Boston Shamrocks 6-14 Connacht Ladies 4-9
Boston Shamrocks scored an impressive victory in the Ladies
senior football championship to ensure that there would be at least one more
game in the best of five. It was a high
scoring game, that looked as though it would follow the same pattern as the
first two. After conceding 2 early
goals, some tough defending combined with great running in the forward line
laid the path for a Shamrocks win, one that keeps the best of 5 series alive.
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| The Mickey Coyne Cup stayed put for at least one more game in 2019. |
The first half opened in familiar fashion as Connacht Ladies
banged in 2 goals inside the opening 5 minutes.
Sinead McGovern’s initial effort was forced over the line by Michaela
McGuigan, and 2 minutes later Ciara Forde netted a second. The westerners were up by seven points early,
after adding 2 points, with the Shamrocks sitting on a solitary score.
The Shamrocks set about changing the story of 2019 and put
in a powerful 20 minutes to end up tipping the scale to a 7 point advantage by
half time. Maria Watson worked very hard
in the half forward line, and with the defence keeping the Connacht Ladies
forwards in check, the Shamrocks picked off their points. Connacht Ladies were often forced into fouling
within range of their own goal and Paula Doran, Sara Jane McDOnald, and Rebecca
Mills were on target.
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| Ball is just a little beyond Aoife Heffernan's grasp. |
The scores were level with less than 10 minutes to go to the
break. The goals eventually came for the
girls in green. Mills and McDonald
netted nicely, and a third came from a Doran free that looped into the far
corner of the goal as the Shamrocks attacked in waves. Connacht Ladies, however, gave a reminder of
how dangerous they can be with a Sinead McGovern goal right on the stroke of
half time. At the break it was a 3-11 to
3-4 Shamrocks lead.
The Shamrocks started off the second half with a goal. It came courtesy of Doran from the penalty
spot. McDonald was fouled as she bore
down on Rachel O’Driscoll in the Connacht goal, and Doran picked her spot in
the top corner with an exquisitely taken shot. Thoughts of a Connacht comeback faded. The Connacht Ladies tried to lift themselves,
however. Shauna Hynes made numerous
forays from wing back, but the Shamrocks defenders kept the dangerous opposing
forwards bottled up and prevented the openings for scores.
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Try as they might, the Connacht Ladies
could not turn it around.
|
The Shamrocks continued to work the ball well with flowing
moves and with 20 minutes left had added another goal and two points. Mills netted from distance, and Doran and
Shannon Costello accounted for the points.
Connacht’s cause was not helped after Dearbhla McGovern was sin binned
for an foul away from the play and a game 4 in this series looked increasingly
likely. Aisleeen Cunningham and Katie
O’Donnell won some important balls inside their own 21 in the final quarter and
Eadoin Connolly fired home a goal in the final minutes to put the icing on the
win. The Shamrocks not only stay alive,
but based on this performance look like they are capable of pushing the
Connacht ladies all the way in the series.
Shamrocks: Ann Marie
McDonnell, Oonagh Shields, Cathy McEleaney, Katie O’Donnell, Doireann Peelo,
Caitlin Slattery, Anna Bolger, Aisleen Cunningham, Eodain Connolly, Maria
Watson, Rebecca Mills, Paula Doran, Shannon Costello, Sarah Jane McDonald,
Laura Kiernan.
Connacht Ladies:
Rachel O’Driscoll, Catherine Cullen, Shauneen McAleer, Jackie McDonagh,
Ciena Stringer, Catherine Boyle, Dearbhla McGovern, Emma Hegarty, Aoife
Heffernan, Ciara Forde, Emma McGovern, Shauna Hynes, Aisling Kerr, Sinead
McGovern, Michaela McGuigan.
By Rory O'Donnell
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