Kilmihil: 2.11 Cooraclare: 2.02

Intermediate League champions, Kilmihil, took on County Senior champions, Cooraclare, in the first round of the Senior League in Cooraclare on Saturday last. Driving rain and a gale force wind made conditions extremely difficult, but Kilmihil, who opted to play with the aid of the cross wind, got off to a great start with a point from Eimear Considine. Cooraclare’s Helen Quinn scored a point but after this it was all Kilmihil with a goal from Sarah Cahill, 2 points from Una Downes and a point from Ailish Considine. Rachel Garry scored a point to keep Cooraclare’s hopes alive but this was quickly followed by points from Sarah Cahill, Eimear Considine and Una Downes. Almost on the stroke of half time and against the run of play Cooraclare scored a goal from the boot of Helen Quinn leaving the score 1.08 to 1.02 in favour of Kilmihil. Any hopes of a Cooraclare comeback were quickly dashed as Kilmihil went on the attack from the throw in and piled on the pressure on the Cooraclare back line. The breeze and driving rain were making shooting very difficult but Kilmihil were relentless. Sarah Cahill put over another point and this was followed by a great save from Cooraclare’s goalie from a shot on goal by Ailish Considine resulting in a 45. Ailish added a point before Sarah Cahill’s free was misjudged by the Cooraclare goalie and Kilmihil once again raised the green flag. Kilmihil were now cruising on a score of 2.10 to 1.02 and were it not for impressive goal keeping Kilmihil could have won by a much bigger margin. Paula O’Shea got the final point for Kilmihil and this was followed in the final minutes of the game by a consolation goal after a melee in the square for Ann Marie Callinan of Cooraclare.
Scorers: Kilmihil: Sarah Cahill 2(1f). 02 (1f); Una Downes 0.04; Ailish Considine 0.02; Eimear Considine 0.02; Paula O’Shea 0.01. Cooraclare: Helen Quinn 1.01; Ann Marie Callinan 1.00; Rachel Garry 0.01.
Referee: Michael Bohannan.