtney followed with a point from play and the final score of the match saw Shaunagh O’Brien complete a hat-trick.

Éire Og: Katie Malone, Sally Wall, Emma O’Brien, Sophie Hanna, Ruth Lillis, Sinead Darcy, Alana O’Brien, Louise Kirwan (captain), Shauna Keane, Áine Courtney, Claire McMahon, Orla McMahon (1-1), Shaunagh O’Brien.
Subs: Blathín Casey for Sophie Hanna, Noelle Kirwan for Claire McMahon, Ruth McInerney for Shauna Keane, Deirbhile Ryan for Emma O’Brien, Tasha Hynes for Ruth McInerney (inj).
Sixmilebridge: Colette Freeman, Sarah Keane, Sarah Murray, Denise Collins, Noelle Ryan, Regina Fennessy, Maria Frawley, Karen Corbett, Flora Crowe, Eimear Murphy-Considine , Rachel Whelan, Niamh Murray, Grainne McMahon.
Referee: Joe O’Donnell (Cratloe).

Truagh/Clonlara 5-14  Feakle 0-4

FEAKLE got off to an early start with pointed frees from Vera Loughnane and good scores from play from the Feakle forwards. Lauren Guilfoyle and Martina Canny got goals in the first half that set the tone for the rest of the game. Good scores from play also came from Sonia Hanrahan and Clodagh Gray in the second half.
Feakle were too strong for Truagh on this occasion.

Feakle: Muirne Donnellan, Sarah McGuinness, Mary-Kate Moloney, Áine Hogan, Sharon Naughton, Síle McKee, Vera Loughnane, Celine Moloney, Louise O’Halloran, Marie Naughton, Clodagh Gray, Lauren Guilfoyle, Martina Canny.