Rampant Mayo girls bang the Drum'
Claremorris captain Eilis Higgins with referee Gus Chapman and Drumkeerin vice-captains Sarah Feeney and Ella McNamara prior to the throw-in of their Connacht LGFA intermediate semi-final last Sunday.
Claremorris produced a commanding all-round display to sweep aside Drumkeerin in their Connacht quarter-final on Sunday afternoon, a performance built on power, precision and unrelenting teamwork from start to finish.
The hosts opened brightly, winning possession straight from the throw-in and immediately turning it into a score as Ann Marie Gallagher fired them into the lead, all before a Claremorris player had even touched the ball. That was as good as it got for the home side however, as Laura Kelly replied in kind to bring the sides level and spark what would become a very one-sided contest.
Once they settled, the South Mayo outfit took complete control. Points from Isobel Phillips, Bree Hession and Rebecca Kean established an early cushion before the influential Nina Wallace struck the first major of the afternoon, finding herself unmarked near the goal before finishing clinically to the back of the net.
Claremorris’ confidence grew with every attack. Kelly added another neat point, while Ashleagh Salmon and Hession (from a free) kept the scoreboard ticking as their side began to pull clear. The Leitrim side's defence struggled to contain the visitors’ movement and pace, and Claremorris continued to dictate every sector of the field.
As the half entered its closing stages, Laura Kelly struck again – this time raising a green flag after a slick passing move that carved open the home rearguard. A further Hession free extended the gap to double figures and although Gallagher offered a brief response when a long-range free dropped fortuitously into the Claremorris net, there was no halting the momentum. Late points from Wallace and Phillips ensured the visitors carried a commanding twelve-point advantage into the interval.
Claremorris almost picked up where they left off straight after the restart. Wallace looked destined to rattle the net once more before being pulled down, resulting in a yellow card for the Drumkeerin defender. Hession slotted over the resulting free to maintain her accuracy from placed balls. Gallagher, as ever the Leitrim club’s main threat, responded with a point, but the hosts were finding scores increasingly hard to come by.
With the wind now at their backs, Claremorris began to launch long, accurate deliveries into their forward line, where Kelly was proving unstoppable. Another Hession free, followed by a fine effort from Siomha McNulty, stretched the margin further as Claremorris kept their foot firmly on the pedal.
The Claremorris bench then added even more impetus, with several substitutes making an instant impression. Áine Lynn was among them, finishing a lovely flowing move to bag Claremorris’ third goal of the afternoon – a score that fully reflected their superiority across the park.
By now, the game was beyond the reach of the Leitrim champions but Claremorris showed no signs of easing off. Hession continued to punish any indiscipline with another pointed free, before substitutes Emma Fallon and Alana Kelly chipped in with fine scores from play – the latter converting with her very first touch with a long range dead ball.
As the clock ticked down, Laura Kelly added her third point of an impressive afternoon’s work, while Alana Kelly followed up with her second in the dying moments. Gallagher, who kept battling right to the end, rounded off the scoring for Drumkeerin with a late consolation effort.
When the final whistle sounded, there was no doubting the better team. Claremorris had combined hard work with clinical finishing, their attack led brilliantly by Laura Kelly and supported by the consistent accuracy of Hession and the industry of Wallace and Phillips. Their defence, too, stood strong whenever tested.
The result sees Claremorris book their place in the Connacht semi-final, and on this evidence, few sides will relish the prospect of facing them. Confident, cohesive, and full of scoring options, the South Mayo side look like a team on a mission.
Scorers – Claremorris: Laura Kelly 1-3, Bree Hession 0-6 (4f), Nina Wallace 1-1, Aine Lynn 1-0, Isobel Philllips and Alana Kelly (1f) 0-2 each, Siomha McNulty, Ashleagh Salmon, Rebecca Kean and Emma Fallon 0-1 each.
Drumkeerin: Ann Marie Gallagher 1-3 (1-0f).
Drumkeerin: Martina Gallagher; Ellen Gallagher, Anna Hazlett, Natasha McTiernan; Lauren Wynne, Shannon O’Grady, Shyneece Gallagher; Sarah Feeney, Shona Wynne; Kayla Maguire, Ann Marie Gallagher, Ella McNamara; Rachel McPartlan, Natasha Kelly, Saoirse Wynne. Subs: Sophie O’Grady (for McNamara), Riona Redican (for Maguire), Lauraine Clark (for McPartlan), Aoife McCauley (for S Wynne), Keeley Harrison (for Shannon O’Grady).
Claremorris: Claire Kean; Marina Cawley, Emma Higgins, Eilis Higgins; Aishling Cummins, Amy Cummins, Alana Fitzpatrick; Isobel Phillips, Siomha McNulty; Ashleagh Salmon, Bree Hession, Sienna Kelly; Nina Wallace, Laura Kelly, Rebecca Kean. Subs: Aine Lynn (for S Kelly), Emma Fallon (for Salmon), Alana Kelly (for R Kean), Roisin Horkan (for Hession), Sile Streciwilk (for Aishling Cummins).
REF: Gus Chapman (Sligo)
