Branagan to the fore as Graiguecullen win their first ever Laois LGFA Intermediate Championship

Graiguecullen made history in Annanough GAA on Saturday evening as they powered past St Brigid’s to capture their first ever Intermediate Championship title. In a tight opening half, the sides were neck and neck and Graiguecullen took a narrow 1-5 to 1-4 lead at the break.

After the restart Graiguecullen took control, with O’Neill and Walsh unerring from placed balls and Branagan clinical in front of goal. The lively forward struck a hat-trick in the second half to seal the victory, sparking huge celebrations as Graiguecullen booked their place in the Leinster Club Championship.

The first score came about when Kelly O’Neill pointed from a placed ball with Lauren Walsh also pointed a free a minute later. Lucie O’Reilly opened St Brigid’s account, raising a white flag. A shot from O’Neill dropped into the square where Mia Branagan was waiting to put it away for her first goal of the game while Walsh added a score from play. 

St Brigid’s brought the game back level when O’Reilly pointed a free and Mellissa Jacob also split the posts. Kelly Farrell was taken down by Caoimhe Brennan in the square which allowed Farrell to convert the penalty herself. Caoimhe Simms had a goal scoring opportunity but a fine save from Maryann O’Neill sent the ball out for a 45’. 

St Brigid’s worked the 45’ well and earned a free which was pointed by O’Reilly putting them a point ahead which the only time in the game they went ahead. A free from Walsh and Jade Nolan adding her name to the scoreboard gave Graiguecullen a single point lead at the break, (1-5 to 1-4). 

 Graiguecullen were first off, the bat pointing three in a row within five minutes of the restart. O’Neill fired over two frees while Walsh added her fourth point. O’Reilly pointed her third and final free of the game as Graiguecullen responded with 1-2 on the hop. Walsh pointed two, one from a placed ball while Mia Branigan converted a penalty after being brought down by Aine Lacey as she was taking a shot at goal. The foul also saw Lacey receive a 10-minute sin bin in the 48th minute. 

Simms pointed her side’s last score of the game in the 49th minute and from here, Graiguecullen made sure there was no more County Final heartbreak as they well and truly put the game to bed. O’Neill pointed three in a one with one coming from a free.

Ashlee Smith was bearing down on goal, her shot took a deflection, but Branagan was alert and rattled the net from the rebound. Nolan added her second of the contest before Branagan took on her player and fired to the back of Brophy’s net for a fourth time. 

The roar of the crowd in Annanough when the full-time whistle was blown showed the support the Graiguecullen community brought to celebrate the team’s their first ever Intermediate Championship. They will face the winners of Meath and Offaly in a Leinster quarter-final, which will take place on Saturday, October 18. 

FINAL SCORE

Graiguecullen 4-14 

St Brigid’s 1-6

SCORERS — Graiguecullen: Mia Branagan 4-0 (1-0 peno), Lauren Walsh (0-3 frees) and Kelly O’Neill (0-4 frees) 0-6 each, and Jade Nolan 0-2. St Brigid’s: Lucie O’Reilly 0-4 (0-3 frees), Kelly Farrell 1-0 peno, Caoimhe Simms and Mellissa Jacob 0-1 each. 

GRAIGUECULLEN: Maryann O’Neill; Izzy Humphries, Caoimhe Brennan, Sara Kerfah; Sally Amond, Georgina Donovan, Jasmine Kinsella; Caoimhe Fitzpatrick, Jade Nolan; Lauren Walsh, Mags McEvoy, Emer Cawley; Mia Branagan, Kelly O’Neill, Ella Byrne. Subs: Kathlyn Timmons for Amond (21 min), Hanna Kerfah for Humpries (39 min), and Ashlee Smith for Byrne (53 min). 

ST BRIGID’S: Lizzy Brophy; Tessa Harris Byrne, Kate Wall, Katie O’Reilly; Aine Lacey, Lisa Walsh, Ciara Dolan; Meabh Gallagher, Mellissa Jacob; Lucie O’Reilly, Emma Hickey, Jessica Byrne; Caoimhe Simms, Maeve Phelan, Kelly Farrell. Subs: Anna Maguire for Hickey (44 min), Laura Baldwin for Byrne (45 min), Holly Amond for K. O’Reilly (55 min), Kate Fenlon for Farrell (60 min), and Ella Murphy for Doran (64 mins). 

Referee: Eoghan O’Neill

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