Victories for Leitrim, Mayo

Leitrim 0-12, Boston Shamrocks 0-7

Sunday at Paddy’s field saw the return of Boston Shamrocks as they battled it out with Leitrim for advancement in the knockout tournament. When these teams met earlier they produced an exciting draw.

Leitrim were first to have possession of the ball, and began to move with it quickly up the field. As Leitrim forwards moved within the 20-yard-line with the ball they were fouled in possession, which resulted in a free that was put over the bar by Sadie Bolger. Boston found form after a couple of minutes and showed Leitrim how dangerous they could be with Georgina Grey kicking a beautiful point from the 30-yard-line.

The ball traveled up and down the pitch but Leitrim moved the ball quicker out of defense with great clearances from Colette O’ Sullivan and Connie Reddington. The Boston defense proved very tough, but the referee, having warned both teams at the start of the game, found that some of their tackling was too physical and therefore resulted in them conceding easy scores as Sadie Bolger had no problem in popping the ball over the bar from frees.

The fast pace of the game in the opening minutes did not diminish through out the half. Boston always looked dangerous when they came down the field, there play differed from that of Leitrim in that they preferred to move the ball down the field with short passes. The half score was 0-6 Leitrim, 0-5 Boston.

The second half began with more blazing fast pace from both teams under the intense heat of the day. Leitrim looked more determined in the second half, within the first minute of the second half Tracey Rice had the ball in her possession for a goal but hesitated and faltered. Tense time for Mary Ann Leane that caught some excellent balls in the square for Boston. Boston midfielders Emma Keane and Sandra Mannion found themselves being drawn into the Leitrim half-forward line too much in the second half. Mira Gorgan was proving to be a real thorn in their side. But Leitrim could not afford to underestimate this team; they clawed back a 6-point deficit at the last game. Full-forward for Boston Denise Dunion was screaming for the ball in the remaining five minutes of the game, she having produce 3 of the 5 points in the first half found a severe famine in the second half, and was only able to add one more to her tally.

Boston could not seem to stop Leitrim, who were playing great football in midfield and half-back defense. A great game which left players and spectators exhausted.

Leitrim scorers: Sadie Bolger 0-9 (6 points resulting from frees), Tracey Rice 0-1, Ann Marie McMunn 0-1, Mira Grogan 0-1. Player of the Game: Sadie Bolger. Other stars were Mira Grogan, Connie Reddington and AnnMarie McCrumlish, who had some wonderful saves in both halves.

Boston: Georgina Grey 0-1, Denise Dunion 0-4, Charlotte Curran 0-1, Liz O Shea 0-1. Player of the Game: Sandra Mannion. Kathleen O Donnell, Emma Keane, Denise Dunion and Liz O’ Shea were on top form for Boston on the day.

Mayo 0-13, Rockland 2-2

The first semifinal of the knockout for the Anne Kearney Cup was contested on Sunday by Mayo and Rockland. The hard ground and high temperatures tested the fitness level of both teams to the maximum. Rockland were unfortunate not to be able to field a full team and played the match with only 14 players. However, they played with the usual determination and by no means did Mayo have it easy.

Both teams enjoyed plenty of possession throughout the game. Rockland’s defense were under constant pressure as the Mayo forwards continued to look for and take their scores. Mayo’s Fiona Ward opened the scoreline with a point followed by points from Joanne McKenna, Ellen McGrail, Sharon Gallagher, Elaine Donovan, Cathy McKenna and Tara Holmes. Late in the first half Rockland’s Marie Daly sent a lobbing kick toward the Mayo goals which to her delight went under the bar for a goal leaving the half time score Mayo 0-9, Rockland 1-0.

Rockland started off the second half well with points from Claire Charlton and Sheila Tiffany. However, Mayo were not about to allow their lead to disintegrate that easily and Joanne McKenna added three points to her tally. An incident in the middle of the half that initially looked to be a booking led to Mayo’s Fiona Ward being sent off, which will probably leave her out of the final. Play continued with both sides on 14 players.

Both sides fought hard for the remainder of the game with both defenses working hard to keep the scores to a minimum. Ellen McGrail scored what was to be Mayo’s final point of the day. Rockland worked the ball down the field with great passing and were rewarded with a goal from Kerryann Galvin. With that the final whistle blew with Mayo victorious, putting them in the first-ever final. Their opponents in the Anne Kearney Cup final on Aug. 16 in Gaelic Park will be either Cavan or Leitrim, which will be contested next Sunday.

Best for the winners were Mary Toolan, Sharon Gallagher, Joanne McKenna, Elaine Donovan and Ellen McGrail.

For Rockland stars were Claire Charlton, Tara Loftus, KerryAnn Galvin, Joanne Hoenninger, Ann Marie Maye and M’bh Brennan.

Mayo scoers: Joanne McKenna 0-4, Fiona Ward 0-2, Ellen McGrail 0-2, Cathy McKenna 0-2, Elaine Donovan 0-1, Sharon Gallagher 0-1, Tara Holmes 0-1. Player of the game, Sharon Gallagher.

Rockland: Marie Daly 1-0, Claire Charlton 0-1, Sheila Tiffany 0-1, Kerryann Galvin 1-0. Player of the game, Tara Loftus.

Previews

Annie Kearney Knockout Cup

Semifinal

Sunday 1:30 p.m.

Cavan vs. Leitrim

We should be in for a great game here as Cavan and Leitrim battle for a place in the final of the Annie Kearney Cup against Mayo on Aug. 16th.

Leitrim are coming off their impressive win over Boston Shamrocks and are looking like the team of old. The pairing of Sadie Bolger and Mira Grogan in the middle of the field will be one to watch. Annmarie Snee and AnnMarie McMunn have the speed up front and Tracey Rice has shown that she is dangerous in front of the goals. In the back-line goalkeeper AnnMarie McCrumlish has been steady, with great assistance from full-back Ann McMurrow, Colette O’Sullivan and Connie Reddington.

Cavan too are coming off their win of the Sean Faherty Championship and know that they will be in for another tough match against Leitrim (the only team to beat them in the League). Olive Wilson, Geraldine Finn and Pauline Coleman will need to close down the Leitrim forwards and it will be interesting to see how Justine Clifford and Maggie Kavanagh handle the height advantage of Grogan. Look for Rosie O’Reilly and Ger Mahon to feed the ball into the impressive front line trio of Aishling Creighton, Deirdre Feeney and Karen Shalvey.