Sarsfield’s make the step up to Division 1

LGFA Division 1-2 Promotion-Relegation play off

All Saints 2-9 Sarsfield’s 3-9

Sarsfield’s make the step up to division 1 next season while All Saints return to division 2 following their three point win over the Ballymena side in this promotion-relegation play-off on a slippery Quinn Park on Wednesday night.

The Stewartstown Road side opened sharply and had the ball in the All Saints net within 30 seconds through Rachel Rogan as the home side were caught cold from the throw in.

All Saints responded with points from Sianeese Maybin and Anna O’Kane but they were rocked back on their heels when a Laura McKernan shot, that appeared to be going over, dipped over the despairing grasp of Ciaran Devine.

**Sarsfield’s Orla McNulty gets her shot away as Sinead McLaughlin attempts to block**

Sarsfield’s were moving the ball around at pace and running at the home defence and Aimee Ferris and Naoise Farrelly added points to move them six ahead after 10 minutes before Anna O’Kane pulled one back from a free.

Players were struggling to keep their feet on the slippery surface and Rachel Rogan slipped with the goal at her mercy and at the other end Marnie O’Neill fired over after Niamh McNally in the Sarsfield’s goals pulled off a smart save to deny Sianeese Maybin.

O’Neill followed with another as the All Saints challenge began to gain some momentum but a great point from Laura McKernan at the other end moved the visitors 2-3 to 0-5 ahead at the break and they might well have been further ahead.

All Saints needed a good start to the second half and Sianeese Maybin provided it when she shot to the net after being placed by Molly Brady to close the gap to one.

**All Saints Katie Connolly is challenged by Laura McKernan, Sarsfields during Wednesday night’s promotion-relegation play-off in Ballymena**

They failed to build on that early success however as Duane Coleman and Carla McKenna continued to control matters around mid-field with their insatiable work rate and the excellent Laura McKernan fired over three on the bounce to mover her side four ahead.

Marnie O’Neill was starting to win a lot of ball in the All Saints attack and the home side were coming more and more into the game and O’Neill pointed before firing to the Sarsfield’s net from close range to tie the contest with ten minutes remaining.

Back came this year’s division 2 runners up and another well executed attack opened up the All Saints defence with Rachel Rogan palming a tantalising delivery to the net and move her side three ahead once more.

Sianeese maybin replied with a point and Cliodhna Metrustry added another to close the gap to one before the excellent McKernan produced another defence splitting run to ease the pressure.

It was still anyone’s game and an Anna O’Kane pointed free left it in the mix once more but Sarsfield’s would not be denied and they finished strongly with Laura McKernan pointing to bring her personal contribution for the evening to 1-6 and Rachel Rogan kicked the final point of the contest to send Sarsfield’s up to division 1 next year.

All Saints: 1 Ciara Devine, 2 Briana Lee Cushenan, 3 Niamh McMahon, 4 Kelly Wilson, 6 Katie Connolly, 13 Sinead McLaughlin, 7 Cliodhna Metrustry, 28 Cariona Quigley, 9 Roisin Ward, 10 Wiktoria Babuszawska, 11 Anna O’Kane, 12 Molly Brady, 14 Sianeese Maybin, 15 Marnie O’Neill, 16 Ella McLaughlin, 25 Emma Laverty, 18 Kelly O’Mullan, 22 C Hasson.

Sarsfields: 1 Niamh McNally, 2 Tammylee Taggart, 3 Laura Brady, 4 Francesca Quattromana, 5 Ellie Kearns, 6 Niamh Crothers, 7 Rebecca Crummey, 8 Duane Coleman, 9 Carla McKenna, 10 Orla McNulty, 11 Dearbhla Farrelly, 12 Naoise Farrelly, 13 Aimee Ferris, 14 Rachel Rogan, 15 Laura McKernan

Referee: Stephen Higgins (Tir na nOg)