Kilmihil Ladies Through To Munster Club Final

Kilmihil Ladies Through To Munster Club Final Kilmihil: 1.06 Liscarroll (Cork): 1.05

The Munster Junior Club Championship semi final was played in atrocious weather conditions in Parteen on Saturday last between newly crowned Clare Intermediate champions, Kilmihil, and Cork Junior champions, Liscarroll. Torrential rain meant that scores were hard to come by and open play was rare. The weather wasn’t the only factor making this a difficult game for all concerned – the field was unlined and there were no dugouts for the subs. It was a game that could have gone either way and Kilmihil would consider themselves lucky to only be a single point behind at half time. In the first ten minutes of the second half Kilmihil upped the tempo and got the scores, in particular their goal, that gave them breathing space. Liscarroll got a consolation goal in the last minutes of the game leaving just the minimum between the teams leading to a frantic and tense last few minutes.

Liscarroll were first out of the blocks and had two points inside the first five minutes, one from Elaine O’Riordan and the other from Elaine Murphy. Kilmihil settled and points from Joan O’Halloran and Eimear Considine put them back on level terms. Kilmihil were dealt a severe blow half way through the first half when they lost corner back Elaine O’Halloran through injury after a bad clash. Liscaroll’s free taker, Elaine O’Riordan, was on the mark shortly after this with a pointed free but this was cancelled out by Kilmihil’s free taker, Ailish Considine. Elaine O’Riordan of Cork was on target with another close in free just before half time leaving the score 0.03 to 0.04 in favour of Liscarroll.

Kilmihil came back on to the field with pep in their step at the start of the second half and after great work involving a number of Kilmihil players Sarah Cahill banged home a goal for the Clare girls. Ailish Considine pointed a free and then scored a fine point from play followed by a fine point from Mairead Nugent leaving 5 points between the sides. Elaine O’Riordan converted a free for Liscarroll and they threw everything at Kilmihil. Edel McMahon in the Kilmihil goal dealt confidently with all that was thrown at her until in the final minutes she was blindsided and the ball slipped in to corner of her net. With just a point between the sides Liscarroll surged forward but fortunately for Kilmihil they shot wide on their final attack.

Kilmihil now await the outcome of the other semi final to see who their opponents will be for the Munster final.

Kilmihil: Edel McMahon, Colette Downes, Yvonne Downes, Elaine O’Halloran, Miriam Frawley, Fiona O’Neill (capt), Sharon O’Gorman, Dympna Walsh, Eimear Considine (0.01), Una Downes, Mairead Nugent (0.01), Sarah Cahill (1.00), Joan O’Halloran (0.01), Denise O’Halloran, Ailish Considine (0.03). Subs, Rosemary Currane, Paula O’Shea.

Liscarroll: L.Crowley, A. O’Brien, M. Egan, A. M. Hudner, S. Flynn, S. Heffernan, H. McKenna, L. Twomey, C. Galvin, T. Mullane, M. Heffernan, E. Murphy, L. O’Flynn, V. Hallihan, E. O’Riordan. Subs.D. Cronin.
Referee: Sean Joy (Kerry)