Annaghdown 5-6

Oughterard 1-6

By Mike Rafferty in Caherlistrane

HAVING suffered heartbreaking defeats in the last two county ladies football Intermediate championship finals, Annaghdown finally emerged as winners in Caherlistrane on Sunday as a powerful second half performance saw them emerge as champions with a bit to spare.

Just a goal ahead after playing with the assistance of the wind in the opening half, it was questionable if this was sufficient, but Annghdown attacked the second half with a vengeance as three goals in quick succession killed off the game as a contest and, in the process, making it five wins in succession.

Two early Emma Keane goals gave them the perfect start, but credit to Oughterard who defended outstandingly in the opening half and when they responded with a Rionach McGauley goal when facing the elements, it certainly presented a case for an exciting second half.

However, that turned out to be a false dawn as Annaghdown’s Bronagh Quinn grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck as her incredible second half tally of 3-2 certainly turned matters very much in her side’s favour. A late Oughterard response was testimony to their commitment and effort, but a recovery was beyond a side who had captured the Junior A title last year with a two point victory over Grainne Mhaols.

After an early Ciara Hegarty free opened the scoring for Annaghdown, they followed up with two quick goals to turn matters very much in their favour. Their first was set up by a fine Riona Quinn run and pass and Emma Keane had just the simple task of finding the net from close range. They quickly added a second as Jemma Burke broke through, but when her effort came back off the crossbar, Keane was first to respond to the rebound as she punched the ball to the net to put them seven points clear.

Assisted by the running of Caoimhe Keogh, Maebh Walsh and sisters, Marta and Klara Banek, Oughterard gradually began to get a foothold in the game. However, some erratic shooting left them scoreless until the 18th minute when they struck for a goal – Aoibhinn Eilian setting up Rionach McGauley to shoot past Eleanor Lynch.

Conditions were making it very difficult for the Connemara side as they spent the majority of the half tracking back and then trying to get forward to an attacking position when in possession of the ball.

Pictured: The Annaghdown ladies football squad which captured the county intermediate title in Caherlistrane on Sunday. Back row, left to right: Lorna Cunningham, Nikki Sweeney, Amy Tunney, Emma Tunney, Luca Trench Kearney, Aoife Killilea, Martina Canavan, Callie Crowe, Annabelle Kenny, Eleanor Lynch, Martha Goaley, Ciara Hegarty, Eimear Flaherty, Bronagh Quinn, Sarah O Grady, Emma Keane, Ciara Quinn, Ashling Quinn. Front row: Kathryn O’Grady, Caoimhe O’Neill, Clara Nally, Ciara McCarthy, Regina Naughton, Brenda Naughton, Isabel Claffey, Chelsie Crowe, Chloe Crowe, Riona Quinn, Nicola Comer, Jemma Burke, Rebecca Fahy, Isabel Killilea, Maria Fitzpatrick, Aisling Carey.