Miltown through to semi-final play-off

Miltown 4-8   Newmarket 3-11

Despite a draw in a most entertaining senior championship contest at Kilmihil on Sunday evening, Miltown advance as the top team from the B group to play Liscannor in play-off for the fourth semi-final spot in the senior championship.
When Miltown led by eight points at the interval they seemed to be heading for victory but credit to a fit Newmarket team. They played a blistering second half and it took two pointed frees from Karen Galvin to earn Miltown a share of the spoils.
Miltown started well and inside five minutes had opened up a five-point lead. Full-forward Sinéad Sexton pointed them ahead and soon after came their first goal when Laura Rynne finished to the net having being well placed from a quick free.
Niamh Pender stretched that lead to five before Newmarket, through the impressive Niki Kaiser, replied with two points. Carol O’Leary had an opportunity to level matters but a fine save from Siobhán Talty kept the winners in front.
The next 10 minutes produced three goals, the first of which was scored by Miltown captain, Michelle McCaw, to add to an earlier point. Then it was Newmarket through the outstanding Jenny O’Brien who like McCaw, hammered home a goal for her side having pointed a free beforehand. Next it was the turn of Miltown’s Sinéad Sexton to raise a green flag that she followed with a point.
Mitown now led 3-4 to 1-3 with over six minutes remaining in first half. Newmarket responded with three unanswered points, two frees from Jenny O’Brien while wedged in between was a Chloe Morey effort.
Miltown finished strongly. An injury time goal from dual star Fiona Lafferty and a point from Michelle McCaw saw them retire 4-5 to 1-6 ahead at the short whistle.
Newmarket knuckled down to business and made a number of attacks early in the half. Jenny Kelly was fortunate when a free in the sixth minute sailed in to the top of the Miltown net while Kelly reduced the gap to four with a pointed free. Karen Galvin had a Miltown point from a free, her sides first score of the half in the 10th.
Then Newmarket continued their comeback. Midfielder Áine O’Brien scored a fine goal to leave them just two adrift, 4-6 to 3-7. Team captain Carol O’Leary pointed for the blues and when county U-16 star Niki Kaiser added another there was just a point in it with over 10 minutes still on the clock.
Top scorer Jenny Kelly tacked on two fine points from play and with four remaining the lively Newmarket now led by two, 3-11 to 4-6. Miltown piled on the pressure in the closing minutes and can thank Karen Galvin who converted two frees to level the match.
This was a great second half display in particular from last year’s intermediate champions, who kept Miltown scoreless from play in the second half. Miltown were relieved to hear the final whistle and must be complimented on their first-half performance. However, they will need to play for the full 60 minutes if they are to have a serious chance against Liscannor next weekend.

Miltown: Siobhán Talty; Katie Curtin, Siobhán Lafferty, Karen Egan; Tara Rynne, Niamh Coyne, Clare Curtin; Fiona Lafferty (1-0), Bernie McGuire; Niamh Pender 0-1, Michelle McCaw (captain) (1-2), Aisling McCaw; Karen Galvin 0-3f, Sinéad Sexton (1-2), Laura Rynne (1-0).
Subs: Helen Burke for Karen Egan, Ciara Burke for Aisling McCaw, Sinead Griffin for Tara Rynne.
Newmarket: Áine Lawlor; Jane O’Leary, Iris Kaiser, Carol Kaiser; Aoife Griffin, Roisín McMahon, Aimee McInerney; Áine O’Brien (1-0), Chloe Morey (0-1); Jenny Kelly (2-6, 0-4f), Ruth Kaiser, Gemma McInerney; Laura McMahon, Carol O’Leary (captain) (0-1), Niki Kaiser (0-3).
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane).

Liscannor win to stay involved in title race

Liscannor 3-14   Cooraclare 1-8

This was a do-or-die match for both teams as the winner progressed to the quarter-finals to face either Miltown or Newmarket while the loser’s season ended. Both teams were well up for the match in lovely conditions in Doonbeg.
Liscannor started the better of the two teams with two unanswered points from Aishling Torpey.  However, Cooraclare fought back and Noreen McGuane pointed from some good frees. Liscannor came into the game again with more fine scores from Aisling Torpey and Áine Burke. Yvonne Flaherty at full-forward had a fine game and came in on the end of a long-range free from Áine Greene and palmed it into the back of the net.
Liscannor finished the half stronger and went in at half-time 1-7 to 0-6 ahead.  
The second half was all Liscannor and with an Áine Burke goal and more frees from Burke and Aishling Torpey, Liscannor went further ahead. A super run from corner-back Róisín Considine put Liscannor 3 -14 to 0-6 up. Cooraclare moved full-back Bernie Kelly out to midfield and this encouraged the Cooraclare ladies to a late rally. A penalty in injury time for Cooraclare left the final score 3-14 to 1-8.
Best for Cooraclare were Bernie Kelly, Róisín O’Looney, Aoife O’Gorman and Noreen McGuane. Liscannor had a superb team performance with fine free taking from Aishling Torpey and Áine Burke. Fiona Considine and her sister Róisín also played very well along with goal keeper Emma Slattery and Carmel Considine and Áine Greene.

Cooraclare: M Griffin; S Clarke, B Kelly, L Murrihy; L Lillis, O Reidy, S Burke; D O’Dwyer, R Looney; N McGuane, T Calllinan, A O’Gorman; R Garry, N Chambers, S Callinan. 
Subs: D Dillon for S Burke, M Lillis for R Garry.
Liscannor: Emma Slattery, Róisín Considine, Sinead Considine, Marian Considine, Fiona Considine, Carmel Considine, Róisín Rouine, Marie Considine, Áine Greene, Emer Hillery, Olivia Lucas, Clionadh Considine, Aishling Torpey, Yvonne Flaherty, Áine Burke
Subs: Mairead Healy for Emer Hillery, Doireann Hanrahan for Yvonne Flaherty, Catherine Hayes for Aishling Torpey, Sharon Roche for Áine Greene, Martina Scales for Carmel Considine.
Referee: Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane).