Fermanagh to meet Roscommon in intermediate decider as Carlow and Antrim clash in junior final

TG4 All-Ireland Football Championships round-up

By John Fallon

Fermanagh will hope it is a case of third time lucky when they take on Roscommon in this year’s TG4 All-Ireland intermediate championship final at Croke Park on Sunday, August 2.

Fermanagh were beaten on the two occasions they previously reached the intermediate final but will hope to get their hands on the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup after edging out Down by 1-11 to 0-12 in the semi-final in Clones.

Eimear Smyth led the way for Fermanagh, scoring all of her side’s total other than one point. Smyth’s haul of 1-10 included just three frees.

Fermanagh will meet Roscommon in the final after they saw off the challenge of neighbours Westmeath by 2-14 to 2-10 in the other semi-final.

The game looked set to head to extra-time but Lauren Shanagher scored a goal and a free from Aisling Feely to secure Roscommon’s place in the final.

For Roscommon, who lifted the title in Mullingar in 2005 on the only other occasion they reached the intermediate decider, it will be a first trip to Croke Park since they won the junior crown there 25 years ago.

Antrim, runners-up last year, qualified for this year’s TG4 All-Ireland junior final when they held off a brave challenge from Sligo on a 3-14 to 2-13 scoreline at St. Tiernach’s Park in Clones.

Maria O’Neill scored 3-5 for Antrim who led by 2-9 to 0-9 at the break but they had to hold off a strong recovery from Sligo before booking their place.

They will meet Carlow in that final at Croke Park on Sunday, August 2, after their 4-7 to 1-7 win over Derry at Kingspan Breffni.

Goals from Amy Hanley, Brónagh Nolan and Aibha Kiernan in a blistering two-minute spell at the end of the first half catapulted Carlow 3-2 to 0-5 in front at half time and from there Ed Burke’s side never looked back.

Meanwhile, Waterford produced a strong finish to defeat Tipperary by 0-15 to 1-8 in the senior relegation playoff. The win ensures Waterford will be in the TG4 All-Ireland senior championship in 2027 while Tipperary will drop to the intermediate grade.

And Galway are celebrating after seeing off Donegal by 3-11 to 1-9 to win the inaugural All-Ireland U-20 Championship with Alisha O’Malley hitting 2-8 in a superb display in Tubbercurry.

Results:

TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-finals:

Roscommon 2-14 Westmeath 2-10

Fermanagh 1-11 Down 0-12

TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship semi-finals:

Carlow 4-7 Derry 1-7

Antrim 3-14 Sligo 2-13

TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship relegation playoff:

Waterford 0-15 Tipperary 1-8

All-Ireland U-20 Championship final:

Galway 3-11 Donegal 1-9