Emyvale claim third All-Ireland Senior Club 7s title with revenge Final victory over Banner Ladies

EMYVALE claimed their third All-Ireland Senior Sevens Ladies Football Championship title following a hectic day of action at Naomh Mearnóg and St. Sylvesters GAA Clubs in Dublin on Saturday.

The Monaghan club delivered their first All-Ireland Sevens success since 2015, following a 10-6 to 1-10 final win over The Banner from Clare, who had collected the previous two titles, and beaten Emyvale in the 2018 Final.

Emyvale booked their place in their fourth decider in five years, after accounting for Donaghmoyne by 4-4 to 3-6 in an all-Monaghan semi-final.

The Banner also had a point to spare in their last-four encounter, on a 2-7 to 3-3 score-line against Westport from Mayo.

Captain Ciara McAnespie fired five goals for Emyvale in the final, including two in the opening half, as her side led by 5-4 to 1-5 at the break.

Grainne McNally also found the net twice in the opening half, with Nicola Fahy registering her side’s fifth goal.

Yvonne Nolan hit the net for The Banner just before the break, but the Clare outfit found it tough.

They registered the opening point of the second half through Louise Henchy, but Emyvale powered back with 3-1 unanswered inside a three-minute spell, including two McAnespie goals.

The Banner only managed three further points, with Emyvale continuing to prove goal hungry.

McAnespie brought her tally of ‘green flags’ to five; before Alex Mulligan grabbed their tenth goal late on.

Claregalway retained the Senior Shield title, in a titanic encounter, with a 1-16 to 3-9 win over Bryansford after extra-time in the final.

The Galway side booked their place in the decider following a 4-11 to 3-4 win over Kinsale; while Bryansford reached the final for the second time in four years, following an 8-7 to 4-8 win over Maigh Cuilinn.

The final produced end-to-end football, with the sides dead-locked at 0-5 apiece at half-time in normal time, and again inseparable at the end of normal-time.

This was after Yvonne Boushel fired an equalising goal deep in injury-time, to ensure the score read: Claregalway 1-10 Bryansford 2-7.

Bryansford were strongest in the first period of extra-time, and led by 3-9 to 1-12 at the break, but they failed to score on the restart.

Claregalway fired four unanswered points in the closing period, including an injury-time winner from Captain Deirdre Brennan.

Abbeyside became the first Waterford club to claim the Intermediate Cup title since 2002, with a 10-8 to 2-2 win over Templemore in the final.

O’Neill Shamrocks ensured Intermediate Shield honours were going to Monaghan for the first time, thanks to a 5-4 to 1-8 final win over John Mitchels from Liverpool.

Junior Championship success went to Cork side Douglas, after a slender 5-10 to 6-6 final win over Grattan of Longford.

Naomh Columba, Donegal were crowned Junior Shield champions, after beating 2018 champions Ballyboughal, Dublin by 5-9 to 3-7 in the decider.

Meanwhile, St Ergnat’s of Moneyglass retained the Chill Insurance Under 14 All-Ireland Cup title with a 6-2 to 1-5 final win over Kilcullen from Kildare at Kilmacud Crokes GAA Club.

Castleblayney took Plate honours, following a 3-5 to 2-3 final win over Omagh St. Enda’s in the final.

FINAL RESULTS
Senior C’ship: Emyvale (Monaghan) 10-6 The Banner (Clare) 1-10
Senior Shield: Claregalway (Galway) 1-16 Bryansford (Down) 3-9 AET
Inter C’ship: Abbeyside (Waterford) 10-8 Templemore (Tipperary) 2-2
Inter Shield: O’Neill’s Shamrocks (Monaghan) 5-4 John Mitchels (Liverpool) 1-8
Junior C’ship: Douglas (Cork) 5-10 Grattan (Longford) 6-6
Junior Shield: Naomh Columba (Donegal) 5-9 Ballyboughal (Dublin) 3-7
Under 14 Cup: St Ergnats Moneyglass (Antrim) 6-2 Kilcullen (Kildare) 1-5
Under 14 Plate: Castleblayney (Monaghan) 3-5 Omagh St. Enda’s (Tyrone) 2-3