Round-up: All-Ireland U16 Finalists decided in the A, B and C grades

HOLDERS Galway will face Meath in the All-Ireland Under 16 ‘A’ Ladies Football Final, with Longford taking on Waterford in the ‘B’ decider and Louth meeting Sligo in the ‘C’ final after Wednesday’s semi-final action.

In Cahir, a strong closing 10 minutes to the first half was key for Galway, as they claimed a 3-20 to 1-9 win over Cork.

 

The sides were tied on five occasions early on, before Galway found an extra gear, with Ellen Power (1-1), Laura Kelly (1-0) and Verona Crowley (1-2) finding the net on the way to a 17-point win.

 

In a keenly contested encounter, both sides contributed brilliantly to an excellent game of football, with Cork first to find the net.

 

Orlaith Roche sent a blazing effort past Galway keeper Alana Griffin in the 20th minute to put Cork 1-5 to 0-6 in front.

 

However, Galway responded with 1-5 unanswered before the break, including Power’s goal, and the Westerners never looked back.

 

Cork were held to just four points in the second half, with Crowley’s 36th minute goal handing Galway a 2-14 to 1-6 lead, before Kelly found the net for the final score of the match.

 

In Donaghmoyne, goals were also key for Meath in their 3-12 to 1-8 win over Cavan.

 

The sides were well balanced early on, with Meath taking an early lead, before scores from Gemma Beatty and Keri McCormack cut the gap to a point after 13 minutes.

 

However, Meath drove on and aided by a 26th minute Lara O’Neill goal they took a 1-7 to 0-3 interval lead.

 

Cavan fought hard early on the restart, before Meath’s second goal arrived from Robyn O’Byrne to open up an eight-point lead after 33 minutes.

Meath found the net for a third goal k six minutes later, with O’Neill again on target.

 

Cavan never gave up, and bagged a 51st minute goal from Aimee McIntyre but it came too late.

 

Meanwhile, five players netted for Longford in their 5-8 to 3-13 ‘B’ semi-final win over Tyrone in Mullahoran, and those goals were crucial in a narrow win.

Kamille Burke, Molly Mulvihill, Grace Shannon, Kate Shannon and Melissa O’Kane (pen) all registered a goal, as the Midlanders made a strong start.

Longford began brightly and led by 2-4 to 0-0, before Maeve McCrystal netted Tyrone’s opening goal at the start of the second quarter.

Longford led by 3-6 to 2-3 at the break, with McCrystal bagging Tyrone’s second goal, and the Red Hands offered a much improved display on the restart.

 

Aoife Horisk found the net for Tyrone but Longford were in the mood for goals and they added way to a slender one-point win.

Longford will meet Waterford in the decider, after the Déise’s strong battle with Roscommon saw them claim a 5-6 to 1-11 win at St. Brendan’s Park, Birr.

 

A second half hat-trick was key to victory for the Munster side in a game where they trailed by a point on a 1-8 to 2-4 interval score-line.

 

Waterford got off to a strong start and led by 1-4 to 0-0 after 15 minutes, before Roscommon delivered a brilliant second quarter, holding their opponents to just a goal during this spell.

 

An entertaining second half ensued, with two late goals for Waterford helping them on their way to a seven-point win.

 

Louth delivered an impressive display against neighbours Armagh in their ‘C’ semi-final in Monaghan Harps, as the Wee County registered a 2-7 to 0-6 win.

 

A solid display in a low-scoring first half stood to the Leinster side, on the way to a seven-point win.

 

Abi Keenan and Ellen McBride found the net, as Louth led by 2-4 to 0-3 at half-time, with Mia Duffy (0-2), Ava Brisco and Roisin Maguire (0-1 each) claiming their other scores.

 

Armagh worked hard in the second half, but with Mia Duffy on fire for Louth, her side advanced to the decider.

 

Sligo registered five goals on their way to a final date with Louth, after a 5-5 to 1-9 victory over Clare in Ballinasloe.

 

The Yeats County delivered a strong first half showing, registering all of their goals in the opening 30 minutes, on the way to a 5-3 to 0-3 interval lead.

 

Clare were a much improved side on the restart, and held Sligo to just two second half points, but were left with too much to do.

 

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