U-19 Ladies’ Championship Semi-final

Donaghmore / Ashbourne vs St Michael’s

Venue:              St Michael’s Carlanstown

Time:                12:20 PM

Referee:            Aisling Cleary

HT        Donaghmore / Ashbourne           1-7        St Michael’s      3-0

FT        Donaghmore / Ashbourne           2-16      St Michael’s      3-4

The Donaghmore / Ashbourne ladies ended the aspirations of the St Michaels’ ladies in their championship semi-final in Carlanstown today. The U-19’s have reached the final unbeaten, having also dispatched last year’s champions Royal Gaels in the preliminary rounds.

Donaghmore / Ashbourne got off to the dream start, winning the ball from throw in, and an excellent passing move from Maire O’ Shaughnessy in midfield, to Hayley Lawton, to Ali Leahy and thence to Maggie Randle, who coolly stuck the ball in the net, for a goal in the first minute. This was swiftly followed by a brace of points from Hayley Lawton, on the 3^rd and 8^th minutes respectively, either side of a pointed free from Ailish Moriarty on the 4 minute mark. Our defence, anchored as ever by Aoife O’ Rouke, of Sophie Geoghegan, Rachel Fenton, Grainne Field, Jeannie Donnelly and Shauna Hutton , did a fine  job of snuffing out attacks and  shielding goalkeeper Aideen Kenny. However, Aideen had to make a point blank stop inside the first ten minutes, an early warning of the home threat. A great block by Jeannie resulted in a St Michael’s ’45, but the resulting shot went wide. Siofra Cleary used her speed to great advantage, whether it be tracking back to assist the defence, or working on the wings to distribute the ball forward. Donaghmore had two further scores, a point each from Hayley Lawton and Michelle Peel on 12 and 14 minutes, before the home side registered their first score, a well – taken goal on the 15 minute mark. Ali Leahy, who had been supplier for at least two earlier scores, got on the scoresheet herself on 18 minutes, with a point of her own. We had two wides in a row, and then Maggie Randle was fouled in the square, resulting in a penalty to Donaghmore / Ashbourne on 21 minutes. Hayley pulled the shot just wide, having aimed for just inside the rightmost post. Kate Heffernan came on on 22 minutes for injured Aoife O’ Rourke, entering straight into the fray. An over- enthusiastic challenge on a St Michael’s player in our square led to a penalty for the some side on 24 minutes, resulting in a second goal for St Michael’s. Some great interplay between Michelle Peel, Caroline Brothwood and Hayley Lawton was rewarded with a Hayley point on 26 minutes. The action switched to the Donaghmore half, with a determined siege on the goal. A ’45 at 27 minutes gone went astray, but a shot on goal in the 29^th minute got St Michael’s right back in the game, despite the run of play and more scores by the visiting side, at the break the scoreline was 1-7 to 3-0, in favour of Donaghmore / Ashbourne.

Our midfield of Ailish and Maire were on their toes from the throw-in, winning the ball and working it up to Hayley via Siofra, but the shot went wide. Kate Heffernan slotted nicely into the defence, working the ball forward and working well with Maire, Ailish and Grainne also, to work the ball into a threatening position. Another great pass from Ali Leahy to Michelle Peel, resulted in another point for the visitors on 3 minutes. Grainne Field and Rachel Fenton battled valiantly in defence, with Rachel pulling off two fantastic blocks in succession, then working with Jeannie to get the ball to Caroline, who scored our second goal on 7 minutes. Ailish converted a free on 9 minutes, and this was followed directly by Shelby Leahy coming on in place of Ali Leahy, on 10 minutes. St Michael’s registered their first score of the second half on 11 minutes, with a well taken point. Michelle Peel, and Siofra, seemed to have the ability to be everywhere at once ! Michelle’s link – up play with the other forwards was pivotal . Donaghmore / Ashbourne came right back, with points from Ailish on 13 minutes, and a brace from Hayley, at 16 and 18 minutes, the second of which was the result of some sweet passing between Siofra, Shelby and Hayley. Another Ailish free on 18 minutes was immediately cancelled out by a St Michael’s point on 19 minutes. Our defence was back on the alert, with some great work from Kate, and a fine save from Aideen. Ailish converted another free on the 22^nd minute, directly followed by a St Michael’s point at 24 minutes. Another point from Hayley at 25 minutes gone, and Sophia Byrne and Kellie Fitzsimons came on for Maggie Randle and Sophie Geoghegan respectively, Grace O’ Sullivan coming on for Shauna Hutton on 27 minutes. Another great stop from Aideen in the Donaghmore / Ashbourne goal immediately preceded another Hayley point on 30 minutes, and a St Michael’s point on the 31^st minute. This proved to be the last action of the tie, with a final score of 2-16 to 3-4, in favour of the vistors.

Oldcastle of Clann nan Gael await in the final, time, date and venue tbc.

Team and scorer

R. Fenton, A. Kenny, A. O’ Rourke, S. Geoghegan, G. Field, J. Donnelly, S. Hutton, A. Moriarty (0,5 -4f) , M. O’ Shaughnessy, M. Randle (1,0), M. Peel (0,2), C. Brothwood (1,0), H. Lawton (0,8) , A. Leahy (0,1), S. Cleary. Subs K. Heffernan for O’ Rourke,S. Byrne for M. Randle, K. Fitzsimons for S. Geoghegan, G. O’ Sullivan for S. Hutton.