Tesco All-Ireland Junior C semi-final
St Killian’s College Garron Tower 1-10 Hazelwood Drumcollagher 1-4
By Seamas McAleenan
WHILE Hazelwood Drumcollagher never really threatened the sea-shore goals in Cushendun during the second half of this Tesco All-Ireland Junior semi-final, St Killian’s Garron Tower never really sealed their spot in the decider until Clodagh McPeake pointed twice at the start of the last quarter.
It may well have been a different game completely however if there had not been a straight red card for Hazelwood Drumcollogher wing-forward Katie Lawlee in the 12th minute for an incident just in front of the changing rooms.
Initially the card had a positive impact on the Limerick team. Chloe O’Leary had just pointed to put Hazelwood a point ahead at 0-3 to 0-2 when the incident occurred and Caoimhe Magner-Flynn forced home a goal in the next attack.
It was a scrappy goal, but one coming from a player who was alert and quick to re-act. Luckily St Killian’s had a similar type of player in Clodagh McPeake and her goal in the 19th minute was something similar. When Orlaith McAlister pointed from the puck out, St Killian’s grew in confidence.
However they failed to add to their total until first half added time when McAlister pointed a free. The same player added a free on the re-start and then placed Ellie Jo Butler for another point to open a gap of three points. Over the next 15 minutes combination of nervous shooting up front and the concession of several frees gave Hazelwood something to fight for.
However St Killian’s continued to dictate the play while Drumcollagher’s attacks were becoming more reliant on hit and hope balls from midfield and half-backs who were kept under pressure by the Tower players. Those deliveries were well-handled by Abi McNeill who was the free player at the back and swept across in front of the full-back line.
You always felt that another score would relax St Killian’s enough to put the game to bed and when Clodagh McPeake pointed in the 47th minute and then added another score four minutes later St Killian’s were over the line.
They finished strongly with points from McAlister and Niamh McNeill to seal their spot in the final against Kinvara who travelled well to Kilkenny and came away with a comfortable win.
St Killian’s: L Mulholland, C Morgan, E McMullan, M-C McAlister, A Mulholland, A McNeill, C O’Hara, L Black, C O’Boyle, EJ Butler 0-1, O McAlister 0-6 (4fs), K McNeill, E Butler, C McPeake 1-2, O McCurry.
Subs : E McNeill for O McCurry (37), R Black for C O’Hara (44), N McNeill 0-1 for K McNeill (50)
Hazelwood : A Donegan, H Buckley, E Larkin, A O’Callaghan, R O’Reilly, K Dore 0-1, E Curtin, K O’Connor, K Lawlee, O Barrett, L Noonan, R McGary, C O’Leary 0-1, C Magner Flynn 1-2 (0-2 fs, A Curtin
Subs: A Davis for A Curtn (32), O Shanahan for A Curtin (57), S Minihane for R McGary (58)
Referee: EP Cassidy (Derry)
