Limerick’s Mungret St Paul’s book LGFA All-Ireland club junior final spot after free-kick drama:
By Tom Clancy Limerick Leader Sport
LIMERICK’S Mungret St Paul’s are heading for the club’s first ever All-Ireland final, after their Ladies footballers prevailed, on frees, against Sligo’s Coolera Strandhill in their nail-biting semi-final clash in Tubbercurry on Saturday.
It took the trio of Grainne McKenna, Carol Bateman and Fiona Morrissey to kick the winning frees, after the sides had finished level after both 60 and 80 minutes.
Played at Kilcoyne Park, in Tubbercurry, Mungret St Paukl’s had to dig deep to claim the victory, which extends their season after Limerick Intermediate and Munster Junior success earlier this year.
John Horgan’s side will face into a final in two weeks’ time, against Na Dúnaibh of Donegal or Kilcock of Kildare, who meet on Sunday.
Both sides had scored last minute equalisers – Mungret’s from veteran, Claire Coughlan to force extra-time and Coolera Strandhill, via Mairead McIntyre, to force frees.
This was an absorbing if low scoring contest, which both will feel they didn’t deserve to lead. Mungret, struggled offensively against the breeze in the opening half but trailing 0-2 to 0-1 showed their defensive prowess which has served them well to date.
Scores from Anna McDaniel and then Leah Kerrigan had Strandhill ahead before a 25th minute McKenna free put just a point between them at the interval.
It was 0-2 each heading down the final stretch, with McKenna again on target from a free. However, Mungret’s hopes looked dashed when Orna Murphy gathered and buried to the net.
The composure of Mungret shone through, McKenna winning and scoring a free, and adding a second. There was a point between the sides in stoppage time. Deep, deep into seven additional minutes, Coughlan struck gold to force extra-time.
A superb right-footed effort from 40 meters justified her introduction.
Mungret led during extra-time, thanks to Megan O’Malley and McKenna. However, the final say went to Mairead McIntyre who tied it up with a close range effort.
Both sides nominated their five free takers. Mungret, through McKenna and then Bateman, went two clear. Despite missing their third, the Limerick ladies were winners thanks to a no-fuss effort from Fiona Morrissey.
Backed by friends and family, there was a sense of more history for a club firmly on the up. The final takes place on the weekend of December 14/15.
SCORERS: Mungret St. Pauls: Grainne McKenna 0-6 (frees); Claire Coughlan, Megan O’Malley 0-1 each. Coolera/Strandhill: Anna McDaniel 0-3 (frees); Orna Murphy 1-0; Leah Kerrigan, Mairead McIntyre 0-1 each.
FREE SCORERS: Coolera/Strandhill: Heather Cotter. Mungret St Paul’s: Grainne McKenna, Carol Bateman, Fiona Morrissey.
MUNGRET ST PAUL’S: Carol Bateman; Caoimhe O Neill, Laura Dunne, Mairead Clancy; Shannon Burke, Cameryn Moloney, Jillian Buckley; Clare O Meara, Áine Ryan (C); Emma O Rourke, Gráinne Mc Kenna, Niamh Crowley; Jayne Casey, Aoife Morrissey, Niamh O Keeffe. Subs: F Morrissey for O’Keeffe, Y Culhane for Crowley (both 39); C Coughlan for Casey (50); M O’Malley for O’Rourke (55); S Horgan for Buckley (60); J O’Malley for Moloney (69); K O’Mahony for O’Neill (70).
COOLREA STRANDHILL: Bebhinn Harte; Lisa Kilfeather, Holly Gilligan, Edwenia O’Malley (C); Susannah Gilligan,Eabha Cawley, Niamh O’Callaghan; Ruth Goodwin, Shona Dalton; Sarah McDaniel, Heather Cotter, Eimear McIntyre; Leah Kerrigan, Orna Murphy, Anna McDaniel. Subs: Mairead McIntyre for Gilligan (half-time), Caoimhe O’Sullivan for O’Callaghan (half-time); Lucie Cawley for Kerrigan (45); Laura-Ann Laffey for Murphy (60); Orna Murphy for Laffey (61 – et); Susannah Gilligan for O’Malley (70); Laura-Ann Laffey for Goodwin (76).
REFEREE: Ciaran Groome (Offaly)