Dazzling Doherty helps keep Rovers on title course
Nephin provided a stunning autumnal backdrop to Sunday morning's meeting of MacHale Rovers and Aghamore in Bofeenaun. Picture: Pauline Flatley/Aghamore GAA
A quick return to senior remains on the cards for MacHale Rovers as they defeated Aghamore last Sunday morning to book their place in the intermediate final.
Mayo minor and senior forward Kayla Doherty was in outstanding form, scoring nine points, while her county teammates Sinead Walsh and Annie Gough put in massive shifts. Last year’s junior ‘A’ champions Aghamore asked some big questions but the defending from Rovers was resolute, while Charlie Reilly-Benson pulled off two massive saves to keep Aghamore at arm’s length.
Rovers, who won the intermediate title in 2023, got the first of their three goals inside the opening minute thanks to Sinead Walsh, as the All-Star nominee ran through the heart of the Aghamore defence before coolly finishing.
Louise Cassidy and Kayla Doherty traded points before the Red and White were back to within a point thanks to efforts by Siobhan Mooney and Aoife Lilly.
Rovers would score three of the next four points to maintain a three-point gap going into the final six minutes of the half. However, Aghamore, who had the majority of possession in the second quarter, brought the game back to within a point thanks to scores from Meabh Delaney and Louise Cassidy but Rovers would net a crucial second goal before the break as Emily Murray was quickest to react to Kayla Doherty’s point attempt coming back off the post to rifle home and put them 2-4 to 0-6 ahead.
That four-point lead was wiped out inside the opening nine minutes of the second-half. Half-time substitute, Mayo attacker Saoirse Delaney got a point before a great run by Meabh Delaney set up Niamh Mooney to find the net to level the game.
Kayla Doherty and Niamh Mooney exchanged scores before Rovers retook the lead thanks to a third goal on 44 minutes. Full-back Laoise Coyne made a great run from deep and lashed it past Cassie Niland.
A Niamh Mooney free brought it back to two before Reilly-Benson brilliantly denied Louise Cassidy what looked a dead certain goal on 50 minutes to put them ahead. A trio of Kayla Doherty points late made sure of a Rovers victory late on, and they will now meet Claremorris in the decider next month.
Scorers – MacHale Rovers: Kayla Doherty 0-9 (3f), Sinead Walsh, Emily Murray and Laoise Coyne 1-0 each.
Aghamore: Niamh Mooney 1-3 (0-2f), Louise Cassidy and Siobhan Mooney 0-2 each, Aoife Lilly (f), Meabh Delaney and Saoirse Delaney 0-1 each.
MacHale Rovers: Charlie Reilly-Benson; Deirbhle Doyle, Laoise Coyne, Ruth Queenan; Bronwyn McAndrew, Annie Gough, Grace Murray; Eilis Keane, Sinead Walsh; Amy Murphy, Emily Murray, Caoimhe; Martina Gallagher, Kayla Doherty, Amy Doherty. Subs: Emma Pritchett (for Gallagher ht), Aoife Gordon (for McAndrew 43), Ailbhe Doyle and Ally Gallagher (for Doyle and Murphy 54), Caoimhe Tolan (for Murray 56).
Aghamore: Cassie Niland; Caoimhe Delaney, Rachel Lyons, Lilian Keane; Ciara Delaney, Meabh Delaney, Ella Mulkeen; Mairead Mooney, Anna Lyons; Ellen Neylon, Louise Cassidy, Niamh Mooney; Siobhan Mooney, Emer Delaney, Aoife Lilly. Subs: Saoirse Delaney (for Caoimhe Delaney ht), Kate Morley (for E Delaney 53).
REF: Rory Courell (Islandeady)
