THE EXPERIENCE GATHERED by the ladies football stars of Mourneabbey and Donaghmoyne in recent years was to prove decisive as the two sides came through two very difficult All-Ireland club semi finals.
The sides will meet in the senior decider in Parnell Park on 6 December.
Last year’s beaten finalists, Mourneabbey hosted Galway’s Kilkerrin Clonberne in Cork in what proved to be a brilliant encounter which the Rebel County side edged by a single point.
The first heavy blow was landed by Mourneabbey through Eimear Harrington who showed plenty of soccer skills to finish to the net. However, young Galway star Olivia Divilly immediately responded with a point to being the sides back level. Mourneabbey edged into a two-point lead at half time thanks to points from Doireann O’Sullivan and Bríd O’Sullivan.
The second half started with a flurry of action as both sides traded early goals before Annette Clarke showed typical composure when presented with a chance from the penalty spot to slide the ball into the net leaving the Galway club trailing by two with Aisling O’Sullivan sent to the sin-bin.
Kilkerrin Clonberne made use of the extra player to draw the game level at 2-10 each but they soon lost Aoife McStay to the sin-bin themselves. In a tense finish it was to be the Cork All-Ireland winning captain, Ciara O’Sullivan, who held her nerve for what was to be the match-winning point to send Mourneabby back into the decider.
Donaghmoyne needed all of their vast experience against first-time Leinster champions, Foxrock Cabinteely, to book their return to the club final. The Dublin club showed their appetite for the battle as they hit the front early on through their key attacker, Amy Ring. However, Donaghmoyne responded after four minutes with their goal, a score that was to prove decisive. Catríona McConnell was to prove to be brilliant from frees for Donaghmoyne and her accuracy was key to their victory as she pushed the Ulster champions further ahead after 18 minutes, four-time Allstar Sinead Goldrick swapped points with Catriona McConnell to make it 1-06 to 0-05 at the break.
Donaghmoyne are experts at closing out a game and they showed that in the second half as they restricted the Dublin club to just two points both from Amy Ring. Cora Courntey brilliantly marshalled a watertight Donaghmoyne defence as Fiona Lafferty and Courtney got their two points in the second half to send the 2012 champions back to the decider.
The Intermediate Final will be contested at Parnell Park on 6 December by Milltown from Westmeath who had 10 points to spare over Glenamaddy/Williamstown. They will face the exciting young Cahir side who were impressive 5-15 to 1-08 winners against Glenelly.
The Junior final will see the Bantry Blues from Cork take on Meath’s Dunboyne on 5 December after they both came through their semi finals.
Senior Ladies All Ireland Club Semi Finals
Mourneabbey (Cork) 2-11 Kilkerrin Clonberne (Galway)
Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) 1-08 Foxrock Cabinteely (Dublin) 0-07
Intermediate Ladies All Ireland Club Semi Finals
Milltown (Westmeath) 1-12 Glenamaddy/Williamstown (Galway) 0-05
Cahir (Tipperary) 5-15 Glenelly (Tyrone) 1-08
Junior Ladies All Ireland Club Semi Finals
Bantry Blues (Cork) 0-10 Steelstown (Derry) 0-06
Maigh Cuilinn (Galway) 2-07 Dunboyne (Meath) 2-19
