Cavan Impress in victory over Down

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies intermediate football championship semi-final

 

Cavan 4-12

Down 0-11

 

BRONAGH Sheridan and Gráinne Smith tormented Down as Cavan booked their place in the TG4 All-Ireland ladies intermediate football final on Saturday afternoon.

The lethal forwards bagged 3-6 between them as Cavan, beaten finalists in 2011, scored a comprehensive 13-point victory on home soil at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Down, who registered 13 wides, were outclassed in a surprisingly one-sided semi-final and their misery was compounded by second half sin-binnings for captain Sinead Fegan and substitute Gráinne Kelly.

Cavan lost Ciara O’Reilly and Gráinne McGlade to the sin-bin in the first half but toothless Down, who won the Ulster semi-final clash between the sides, were unable to take advantage.

The end result was in little doubt from a long way out as Cavan set up a final meeting with Fermanagh or Tipperary at Croke Park on September 29.

All six of Cavan’s starting forwards got on the scoresheet as Sheridan (2-3) and Smith (1-3) ran riot in front of a vocal home support.

Sheridan, who won an All-Ireland intermediate club medal with London outfit Parnells last year, struck for the game’s opening goal in the tenth minute and Cavan led from there all the way to the finish.

Smith set up Roisin O’Keeffe for Cavan’s second goal midway through the first half and by half-time, nine points separated the sides as the Breffni girls led by 2-6 to 0-3.

Cavan could have added further goals in the first half but Down goalkeeper Katie Farrell did well to deny Doonan and Smith rattled a shot off the crossbar.

But Smith made no mistake three minutes after half-time, cutting in from the right touchline to net a brilliant solo goal.

And the roving forward turned provider for Sheridan’s second goal 12 minutes from time.

But this was much more than just a sound attacking performance from Cavan, as goalkeeper Caron Fay also produced an assured performance.

Rosie Crowe and captain Donna English, who was yellow-carded in the dying seconds, forged a solid midfield partnership but Sheridan and Smith will grab the headlines for their attacking exploits.

 

 

 

Scorers for Cavan: B Sheridan 2-3 (0-1f), G Smith 1-3, R O’Keeffe 1-0, A Doonan 0-2f, S Greene, M Sheridan, Claragh O’Reilly & E Galligan 0-1 each.

 

Scorers for Down: N Ferris 0-6 (5f), L Morgan 0-3, L Cunningham & C McArdle 0-1 each.

 

CAVAN: C Fay; Ciara O’Reilly, G McGlade, P Lynch; S Greene, A Cornyn, R Jordan; R Crowe, D English; Claragh O’Reilly, R O’Keeffe, M Sheridan; A Doonan, B Sheridan, G Smith.

 

Subs: C Grey for Clara O’Reilly (35), J Moore for Jordan (37), C Smith for Claragh O’Reilly (52), G Sheridan for M Sheridan (56) E Galligan for G Smith (56).

 

DOWN: K Farrell; C McKibbin, L Sharvin, O Boyle; H Murray, N McGowan, S Fegan; C Fitzpatrick, M Doherty; S McNamee, L Morgan, O Fegan; L Cunningham, K Trainor, N Ferris.

 

Subs: G Kelly for McNamee (34), G McClean for Cunningham (40), C McArdle for Doherty (56).

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