LADIES GAA | Gutsy Geraldines just fall short in Leinster Ladies Intermediate Championship
Geraldines 0–9 Tinahely 0–10
Leinster Ladies Intermediate Championship
By Dermot Woods
Despite a late rally, the Geraldines just came up short in their Leinster Intermediate Championship tie with Tinahely at McGeough Park on Saturday afternoon last, the Wicklow side advancing by the narrowest of winning margins.
The home side started well and after an early wide from Sandra Lynch, they created the first goal chance of the day when a quickly taken free-kick by Ciara O’Connor found Ava Kieran in space but just as the teenager took aim she lost her footing on the wet surface and the chance went a-begging.
The Wicklow side gradually settled into the game and they were denied a goal of their own after a sweeping move involving county stars Jackie Kinch and Emily Mulhall who both had shots stopped on the line by Irene Hoey and Eilis Hand.
Moments later, Laura Hogan broke through the Gers defence but her goalbound shot was superbly kept out by Grainne Boyle. It was the first of many fine stops the Geraldines goalkeeper would make throughout the day.
With Gorman and Kinch beginning to dominate the midfield exchanges, points from Ciara Byrne (0–2) and Gorman had Tinahely three ahead after 12 minutes and shortly after Boyle was called into action again to stop Hogan from extending the lead even further.
With key forwards Bonnie and Tess Fleming absent, the Gers had to wait until the 17th minute for their opening score to arrive with Rebecca Carr on target and they were soon level with Ava Kieran and Linda McCabe both raising white flags. Laura Hogan restored Tinahely’s lead from a free before a wonderful pass by Carr set up Ava Kieran who levelled matters again.
Ciara Byrne and Abbi O’Connor then swapped points before Laura Hogan took advantage of a defensive error to force another fine save from Boyle, who did well to tip Hogan’s effort over the bar. Carr, however, ensured that the sides went in level at the break with a well-hit free.
The Geraldines midfielder saw an early second-half free come back off the post and Tinahely capitalised on the let-off. With Influential midfielder Jackie Kinch back in action after spending 10 minutes in the sin-bin, they hit four unanswered points with Mulhall (0–2) Byrne and Kinch all on target.
The visitors appeared to have put the game beyond the Gers’ reach when Ciara Byrne got on the end of a fine Kinch pass in the 50th minute but the goal was disallowed for a foul on a Geraldines defender in the build-up. Two minutes later, Mulhall hit the net but, much to the frustration of the Wicklow side, match official Lorraine Sullivan chalked the score off for overcarrying.
Given hope, the Gers responded with a charge and after Emma Gartlan saw her efforts come back off the woodwork, Carr hit her side’s first score of the second half with 52 minutes played. Boosted by this score, the home side put the Tinahely defence under severe pressure with centre back Jessie Byrne becoming the second Wicklow player to be sent to the sin bin.
Two more points from the boot of Carr ensured a nervy finish but the Geraldines just couldn’t find the point they needed to force extra-time and they will now turn their attention back to domestic matters and adding the Division One title to the senior championship.
GERALDINES: Grainne Boyle, Irene Hoey, Eilis Hand, Megan Scully, Aine Lynch, Lauren McFaul, Amy Dalton, Helen Ryan, Sandra Lynch, Ava Kieran (0–2), Rebecca Carr (0–5), Lisa McCabe (0–1), Abbi O’Connor (0–1),Ciara O’Connor, Emma Gartlan. Subs: Sarah Morgan, Fionnuala Cafferty, Andrea Lennon.
TINAHELY; Emily Garden, Ciara Stokes, Sarah Hogan, Niamh Kenny, Shannagh Goteleen, Jessie Byrne, Aimee Maher, Aoife Gorman (0–1), Jackie Kinch (0–1), Ciara Byrne (0–4), Aine Byrne, Emily Mulhall, Loretta Gilbert, Laura Hogan (0–4), Sarah Byrne.
REFEREE: Lorraine O’Sullivan (Dublin).
Pat’s go out in Kilkenny
In the Leinster Junior Championship, St Patrick’s were surprisingly beaten by Kilkenny City on a 1–15 to 0–7 scoreline.
