Swinford-Killasser begin Connacht campaign with emphatic win
The Swinford-Killasser team pictured after their county final win against Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin. Picture: David Farrell Photography
In what was a one-sided affair from start to finish, Swinford-Killasser eased into the Connacht ladies junior football championship semi-final after soundly defeating Annaduff last Saturday afternoon.
By the time Leitrim inter-county forward Vivienne Egan got the away side’s first score on 18 minutes from a free, Swinford-Killasser had already put 2-4 on the scoreboard as their attack cut through the Leitrim champions almost at will.
Regina Mullaney and Briana Fallon, heroes of their county success earlier this month, got the opening points before Mullaney turned provider for Caitlin Henry to find the net on eight minutes.
Two minutes later, Henry got her second. Doing it all herself on this occasion, she put away the rebound after her initial shot was saved.
Fallon and Mullaney added their second scores of the half before Egan fired over Annaduff’s first of the afternoon. Swinford-Killasser struck back with efforts from Ella Gallagher and Briana Fallon’s third point, which just as easily could have been a third goal, before Egan gave Annaduff a glimmer of hope before half-time thanks to her second free and a brilliant point from play from over 30 metres out.
Trailing 2-6 to 0-3 at the break, Annaduff needed a quick start and Egan pointed her – and her side’s – fourth effort but Regina Mullaney would end this game as a contest four minutes into the second-half as she scored 1-1 without reply, her goal a thunderous drive past the Annaduff goalkeeper.
From there, Swinford-Killasser were happy to just to keep the board ticking for the remainder of the game. Sarah Rowley, a free, and Rhona Brennan both got singles before Swinford were dealt a blow on 41 minutes as Briana Fallon went off with a suspected hamstring injury.
Annaduff battled to the bitter end and scored three more points in the half, one from Ava Moll Lyons and two coming from the boot of Hannah Farrell Sterling, but Swinford finished with a late flurry themselves as Caitlin Henry took her tally to 2-4 on the day with four of Swinford’s last five points, one coming from a free, while Niamh Casey got the other to round off a comfortable day’s work for the Mayo junior ‘A’ champions.
Swinford will look to book their spot in the final this Saturday when they take on Roscommon champions Northern Harps in the Connacht semi-final. Throw-in time is at 1pm in Elphin.
Scorers – Swinford-Killasser: Caitlin Henry 2-4 (0-1f), Regina Mullaney 1-3, Briana Fallon 0-3, Ella Gallagher, Sarah Rowley (f), Rhona Brennan and Niamh Casey 0-1 each.
Annaduff: Vivienne Egan 0-4 (3f), Hannah Farrell Sterling 0-2, Ava Moll Lyons 0-1.
Swinford-Killasser: Aoife Groarke; Amy Dunleavy, Orla Mullaney, Laura McLoughlin; Emily Rowley, Aisling Hyland, Melissa Devaney; Ella Gallagher, Ann Tierney; Niamh Casey, Caitlin Henry, Rhona Brennan; Sarah Rowley, Briana Fallon, Regina Mullaney. Subs: Hazel Lavin (for S Rowley 39), Claudine Brennan (for Fallon 41-inj), Niamh Greggo and Caoimhe Dunne (for Brennan and Dunleavy 53), Rachel Mullaney (for Devaney 58).
Annaduff: Carmel Charles; Siofra Mooney, Eimear Quigley, Ellie Sharkey; Lauren Cox, Saoirse McGlynn, Isobel Fitzsimmon; Chloe Dolan, Chloe Charman; Aesha Newton, Aoibhe Charles, Hannah Farrell Sterling; Jolie Lyons, Vivienne Egan, Ava Moll Lyons. Subs: Erin Newton (for Lyons 38), Aoife Shanley and Eimear Keville (for Fitzsimmon and Charman 53), Maeve Newton (for Sharkey 54), Kayla Faughnan (for McGlynn 58), Chloe McWeeney (for Coz 60+2-inj).
REF: Eric Rainey (Sligo)
