Laois 4-11 Monaghan 2-7

Laois 4-11 Monaghan 2-7

 

 

LEINSTER Champions Laois set up a daunting TG4 All-Ireland ladies
SFC semi-final with Cork after easily defeating Monaghan at the
quarter final stages in Breffni Park Cavan on Saturday.

 

Laois led from start to finish and held a 2-4 to 1-2 interval
lead. Goals from Gemma O’Connor on 14 minutes and Mary Kirwan
three minutes later give them the early advantage.

 

A Niamh Lynch goal gave Monaghan a glimmer of hope just before
the break. The Ulster side weren’t helped by the absence
of their playmaker and top scorer, Niamh Kindlon, through injury.

 

After the resumption Laois remained in control – thanks
largely to the inspirational Tracy Lawlor. She contributed a personal
tally of 1-4 and was voted as Player of the Match. Their final
goal came from the boot of Mary Kirwan at the end of the third
quarter.

 

LAOIS: B Deegan; G Weston, L Muckian, N Kirwan; A Quigley, A
Casey, P Fogarty; K O’Reilly (0-1), M O’Grady; Martha Kirwan (0-1),
L Brennan, E Fitzpatrick (0-2); T Lawlor (1-4,2f), Mary Kirwan
(2-2,1f), G O Connor (1-0).

Subs: M McElvoy for Quigley (ht), A O’Loughlin (0-1) for Brennan
(47 mins), S Barry for Martha Kirwan (55 mins), C O’Loughlin for
O’Grady (59 mins)

 

MONAGHAN: L Martin; J Courtney, M Grimes, C Reilly; S Courtney,
Charlotte Brady, F Courtney; A Casey, Catronia Brady; T McNally,
H Hughes, C Graham (1-0,p); C McConnell (0-2,f), N Lynch (1-0)
G McNally (0-2). Subs: A. Tierney (0-3) for McConnell (36 mins),
I Kierans for J Courtney (41 mins), S Murray for Charlotte Brady
(44 mins), H Kingham for Lynch (56 mins)