Longford Senior ‘B’ champions Clonguish lose out to Shelmalier (Wexford)
Ladies Football Leinster Club Intermediate Championship Quarter-Final
Shelmalier (Wexford) . . . 4-6 Clonguish . . . 1-8
The home side got off to a great start to lead by 0-3 to 0-0 with the early points coming from Ali Magan, Katelyn McKeon and Megan Glennon but they ended up trailing by 3-4 to 0-5 at the break.
Aine Lacey scored the first goal for Shelmalier in the 13th minute and a couple of more green flags were raised by the experienced Wexford team in the closing stages of the first half through Ailis Neville (a cracking strike) and Deirdre McMahon.
The McMahon goal in stoppage time after a shot from Kellie Kearney rebounded off the crossbar was a real killer blow but the visitors failed to register another score until the 25th minute of the second half when corner-forward Neville found the back of the net for the second time in a slick counter-attack.
Clonguish had stormed back to close the gap to just two points (3-4 to 1-8) with a well-taken goal from Ella Jackson in the 51st minute putting the pressure on Shelmalier but the visitors produced a strong finish to score 1-2 without reply to clinch a semi-final spot.
Without Aoife Darcy, Hannah Glennon, Ciara McKeon and Ciara Sutton who all featured in the 2023 county senior championship final against Longford Slashers, this was always going to be a real uphill battle for Clonguish while regular full-forward Hannah Burke was unable to start due to injury but she was brought on in the final quarter of the game.
CLONGUISH: Aoife Cooney; Catriona Moore, Maria Kelleher, Shauna Burke (0-1); Mairead Moore, Ella Duggan, Teni Alaba; Katelyn McKeon (0-1), Ailbhe McGowan; Megan Glennon (0-1), Niamh Darcy, Ali Magan (0-2); Ciara Healy (0-1), Ella Jackson (1-1), Kamille Burke (0-1).
Subs used (second half):- Hannah Burke for A McGowan; Maria Crossan for T Alaba; Anna Flynn for S Burke.
SHELMALIER: Sadbh McCarthy; Deirdre Byrne, Sarah Harding Kenny, Ciara Neville; Eleanor Neville, Roisin Murphy, Beth Malone; Shauna Murphy, Kellie Kearney (0-1); Siobhan Cloake, Clara Donnelly (0-1), Ciara Donohoe; Deirdre McMahon (1-2), Aine Lacey (1-0), Ailis Neville (2-2, points from frees).
Subs used (second half):- Eleanor Lacey for C Donohoe; Ellie Roche for C Neville.
Referee: Ciaran Groome (Offaly).