Galway's Moycullen claim Connacht intermediate club title

Moycullen (Galway) 6-23
St. Marys (Sligo)  5-04

A haul of 1-6 from 19-year-old midfielder Aine Nic Donnachadha helped Galway champions Moycullen to run out comfortable winners over St. Marys of Sligo in Sunday’s Connacht intermediate club final at the St. Croans GAA pitch in Roscommon.

It was the Sligo side who had started the brighter when Keighleigh Cawley pointed in the second minute.

St. Marys won the next kick-out and a well-worked move was brilliantly finished to the back of the Moycullen net by Sarah McMoreland.

Moycullen’s first goal came from a penalty when Molly Ni Eidhin was fouled on her way to goal.

Megan Ni Dhabhorain calmly placed the ball past Sarah Keaney in the Mary’s goal. A badly placed kick-out led to Moycullen’s second goal when Katie Ni Artuir found herself in behind the St. Marys defence and she placed the ball under the onrushing goalkeeper Sarah Keaney.

Molly Ni Eidhin tagged on a point from a 14m free to leave a goal between the sides with ten minutes played.

St. Marys came back at Moycullen and in the twelfth minute they got their second goal, and again it came from the talented Sarah McMoreland.

St Marys captain Karen Maloney then pointed from a 20m to give St. Marys a badly needed one-point lead.

St. Marys would not score again for the next 28 minutes and in that time Moycullen put four goals and sixteen points on the scoreboard, ending this game as a contest.

Credit to St. Marys, they played until the end and scored three goals in the last ten minutes.

Two came from Emma Hansberry, and one from Amy Gerrity.

Karen Maloney completed the scoring for the Sligo side with a pointed free.

Moycullen added a further seven points in the last ten minutes, four from Shannon Ni Cheidigh, two from Catherine Ni Chonnaire and one from the deserved player of the match, Aine Nic Dhonnchadha.

Moycullen now move onto play the Munster Champions, Kinsale of Cork, in the All Ireland semi-final (November 18/19).

Maigh Cuilinn Team : Roisin Ni Chonghaile, Emily Ni Mhaolaoidh, Jean Ni Eidhin, Cait De La, Fiona Ni Fhartharta, Laura Ni Chorcrain, Aisling Ni Chorcrain, Emma Ni Artuir, Aine Nic Dhonnachada (1-6), Katie Ni Artuir (1-0) Ailbhe Ni Dhabhorain (0-1), Catherine Ni Chonnaire (0-5),Megan Ni Dhabhorain (1-1), Molly Ni Eidhin (1-2), Evvie Ni Leamhna (1-1).

Subs: Taylor Breathnach, Amy Ni Dhughain ©, Shannon Ni Cheidigh (1-6), Megan Ni Dhomhnaill, Ellen De Phaor, Ailbhe De Phaor, Eileen Ni Dhonnachu, Ruth Ni Bhrolchain, Ilena Ni Dhabhorain, Ella De Faoite, Sinead Nic Dhonnchadha, Aoife Ni Dhonnabhain.

Manager: Johnny Mac Artuir

Mentors: BRID Ui Chonghaile, Monica Ui Chorcrain, David Mac Artuir, Rory O Nuain, Rachel Ni Loideain,

Physio: Lucia Ni Fhloinn.

St.Marys Team: Sarah Keaney, Hayley Kilgallon, Leah Rooney, Aoife Connolly, Emma O Connell, Sadbh Brennan, Aoife Gilroy, Aileen Ruane, Keighleigh Cawley (0-1), Amy Gerrity (1-0),  Karen Maloney ©(0-3), Michaela Gaffney, Emma Hansberry(2-0), Sarah McMoreland (2-0),Ruth Monaghan.

Subs: Kareen Lynch, Emma Gallagher, Laura Maloney, Ali Dykes, Lisa Martyn, Hannah Monaghan, Sarah Rooney, Sinead Ledwith, Yasmin Connolly, Tammy McGwynne, Lana Nevin, Andrea Flynn, Orla Gavin. Cecille Mourin, Kareen Morgan.

Manager: Shane Breheny

Mentors: Sinead Corcoran, Mark Breheny, Peadar Nilland

Physio: Rachael Skeffington

Referee: Garryowen McMahon (Mayo)