Laois Make Quarter Finals

 

First half performance helps Laois make Quarter Finals

 

TG4 Ladies All Ireland Championship Round 2

First half performance helps Laois make Quarter Finals

Laois 2 – 17 Sligo 2 – 7

A fruitful first half which yielded a total of 2 – 12 helped Laois in no small way to qualify for this year’s TG4 All Ireland Quarter Finals with this 10 point victory over Sligo on Saturday afternoon last in St Tiernach’s Park, Clones.

It’s a result that means that Sligo must beat Tyrone – winners by 3 – 11 to 0 – 9 over Donegal on Saturday last in Omagh – on Saturday evening next in Breffni Park, Cavan – throw in time 7.15 pm – to remain in this years Championship. When Sligo Look back on this performance they will find nothing but room for improvement for their next installment in this years Championship. Unless they do they will find themselves on the Championship scrapheap just like Kerry, Waterford & Roscommon now find themselves on after only 2 rounds.

Half Time on Saturday evening and had there not being a second game at the venue, the supporters would have been forgiven if they packed their bags, headed for the exits gates and went home for themselves, quiet simply Laois had the 3 points wrapped up as they led by 2 – 12 to 1 – 3. Indeed the scoreline could have been so different had the Yeats County shown the respect they did to the winners for long period in the opening 30 minutes.

The winners opened up a 1 – 4 to 0 – 0 lead by the 9th minute. The goal coming from Emer Fitzpatrick after Tracey Lawlor was allowed to run through the Sligo defence from her own half back line in the 3rd minute. Gemma O’Connor, Kathleen O;Reilly, Mary Kirwin and Tracey Lawlor added the points as Sligo were run ragget by the O’ Moore County.

It would take all of 11 minutes for Sligo to open their account as Therese Marren scored from play after being set up Noelle Gormley. Within minutes of Sligo’s opening point at the other end Tracey Lawlor added goal no 2 for Laois as once again Sligo were caught ball watching. At this junction the Yeats management decided it was time for change with Elaine O’Reilly introduced for Joanne O’Connell. For O’Connell it was rough justice as she was the unlucky one with a number of options that could have been changed more noticeable in the forward division.

In the 15th and 16th minutes came a mini revival for Sligo as Louise Brett pointed and Bernice Byrne goaled to narrow the gap back to 5 points. By this stage Sligo had lost Noelle Gormley to injury to add to their already list of injuries. That was as good as it was to get for the Yeats County as Mary Kirwin (3), Tracey Lawlor (3), Mary Casey and Noirin Kirwin added points for Laois to a sole Sligo response from Therese Marren – who carried an Injury into the game – to go in at half time 2 – 12 to 1 – 3 to the good.

Into the second half, Bernice Byrne punched a point in the 4th minute for Sligo but Laois would add two through Gemma O’Connor and Mary Kirwin to increase their lead by the 10th minute. An Imelda McNulty goal and points by McNulty and Karen Maloney gave Sligo some hope by the 16th minute. Over the next 5 minutes or so Noirin Kirwin and Tracy O’Hara exchanged points.

In the Final 5 minutes Anna Moore – introduced as a substitute – and Noirin Kirwin added points to put the icing on the cake for Laois as they ran out 2 – 17 to 2 – 7 winners and a place in the quarters Finals joining Mayo, Dublin, Cork & Armagh who also qualified over the weekend with one round of games to go.

Next up for Sligo is that do or die, win or burst game against Tyrone on Saturday evening next in Breffni Park, Cavan with a 7.15pm throw in. Going on Saturday’s performance, a serious improvement is required if they are to progress to the latter stages in this their first year in Senior Football. Given that a number of their players are either Injured, carrying injuries or are recovering from ones this game may very well be a bridge to far.

Scorers Sligo: Bernice Byrne 1 – 1, Imelda McNulty 1 – 1, Therese Marren 0 – 2, Louise Brett, Karen Maloney and Tracy O’Hara 0 – 1each.

Scorers Laois: Tracey Lawlor 1 – 4, Mary Kirwin 0 – 5, Emma Fitzpatrick 1 – 0, Noirin Kirwin 0 – 3, Gemma O’Connor 0 – 2, Kathleen O’Reilly, Mary Casey and Anna Moore 0 – 1 each.

Sligo: Katrina Connolly, Grainne O’Gara, Angela Doohan, Martina Keane, Tracy O’ Hara, Cammie Kennedy, Joanne O’Connell, Bernice Byrne, Sinead Mc Tiernan, Louise Brett, Sandra Rowley, Karen Maloney, Therese Marren, Noelle Gormley, Marion O’Donnell.

Subs used: Imelda Mc Nulty, Elaine O’Reilly, Etna Flanagan.

Laois: Bernie Deegan, Laura Hyland, Emma McEvoy, Alison Millar, Angela Casey, Patricia Fogarty, Aisling Quigley, Mary Casey, Kathleen O’Reilly, Martha Kirwin, Noirin Kirwin, Tracey Lawlor, Gemma O’Connor, Mary Kirwin, Emer Fitzpatrick.

Subs used were Anna Moore, Claire O’ Connell, Shona Barry, Deirdra Moore.

Referee: Eileen Jones (Tyrone)

 

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