Ladies Senior Football: Tir na nOg v Boston Shamrocks - Aug 8

Tir na nOg took the Boston Ladies Senior Football crown with a third win over the Boston Shamrocks.

Boston Shamrocks 1-9 Tir na nOg 4-11
 Tir na nOg retained the Boston Ladies championship in convincing style on Sunday. Any hopes that the Shamrocks had of bringing the series to a fifth game were quickly extinguished as Tir na nOg put three goals up on the scoreboard inside the first 30 minutes. The Shamrocks netted early in the second half, but notions of a comeback by the aristocrats of Boston ladies football faded with Tir na nOg’s response of five straight points.


Tir na nOg made their intentions clear in the first half. There was no evidence of complacency setting in with the Brighton side, having the comfort of knowing that there was another bite at the cherry should the day’s efforts not result in a victory. Grainne Collery, along with Aoife Waters and Andrea Bowie netted in the first 30 minutes, while Emma Conlon and the invaluable Laurie Ahern pointed three times between them. The Shamrocks mustered four points in the first period, Niamh Woods with two from play and Charlotte Delaney with two from frees.

Tir na nOg's Emma Conlon goes past Niamh Woods

With defeat staring them in the face, and an eight point deficit to overcome, the Shamrocks lifted their efforts in the second period. Laurie Ahern extended Tir na nOg’s lead with a point after the restart but the Shamrocks hit with a goal. Sinead Fadden made the breakthrough and a sliver of light shone on the hopes of the Shamrocks. Ann Marie McDonnell, Woods, and Delaney expended every effort to try and lead their side out of the hole. Delaney tallied another point, reducing the deficit to five points, and the Shamrocks had some decent chances to further reduce the deficit, but the shots drifted off the mark. Tir na nOg then choked the life out of their opponents with a five point barrage. With the back line closing off all avenues for the Shamrocks forwards, and Ahern motoring in midfield, Waters, Conlon, captain Niamh Daly, and Ahern picked off the scores. At this stage it was as good as over. Collery netted her second goal, and Tir na nOg’s fourth, in the late stages. For the second year in a row, Tir na nOg blow by the local opposition in winning the Boston crown. Next stop for the Brighton side, a return to Chicago, and the North American County Board finals. Best of luck to the girls in red and black in the windy city Labor Day weekend!


Shamrocks: K. Rosedale, J. O’Connell, C. Dolan, N. Nugent, A. McDonnell, N. Hurst, J. O’Donoghue, N. Woods (0-2), E. Burns, T. Doherty (0-1), C. Treanor (0-1), S. Fadden (1-1), G. Coyle, S. Maloney, C. Delaney (0-4). Tir na nOg: D. Kelliher, T. Moran, L. Brick, L. Gilmore, A. Waters (1-1), A. Kelly, S. Patterson, L. Ahern (0-5), L. Nerney, N. Daly (0-1), E. Conlon (0-3), A. Bowie (1-0), G. Collery (2-1), S. Bannon, C. Kelly.

By Rory O'Donnell