23 October 2007 St Forcherns hold on for a 4 point win Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! St Forchern’s hold out for a 4 point victory The floodlights were on last Wednesday night in Crettyard, it was the performances of Carlow women’s champions St Forcherns and Kilkenny representatives Railyard which illuminated the Laois venue for this VHI Leinster intermediate women’s football semi-final. Ten members of the St Forcherns team and nine members of the Railyard team had featured in this years (intercounty) Leinster final which Carlow won with an injury time goal. Kilkenny savoured all Ireland success through the All Ireland series however. These summer and early autumn encounters and exploits upped the ante in motivational terms in advance of this clash. The game began at a ferociously quick pace indeed one wondered could it last. Right to the end this game challenged the neck muscles of even the must supple supporter such was the speed and determination of two well prepared sides. In all the game produced four goals two of which were of huge quality. The saints’ Mairead Hogan was the first to rattle the rigging intercepting brilliantly and then driving home the ball. The experienced Hogan put the Fenagh / Ballinkillen women a clear six points to the good as joint managers Carmel Meaney and Christy O’Neill were preparing the halftime chat. (halftime St Forcherns 1-6 Railyard 0-3) The champions of the Marble county will no doubt have been reminded (at halftime) of their seven wides in the opening period .The Cats did shoot three points the first within a staggering 25 seconds from the galloping boot of Catriona Grace, Alice Farrell and teenage star Marie Dargan made up the quota. Eilish Meaney hit a pair of points for the Saints including one from a most improbable angle two minutes before Hogan’s goal. The pick of the carlow girls remaining opening period points came form the boot of the pacey Lisa Miley seven minutes in (to the game). Miley’s next effort though on twenty three minutes was controversially disallowed after consultations between the Dublin referee and his umpires Carlow found the net again compliments of an Eilish Meaney Penalty three minutes into part two of the contest. Railyard responded with a goal of their own. Marie Dargan lobbing successfully from thirty meters. Saints substitute Margaret Murphy hit the games choicest point after ten second half minutes, her huge effort from almost forty meters showed drew gasps of amazement from the crowd in the well appointed stand .Murphy’s white flag put Forcherns five points in front and Railyard continued to attack with pace and with numbers. Jenny Kelly’s experience proved vital when diving at full stretch to prevent a second goal for the yard with a quarter hour remaining. The yard attacked some more, Dargan pointed again but frustration must have been setting in as five promising chances were wasted. Five minutes remained; four points separated the teams when veteran forward Niamh Dobbs scored a goal as good as she has ever done. Gathering at forty meters the county teams substitute keeper powered home from thirty five or so meters.(St Forcherns 3-7 Railyard 1-6). Dargan pointed a further three times before the end – but the goal the cats craved never came. St Forcherns held on for a four point victory (3-7 to 1-9).The Carlow champions will revisit Crettyard next Saturday for a Leinster final clash with Lilywhite champions Eadestown, the short grass women have proven All Ireland and Provincial credentials. St Forcherns look more balanced than when last they reached the Leinster penultimate stage. St Forcherns captain Aoife Kane The Carlow champions have plenty of talent, having beaten the Dublin ,Westmeath and Kilkenny champions enroute to the final they must believe that they can become provincial champions . St Forcherns : Jenny ONeill,Georgina Coleman,Aine Kinsella ,Mary Brooks, Maria Kinsella,Regina McDonald,Aoife Kane Maria Kinsella,Laura Corrigan,Catriona Corcoran, Teresa Meaney 0-1 ,Mairead Hogan 1-0, Kellie Dalton 0-2 Lisa Miley 0-1, ,Niamh Dobbs 1-0,Eilish Meaney 1-2. Subs used Debra Foley and Mag Murphy 0-1. The VHI Leinster womens intermediate club championship final takes place in Crettyard next Saturday at 2pm . Share this Article 0 0