Gabriel Rangers come out on top in titantic struggle

GABRIEL RANGERS WIN INTERMEDIATE CSHIP IN EXTRA-TIME

It
was a cruel exit for Inch Rovers in this scintillating Intermediate
championship final on Saturday in Ballineen when they lost 1-9
2-8. With a minute remaining in extra-time, Gabriel Rangers trailed
by a point and unsuspectingly snatched victory when a long distance
free from Claire OBrien found itself in the roof of the net. Battles
were sprinkled across the pitch and the contest was evenly spread
but the difference was Gabriels wider arsenal of weapons. Inch
were stunned when Nollaig Cleary goaled on the second minute but
settled well through the consistency of Ann Marie and Angela Walsh.

The tempo was fast and it was evident both wanted to make an impact.
Recovering well, Inch had points from Jessica Power, Siobhn Kearney
and Elaine Walsh but in the second quarter Gabriels found their
rhythm. Christine Deasy and Sinead OLeary tightened the hatches
and with Deirdre Cotter getting into space, ball was flowing freely
to the danger areas and Gabriels led 1-3 0-4 at the half. The
pendulum swung in Inchs favour with a Niamh Walsh goal just after
the restart. Both teams were subject to sin-binning offences but
remained par until the final fifteen when Inch went ahead through
Power and Keohane points. Pressure mounted but Ann Regan and Deirdre
Ward were solid for Gabriels but a trail of saves by Catherine
Moynihan kept her side in contention.

Tension mounted when Claire O Brien reduced the deficit to one
with a minute remaining but when captain Clodagh ODriscoll saw
the sin-bin, loss looked inevitable. That is until cleverly Cleary
pointed in injury time (1-6 1-6). Frees dominated the first period
of extra-time, OBrien picking off two while Keohane added one
and at the turn around Inch trailed 1-7 1-8.

Again Inch attacked on the restart and despite great defending
from Verona ODriscoll, they went ahead through Elaine Walsh. Gabriels
looked doomed again with 60seconds remaining but a free on the
left flank saw luck take shape. OBrien launched a high ball into
the crowded square and miraculously it found the net. There was
nothing Inch could have done to change their destiny and at the
whistle they stood unified in shock and despair. Gabriels couldnt
believe they had escaped and celebrated their win with sheer relief.
Scorers for Gabriel Rangers: C OBrien 1-4(1-3 frees), N
Cleary 1-2, D Cotter and M Westwood 0-1 each.
Scorers for Inch Rovers: C Keohane 0-4 (0-2 free), N Walsh
1-0, E Walsh and J Power 0-2 each and S Kearney 0-1.

GABRIEL RANGERS: C Moynihan, C Deasy, A Regan, E Regan,
V ODriscoll, S OLeary, S Dinneen, E Cotter, D Ward, M Westwood,
C ODriscoll, D Cotter, C OBrien, C Daly, N Cleary.
INCH ROVERS: C Harnedy, L Dorrian, C Walsh, R Guerin, J
Power, A Walsh, A Walsh, AM Walsh, C OKeeffe, S Kearney, E Walsh,
S Smiddy, K Walsh, C Keohane, N Walsh.
Referee: J Kelleher (Donoughmore)

FIXTURES
Saturday 10 September TG4 Senior All-Ireland semi-finals
O Moore Park, Portlaoise Cork V Mayo (2.30pm)
Dublin V Galway (4.00pm)
Tickets: Adults 15, Students 7,
OAPs/U12s free of charge.

Mary White (PRO, Cork Ladies Football)