Kasey’s goal is crucial in narrow triumph for Moy Davitts
MacHale Rovers were beaten by the visiting Moy Davitts team in last Sunday's Mayo LGFA intermediate championship semi-final.
Sunday afternoon saw MacHale Rovers welcome Moy Davitts to Ardagh where an old rivalry was reignited with a place in this year’s intermediate final up for grabs.
MacHale Rovers took the lead after three minutes as Kayla Doherty converted a free to raise a white flag. Kate Byrne fired over an equaliser in the tenth minute as she applied the finish to a patient Moy Davitts move. Doherty replied up the opposite end with a point on the spin for Rovers to give them the lead again, however, this would be the last time they lead on the day.
Natasha Gaughan proved a handful to manage in the Moy Davitts inside line and chipped in with a triplet of singles in six minutes. The first came from a free, the second a point on the turn and the third following another patient move by the visitors.
Sinead Walsh opened her account for MacHale Rovers by converting a free, but this was quickly cancelled out by Byrne up the opposite end. The Moy Davitts centre-forward added her second with a curling effort off her left boot to leave Davitts ahead by a couple of points at half-time.
The hosts levelled the contest within five minutes of the restart with Doherty adding her third point from a free while Eilis Keane struck from play, but Moy Davitts responded with another unanswered three points to edge ahead once again. Gaughan fired over her fourth, Tracey Hall punished an intercepted kickout and Kasey Ruane applied the finish to her fine solo run.
Doherty was at hand again for Rovers to narrow her side’s deficit with her fourth and soon after, the hosts had a chance to raise the first green flag of the afternoon. Sinead Walsh ran at the heart of the Moy Davitts defence and fisted the ball to the back post where Emma Sheridan came close to finishing into the back of the net. Rovers kept fighting however and Walsh added her second of the day from a free to leave one between the sides with twelve to play.
Sandra Hall doubled the lead of Moy Davitts with a fine individual point, but this was quickly followed by a couple of singles from Walsh as she converted two frees in as many minutes to leave the contest level.
Moy Davitts regained their three point cushion with four to go as Ruane found the back of the net from close range – and this time Rovers had no answer. Doherty did round off her tally of five points for the day with a point from play but that still left Moy Davitts the victors by two.
Scorers – Moy Davitts: Kasey Ruane 1-1, Natasha Gaughan 0-4 (0-1f), Kate Byrne 0-2, Tracey Hall and Sandra Hall 0-1.
MacHale Rovers: Kayla Doherty 0-5 (0-2f), Sinead Walsh 0-4 (0-4f), Eilis Keane 0-1.
MacHale Rovers: Charlie Reilly Benson; Deirbhle Doyle, Madeline Keane, Bronwyn McAndrew; Amy Doherty, Ally Gallagher, Grace Murray; Sinead Walsh, Emily Murray; Claire Hegarty, Kayla Doherty, Eilis Keane; Niamh Hegarty, Sarah Gough, Caoimhe Walsh. Subs: Emma Sheridan (for Gough), Hannah McHugh (for McAndrew), Ruth Jordan (for G Murray).
Moy Davitts: Emma Galligan; Steph Loughney, Beth Roche, Rebecca Conlon; Erin Dootson, Ava McGahon, Avadh Gaughan; Tracey Hall, Sarah Carney; Daina Towey, Kate Byrne, Orla McHale; Sandra Hall, Natasha Gaughan, Kasey Ruane. Sub: Rhea Gostick (for Conlon).
