There was high drama at Ballinamullan as Ardboe and Killeeshill booked their places in the Patrick Fahy and Co Solicitors intermediate and senior semi-finals. It was tense and exciting in both games with Ardboe eventually seeing off Sigerson’s and Killeeshill coming back to edge out Sperrin Og to set up a meeting with Clann na nGael.
Senior Football Championship
Killeeshill 4-8 Sperrin Og 4-5
In the senior clash there was never much between Sperrin Og and the St Mary’s. A wet surface failed to spoil the contest which in the end came down to just a three point game. Inspired by Lisa Marie Skeffington, the industrious Catriona McGahan and the quick thinking Grainne Rafferty Killeeshill played some decent football and carved out several openings against a Greencastle side that had been fancied to progress.
Niamh O’Neill isolated for long periods managed to hit the target for 0-2 and she was on hand to set up a string of attacks. Orla Coyle, Anita McDermott and Eaodin Fox got in for goals, Coyle twice but as the game headed towards the closing stages finally poised, Grainne Rafferty swung a hand to a floating ball and found the net for Killeeshil.
Rafferty’s quick thinking changed the course of the game after goals from Skeffington, Shannon Stevenson and Chloe Collins. There was a frantic finish to the game as Sperrin Og had late appeals for a penalty waved away.
Killeeshill will now face Brian Dooher’s Clann na nGael outfit in the last four.
Intermediate Football Championship
Strabane 4-7 Ardboe 3-11
The Intermediate clash between Ardboe and Strabane was always going to be close. In the end it was intense with an injury time Ardboe penalty seeing them over the line. Hannah Lydon opted to take her point at the death. Neamh Teague’s opportune goal at the end of normal time had drawn the sides level after both had enjoyed periods of dominance.
Lorraine Conwell and Ciara McGill took full advantage of poor defending as they landed early Sigerson goals. Their efforts dropped over the keeper’s head in the opening quarter as Leona Houston added some fine points as Sigersons threw the ball around with confidence.
Hannah Lydon went into the game with a virus but succeeded in keeping Ardboe ticking over on the scoreboard while Niamh Teague and Claire Muldoon were also on target before an Ardboe penalty gave the Loughshore side the lead just shy of the half time whistle. Lydon’s first effort was well saved by Niamh Barr but the rebound was finished to the net.
There was still time for another twist though as McGill was on hand again to send another long ball over the head of Mallaghan after good build up play from Conwell. Strabane now found themselves in front by a point.
Strabane began to pull away in the second half and led by four as both sides traded points and Michaela Moss chipped Mallaghan again. Niamh Quinn made it a three point game when she pointed from close range before there came yet another twist. Caoimhe Coney sent a high ball in to the Strabane box and as the ball broke loose, the Sigersons defence failed to clear their lines, yet somehow Teague was able to turn the ball home to level matters.
In injury time Muldoon put Alish Devlin in on goal. She was adjudged to have been fouled and Lydon kept her cool with the resultant spot kick to seal a semi-final spot against Loughmacrory.
Intermediate Football Championship
Dromore 3-8 Aghyaran 3-7
Fr Rocks Cookstown 2-10 Trillick 1-9
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