VHI Healthcare Ladies Football Club Championship Round up

VHI Healthcare Ladies Football Club Championship Roundup BY CÓILIN DUFFY

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VHI Healthcare Ladies Football Club Championship Roundup
BY CÓILIN DUFFY

Laois side Sarsfields were crowned VHI Healthcare Leinster Senior Ladies Football Club champions for the first time in their history following a well deserved 1-16 to 2-3 win over Clonee of Wexford on Sunday at Graiguecullen, Co. Laois.

Leading by 1-7 to 0-2 at the interval, Sarsfields withstood a Clonee goal rush in the second half to ensure a ten-point win.

The Mountmellick outfit began brightly and held a 1-6 to 0-2 lead when TG4 All-Star Tracey Lawlor crashed home a 28th minute goal after Clonee had missed an earlier penalty, with full-forward Josie Dwyer watching her well-struck effort shading the post.

Both of Clonee’s first half points came from the boot of Dwyer in the closing ten minutes before the interval, but Sarsfields were firmly in control with Lawlor and the O’Loughlin sisters Aileen and Player of the Match Ciara doing most damage.

Sarsfields kicked four points without reply in a six minute spell after the restart, with Rosemary Bermingham, Ciara O’Loughlin, Tracey Lawlor and defender Grace Weston all on target.

Dwyer and midfielder Caroline Murphy tried hard for Clonee, while dual player Mary Leacy kicked two well struck goals in the 47th and 60th minutes.

But although the Wexford champions battled strongly, Sarsfields were consistently churning out star performances, and from defence to attack they were a well drilled outfit.

Sarsfields now head to Cork to take on Munster Champions Inch Rovers next weekend.

Meanwhile on Saturday Donaghmoyne were crowned Ulster champions following an entertaining VHI Healthcare Ulster Senior Final Replay at Kinawley; which saw them victorious by 1-14 to 1-9 over Moville of Donegal.

Despite Moville finishing strongly in this game and giving the Monaghan outfit a tough time in the second half, Donaghmoyne held out for a five-point win.

Donaghmoyne started this game brightly and led by 0-4 to 0-1 after six minutes, with all of those early scores coming from play.

Top scorer Cathriona McConnell kicked five first half points for the eventual winners who held an 0-8 to 0-6 lead at the interval.

Moville were battling strongly at this stage and despite losing Aoife Hegarty to the sinbin following a foul on Michelle Grimes, they kept in touch with scores from Niamh Hegarty.

Donaghmoyne had Lisa Kingham sinbinned seven minutes after the restart, however they kept in front and held Moville scoreless to lead by 0-12 to 0-6 with ten minutes remaining.

Despite a Lorraine Daly goal propelling Donaghmoyne into a 1-14 to 0-7 lead after 55 minutes Moville finished strongly thanks to a Ciara Hegarty goal.

But this was too little too late for the Donegal side, as Donaghmoyne held out for a five-point win.

Elsewhere Cork’s Ballygeary Inchigeela took VHI Healthcare Munster Intermediate honours following a 3-8 to 1-5 win over Limerick side Athea.

Killoe of Longford emerged 1-7 to 0-7 winners over Fr. Murphy’s of London in the All-Ireland Intermediate quarter-final; while Maynooth had a 3-8 to 1-4 win over John Mitchells of Liverpool in the corresponding Junior fixture.

SCORES & SCORERS
Vhi Healthcare Leinster Ladies Senior Club Football Championship Final
Sarsfields (Laois) 1-16 Clonee (Wexford) 2-3

Scorers for Sarsfields: Tracey Lawlor (1f) 1-5; Claire Conlon 0-4; Rosemary Bermingham 0-2; Claire O’Loughlin, Aileen O’Loughlin, Ciara O’Loughlin, Grace Weston, Rachael Williams 0-1 each. Scorers for Clonee: Mary Leacy 2-0; Josie Dwyer (1f) 0-2; Una Leacy 0-1.

Vhi Healthcare Ulster Ladies Senior Club Football Championship Final Replay
Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) 1-14 Moville (Donegal) 1-9

Scorers for Donaghmoyne: Cathriona McConnell (5f) 0-10; Lorraine Daly 1-0; Cora Courtney, Angela Lennon, Hazel Kingham, Majella Woods 0-1 each. Scorers for Moville: Ciara Hegarty (1f) 1-1; Niamh Hegarty (3f) 0-3; Anita Doherty, Trease Doherty 0-2 each; Maresa McGettigan 0-1.

Vhi Healthcare All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Club Football Championship Quarter Final
Killoe (Longford) 1-7 Fr Murphys (London) 0-7

Vhi Healthcare Munster Ladies Intermediate Club Football Championship Final
Ballygeary Inchigeela (Cork) 3-8 Athea (Limerick) 1-5

Vhi Healthcare All-Ireland Ladies Junior Club Football Championship Quarter-Final
Maynooth (Kildare) 3-8 John Mitchells (Liverpool) 1-4