Lidl Ladies’ NFL Division Four semi-finals
Antrim 5-8 Leitrim 3-10
ANTRIM, led by Bronagh Devlin, dominated a very entertaining and hard-fought Division Four semi-final at Kingscourt yesterday.
They were full value for their four-point win over last year’s TG4 All-Ireland intermediate champions, which moves them back up to Division Three for next season and sets up a final date with Fermanagh
Antrim got off to a whirlwind start with Lara Dahunsi firing over, while Anna Mullholland and Devlin found the Leitrim net in the opening three minutes.
Muireann Devaney rifled home a Leitrim goal in reply after six minutes and that was followed by two points from Michelle Guckian, one of them a free.
Leitrim took the lead for the first time in the game after Ailbhe Clancy was taken down for a 14th-minute penalty, which she converted. Antrim centre back Ciara Brown was sin-binned for fouling Clancy in the penalty incident.
A Leah Fox point four minutes later increased Leitrim’s advantage to two points, but a Dahunsi effort after 21 minutes brought Antrim back on level terms.
Maria O’Neill pointed a free that put Antrim into a lead they never subsequently relinquished. For the remainder of the half Antrim outgunned Leitrim by 0-4 to 0-2, with Devlin pointing twice and Teresa Mellon and Dúana Coleman adding a point apiece.
Leitrim answered with points from Laura O’Dowd and Ailbhe Clancy ,which left Antrim leading by 3-6 to 2-5 at the break.
Leitrim went further behind within two minutes of the restart when Nicole Jones hammered home the Saffrons’ fourth goal.
However, the Leitrim women responded determinedly to this setback when Devaney found the Antrim net within the space of 60 seconds and after that reduced the deficit with points from Guckian and Devaney.
Antrim got back on top, though, with Aine Tubridy and Devlin (free) whipping over points. Leitrim again managed to peg Antrim’s lead back to two thanks to Laura O’Dowd, who fired over twice in succession, but a 57th-minute Devlin goal ensured Antrim’s win, even though Dahunsi was sin-binned close to the final whistle.
Antrim B Devlin 2-3 (0-2f); L Dahusi 1-1; A Mulholland & N Jones 1-0 each; M O’Neill, T Mellon, D Coleman & A Tubridy 0-1 each
Leitrim M Guckian 1-4 (0-2f); M Devaney & A Clancy (1-0p) 1-1 each; L O’ Dowd 0-3; L Fox 0-1
Fermanagh 5-12 Sligo 3-13
Fermanagh booked their place in the final and also secured promotion with victory over a dogged Sligo side in Tarmonbarry.
The Ulster county missed out at this stage of the league last year and were not going to let the opportunity pass them by this year. Once again, Eimear Smyth was superb for Fermanagh.
Sligo made a fine start and held a three-point lead after six minutes. Fermanagh got their first score in the 10th minute through Smyth and a minute later they raised a green flag when Joanne Doonan’s shot came off the post and went across the line.
Smyth got Fermanagh’s second goal in the 16th minute and they moved five ahead in the 17th minute when Doonan pointed.
Sligo then had a purple patch. Ellen Kelleher kicked over a free before Sarah Hurley’s effort hit the butt of the post in the 21st minute. Three minutes later, a shot from Ciara Walsh did end up in the net.
One minute later and Sligo were back in front when a poor clearance fell to Cara King and she made no mistake.
It was end-to-end stuff and Fermanagh’s response was a goal from Doonan. Smyth kicked over a free and then in the 29th minute Cliodhna Martin grabbed the Ernesiders’ fourth goal.
Sligo’s Nicola Brennan hit over a nice point just before the break to leave the score 4-4 to 2-6 in favour of the Ulster side.
Fermanagh kicked 1-3 without reply in the opening five minutes of the second half. Smyth kicked over two frees; Molly McGloin hit over a lovely point, while Sinead Barrett grabbed their fifth goal to extend the lead to 10.
Credit to Sligo, they battled hard. Leah Duffy, Ciara Walsh and Tara Breheny kicked over points as they tried to cut the deficit, but with the influential Smyth in fine form, Fermanagh were able to edge further ahead.
Two points in a row for the full-forward put seven between the sides with 53 minutes gone on the clock.
Sligo tried to get a goal to bring them back into the game. Duffy hit over a free and then Ciara Walsh’s low drive was deflected out for a 45 in the 58th minute.
They did get a late consolation goal through Carol Coleman, but their hopes had gone by that stage.
Fermanagh E Smyth 1-8 (0-4f); J Doonan 2-1; C Martin & S Barrett 1-0 each; M McGloin, N McManus & B Smyth 0-1 each.
Sligo C Walsh 1-1; C King & C Coleman (f) 1-0 each; L Duffy 0-3 (0-1f); T Breheny, N Brennan & A McDaniel 0-2 each; R Kennedy, E Kelleher (f) & L Normanly (f) 0-1 each