Ladies come up short against Naul's in championship opener
Intermediate Ladies Football Championship first round
19 July 2020
Aodh Ruadh 2-4
Saint Naul's 1-11
John Hughes reports from Father Tierney Park
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Saint Naul's came into this game as warm favourites, but Aodh Ruadh managed to stay in touch with the Mountcharles girls and will know they have capacity to build on this display and develop strongly over the coming games in the championship round robin stages.
The visitors began briskly and were three points up after just four minutes before Áine Gilmore fired over Aodh Ruadh's opener. Two minutes later there was change to the pre-match script as Briana Maher found the net with a sweetly struck left foot shot to propel the Shamettes into the lead. An Áine Gilmore free then stretched the advantage on 11 minutes.
Saint Naul's were playing against the breeze, but from there to the half time break their number 13 hit three successive frees to send her side in with a one point lead at the turn-around, 1-2 to 0-6.
Mountcharles edged further away with the first point on the restart, but a fabulous point from Caoimhe Keon on 36 minutes kept Aodh Ruadh very much in the hunt.
Saint Naul's began to make better use of the elements after that and hit 1-3 between the 38th to the 44th minute to take charge of the game.
Aodh Ruadh weren't done just yet though and a driving run from Áine Gilmore caused mayhem in the Naul's defence before Terri Gallagher got a boot the loose ball to prod home from a metre out and make it 2-3 to 1-11.
Saint Naul's responded with a point, but Aodh Ruadh were unlucky not to fashion a third goal, Tia McFarland having to be content with a point after being picked out by a great Áine Gilmore pass.
Aodh Ruadh had good displays from Sarah Gallagher at three, and Orlaith Gillespie and Andrea McGlynn in the half back line. Caoimhe Keon was phenomenal in the middle of the field, while up front Áine Gilmore constructed some nice spells of play and took some good scores with Terri Gallagher and Cáit Gillespie working hard to make themselves available too.
| Vital Statistics |
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| Teams |
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Aodh Ruadh Bridín Maguire; Shelly Loughlin, Sarah Gallagher, Anna Keon; Hannah Doherty, Orlaith Gillespie, Andrea McGlynn; Caoimhe Keon (0-1), Sarah Patton; Rebecca Gillespie, Cáit Gillespie, Áine Gilmore (0-2, 1f); Briana Maher (1-0), Meabh Rooney, Terri Gallagher (1-0). Subs: Kate Cunningham, Sarah Daly, Shauna Dolan, Katie Gallagher, Natasha Gormley, Síofra Hughes, Orla Keon, Bronagh Kelly, Gráinne Maguire, Roisín Maguire, Tia McFarland (0-1), Erin McLoughlin, Anna Rafferty, Mary Flora Scott, Ciarde Sheerin, Ríonach Sheerin. |
| Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters). |
Last modified: Monday, 20 July 2020 at 6:45pm