Murphy to the fore as O’Loughlins get the better of high-scoring Shamrocks

O’Loughlin Gaels opened their Intermediate Championship with an eight-point win over the Shamrocks (Ballyhale) in St John’s Park last Sunday morning

O’Loughlin Gaels were first to score through Aoife Dillon in the first minute with a point from play. Leah Aylward equalised from a 45 metre free before Emily Shortall pointed from play for Ballyhale. Laura Murphy equalised with a fine point from play for the city side.

O’Loughlin’s then hit the next five points without reply through Laura Greene (2) and Laura Murphy (0-3, one free).

In the 17th minute, Ballyhale got in for their first goal. Edel Frisby took a shot but it was blocked. Undeterred, Frisby laid the sliotar off to Dearbhla Doyle, who rifled it to the back of the net. Two minutes later, Doyle added a point for Ballyhale after Sadhbh Shefflin found her with a neat pass.

Over the next 10 minutes, both teams tried to add to their tallies, but both defences stood strong.

Heading towards the interval, Aoife Dillon slotted over a point from play for O’Loughlins to leave the half time score 0-8 to 1-3 in favour of the city side.

At the start of the second half, Sadhbh Shefflin scored a great point from near the dressing room sideline

Aisling Butler and Laura Greene tacked on a point each for O’Loughlin’s, but then in the 34th minute, Lauryn Devereux got in for Ballyhale’s second goal to level the match (0-10 to 2-4).

Laura Murphy slotted over a point to put O’Loughlins ahead again, but they didn’t stay there for long. The game had moved into the 38th minute when Dearbhla Doyle took a shot towards the O’Loughlin’s goal. The sliotar looped over the goalkeeper’s head and dropped into the back of the net, putting Ballyhale two points ahead.

O’Loughlin’s didn’t panic, however, and were back on level terms within three minutes thanks to points from Danielle Quigley and Laura Murphy

Then the city side hit a purple patch, shooting 2-2 without reply. Aisling Butler and sub Kate Lawless scored points before Laura Greene hit a rasper of a shot past the Ballyhale netminder in the 48th minute. This was followed a minute later by a like score from Abigail Egan, who latched on to the sliotar after the initial shot was blocked out and fired it to the net to put O’Loughlin’s 2-15 to 3-4 ahead.

The Shamrocks tried to rally, but couldn’t close in on their rivals. When Sadhbh Shefflin hit a powerful shot at the O’Loughlins goal it seemed to be heading for the bottom corner of the net, but Kate Furlong got down and diverted it past the post for a 45.

Shefflin converted the resulting 45, but Emma Poyntz hit back with a point for O’Loughlins after her initial shot had been blocked down.

Ballyhale substitute Grace Walsh tacked on a point from play before Dearbhla Doyle scored her third goal. Laura Murphy added another two points for the city side before O’Loughlins substitute Ruth Crowley slotted over two points near the road sideline to finish the scoring and leave the score 2-20 to 4-6.

O’Loughlin Gaels play Conahy in Jenkinstown on Sunday at 11am while Ballyhale have a bye.

Teams and scorers

O’Loughlin Gaels – Laura Murphy (0-8, 0-3 frees); Laura Greene (1-3); Abigael Egan (1-0); Aoife Dillon, Aisling Butler, Ruth Crowley (0-2 each); Danielle Quigley, Emma Poyntz, Kate Lawless (0-1 each).

Shamrocks – Dearbhla Doyle (3-1); Lauryn Devereux (1-0); Sadhbh Shefflin (0-2, 0-1 45); Leah Aylward (0-1, free); Emily Shortall, Grace Walsh (0-1 each).

O’Loughlin Gaels – Kate Furlong, Jen Holohan, Iveta Vasiliauskaite, Siofra O’Leary, Riona Crowley, Danielle Quigley, Jen O’Keeffe, Laura Greene, Laura Murphy, Emma Poyntz, Aisling Butler, Ena Lawlor, Aoife Dillon, Abgail Egan, Aoife Shealy.

Subs: Ruth Crowley for Aoife Dillon, Aoibhe Quinn for Aoife Shealy, Kate Lawless for Ena Lawlor, Neasa Gawley for Iveta Vasiliauskaite, Ailbhe Galwey for Siofra O’Leary.

Shamrocks – Sarah Walsh, Sienna Drennan, Olivia O’Keeffe, Shanelle Mullen, Taylor Aylward, Louise Hearne, Marita Butler, Ava Shefflin, Leah Aylward, Bri O’Donoghue, Edel Frisby, Sadhbh Shefflin, Dearbhla Doyle, Lauryn Devereux, Emily Shortall.

Subs: Grace Walsh for Ava Shefflin, Chloe Lowry for Marita Butler.