St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 6-10 Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-13
Senior Ladies’ Football Championship Group A Round 1
It took free kicks to finally separate these sides in the Division 1 League decider but this time it was six timely goals that ensured revenge for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield but also a major opening boost to what is unquestionably the group of death in this year’s senior ladies football championship in Gurteen on Sunday afternoon.
Such a heartbreaking means of losing a final seemed to be channelled into Sunday’s display for the Parish who were never behind at any stage despite facing into the strong conditions in the opening period.
Decisive first half goals through Roisin Fowley, Lyndsay Clarke and Aoibhinn McMahon kept wind-assisted Kilmurry Ibrickane at arm’s length in the opening period, with Chloe Moloney inevitably leading the charge with seven points in what was a compelling tussle with fellow county senior Siofra Ní Chonaill at 3-5 to 0-9 by the break
The visitors weren’t as clinical in front of goals as Doora/Barefield who appeared to have put the result beyond doubt in the 42nd minute when Ní Chonaill cleared a Kayla Darcy off the line at one end only for Roisin Fowley and Sophie Torpey to immediately counter for outstanding teenager Eabha O’Driscoll to finish to the net at 4-06 to 0-10.
Remarkably however, that eight points gap was wiped out within just six minutes as Kilmurry Ibrickane laid siege on the home goal and raided for 2-2 in three minutes as a brace of Moloney frees were accentuated by goals for Amy Sexton and Karen Galvin at 4-06 to 2-12.
Crucially St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield never reached for the panic button and after former Leitrim footballer Roisin Fowley settled the hosts with successive points, another flowing move involving Aoibhinn O’Loughlin, Aisling Hannan and Fiona Tuohy was played into chief threat O’Driscoll to finish at Katie McMahon’s near post at 5-08 to 2-12.
Ciara McCarthy saw a shot agonisingly whistle past the far left post while Ciara Hickey had a subsequent rebound drift just wide but the Parish had no such woes as they completed their 2-4 to 0-1 finale with an injury-time goal through substitute Katie Callaghan.

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Amy Lenihan; Aisling McMahon, Siofra Ní Chonaill, Anna Courtney; Aisling Hannan, Hannah Doyle, Lyndsay Clarke; Aisling Reidy, Eimear Clune; Shauna Moloney, Sophie Torpey, Aoibhinn O’Loughlin; Fiona Tuohy, Eabha O’Driscoll, Roisin Fowley
Subs: Roisin Cahill for McMahon (36), Katie Callaghan for Hannan (55), Siun McNamara for O’Loughlin (59)

Scorers: Eabha O’Driscoll (2-4, 1f); Roisin Fowley (1-4, 2f); Lyndsay Clarke, Aoibhinn O’Loughlin, Katie Callaghan (1-0 each); Eimear Clune, Sophie Torpey (0-1 each)

Kilmurry Ibrickane: Katie McMahon; Rachel Tubridy, Rebecca Doohan, Aoife Martin; Kayla Darcy, Joanna Doohan, Niamh Miller; Sophie Daly, Ciara McCarthy; Caitlyn O’Connor, Amy Sexton, Ciara Hickey; Ellie Hanrahan, Chloe Moloney, Karen Galvin Subs: Dympna Garrahy for O’Connor (HT), Emma Coughlan for Tubridy (55), Abbie Cushen for Galvin (57)

Scorers: Chloe Moloney (0-9, 6f); Amy Sexton, Karen Galvin (1-1 each); Ellie Hanrahan, Ciara McCarthy (0-1 each)

Player of the Game: Eabha O’Driscoll (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)

Referee: Noel Quinn
(Gort)