Caltra Cuans 0-9

St Fechins 0-8

By Dalton MacNamee in Drogheda

CALTRA Cuans held their nerve down the home straight to book their place in the final of the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Ladies Football Championship with this dramatic victory over Louth champions St Fechins in Drogheda on Sunday afternoon.

In the end, Caltra Cuans were indebted to forward Ciara Murray, whose late stoppage time free secured their place in the final, which capped off a much improved second half display from the Galway champions who trailed St Fechins by 0-6 to 0-3 at half time.

It was Cuans who opened the scoring through dual star Emma Reaney, with a right footed strike, following neat support play from Aoibheann Fitzpatrick and Caragh Mullins, after three minutes.

St Fechins, who have always posed a threat on the counter attack and in transition, were the better side in the first half, with five of their six first half scores coming from turnovers.

Key to this was Louth county star Ceire Nolan, who set up score in chief Ava Briscoe to equalise from play after eight minutes.

Another trademark Nolan burst through the centre saw her fouled as she passed the ball to Sara Moore. Moore’s shot found the net, but referee Peter McCaughey had brought the play back for the free, with no advantage, much to Cuan’s relief.

Subsequently, Ava Briscoe converted the free to leave the Fechins 0-2 to 0-1 ahead. Aoibheann Fitzpatrick and Caragh Mullins then combined for Emma Reaney to find the target with her left foot to level things up on 19 minutes in a match where scores were precious and hard to come by.

The Fechins will look back and rue missed chances, with another counter attack leading to Orla McEvoy finding Roisin Kavanagh who kicked wide from close range, when a pass through to Ava Briscoe who was in space, may have yielded a green flag.

Despite this, the Fechins put pressure on Caltra Cuans on their short kickout, and Kavanagh set up Orla McEvoy to put the Louth side back in front. The next kickout saw McEvoy regain possession, before slotting over her second point in a row to leave the hosts 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 26 minutes.

Fechins took advantage of the first of two sin bins handed down to Caltra Cuans in that first half, with Caoimhe McCabe dismissed for 10 minutes by referee McCaughey.

A fine score by Ciara Murray following a clever pass by Sarah Noone did grant Cuans temporary respite, but the Fechins landed two more scores to take a three point lead into the break.

Having set up Orla McEvoy for her third score of the day, Ava Briscoe pointed with another free to leave her side with that 0-6 to 0-3 advantage at the interval.

This lead could have been even bigger, but for some timely defensive interventions and blocking from Nicole Conway and Aisling Murray for Cuans. Murray also finished with 36 possession in a marvellous personal showing from half back, with her cousins Saoirse and Ciara Murray going on to have a big say at the other end.

The second period saw a big improvement in Cuans’ performance, with the Galway side aggressively pressurising their opponents coming out of defence, with Aoibheann Fitzpatrick, Saoirse Murray and Aisling Murray leading the charge, while Meghan Kelly’s impact off the bench at the interval was also key.

Pictured: Ciara Murray of Caltra Cuans is challenged by Orla Brennan of St Fechins during the All-Ireland Club Ladies Football Intermediate semi-final in Drogheda on Sunday. Photo: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.