Naomh Columba go down fighting against Ballyshannon
Ladies Intermediate Championship
19 July 2009
Naomh Columba 1-8
Aodh Ruadh 2-7
Report by Catherine Lloyd.
The Intermediate Ladies travelled to Glen on Sunday 19th July, in their ongoing bid for championship glory. While the last two games saw the Ernesiders dispose of their opponents in a clinical manner this tie was an entirely different affair.
The tension was palpable as both teams stepped on the field with an elusive place in the championship final at stake. From the first ball it was clear that the home side were not letting the visitors away with an easy victory.
Indeed it was the home side who drew first blood, sending a point sailing over the bar. This was immediately answered by one sent over by Aodh Ruadh. It was a hotly contested first half with neither side giving an inch.
At one stage it looked as though the visitors were going to pull away from the Glen side as they surged ahead, sinking two goals into the net in quick succession.
However the home team never gave up and their efforts were rewarded late in the first half when a free which struck the upright was quickly blasted into the back of the net. When the teams left the field at half time it was all square:
Half time score: Aodh Ruadh: 2-2, Naomh Columba: 1-5
The second half was a scrappy affair and tempers flared both on and off the pitch. Both teams worked hard in defence and the scores were hard come by as Aodh Ruadh and Naomh Columba fought tooth and nail for every ball.
However, the tension all came to boiling point when an unfortunate incident saw a player from Naomh Columba receive a yellow card, sending her to the sin bin for ten minutes. This was not to be the end of the rough undercurrent which ran throughout the second half.
Aodh Ruadh had a free player, but not for long when in a bizarre turn of events an injured Aodh Ruadh player also saw yellow after a nasty collision.
Both teams pushed on and the Aodh Ruadh lead was cut to just one point. It seemed that the Ballyshannon side had more in them, slotting home another point as well as producing some fine saves in the back line.
It was relief all round for the visitors when on the 33rd minute the referee blew the final whistle with Aodh Ruadh sealing their victory on a two point margin and thus securing their place in another championship final.
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Aodh Ruadh Team: Lorraine Roper; Catherine Lloyd, Dearbhaile McNeill, Shauna Slevin; Grainne McCosker, Katie Flood, Joanne Patton; Sarah Patton, Tanya O'Shea; Anna Rafferty, Donna Martin, Niamh Gallagher; Shona McGonigle, Emma McPhelim, Donna Mulligan; Annette Lloyd, Karol Foley, Fionnula Gill. |
Report Filed: 20 July 2009