SENIORS END LEAGUE CAMPAIGN

Hard luck to the Laois Senior Ladies Football team who exited the Tesco Homegrown LGFA National League Division 1 at the semi-final stage on Sunday, with a 4-12 to 2-8 loss to Cork at Sean Treacy Park in Tipperary Town.

Laois had already beaten Cork in the group stages, and full credit must go to Tom McKitterick's charges who put in another spirited performance, but Cork had made the stronger start.

Valerie Mulcahy bagged 3-5 for the Rebelettes, including a first half hat-trick as Cork led by 3-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

Despite playing against the wind on the restart, Laois put in a tremendous display and drew the second half, scoring 2-4 to Cork's 1-7 in the closing 30 minutes.

The O'Moore's got the second half off to a powerful start with 17-year old Ciara Burke scoring the first of her two second half goals.

The Sarsfields player had the ball in the Cork net inside 40 seconds of the restart, and hit the back of the Munster sides net again late on.

Cork claimed their fourth goal in the 44th minute with a stunning Rhona Ní Bhuachalla effort, as they held out to face Mayo in the decider.

Many thanks to all of the players and management for their efforts to date. Laois's attentions now turn to the Leinster Championship, where they play the winners of Meath and Westmeath at the semi-final stage on June 30th.

CORK: E Harte; Ann Marie Walsh, B Stack, A Barrett; D O'Reilly, B Corkery, G O'Flynn; Annie Walsh (0-2), R Buckley; O Farmer (0-2), Angela Walsh, O Finn; V Mulcahy (3-5, 5f), R Ní Bhuachalla (1-2), E Farmer (0-1). Subs: D O'Sullivan for Finn (36), V Foley for Barrett (51), R Phelan for Ann Marie Walsh (55), N Cleary for Ní Bhuachalla (57), S Kelly for E Farmer (60).

LAOIS: C Dollard; C Dunne, J Moore, M O'Grady; R Phelan, A Taylor, N Kirwan; A Quigley, S Quigley; M Murphy, T Lawlor (0-5, 4f), C Burke (2-1); Martha Kirwan, M Dunne, Mary Kirwan (0-2, 2f). Subs: S Doogue for S Quigley (25), L.M. Maher for Martina Kirwan (h.t.), G Dunne for Phelan (h.t.), D O'Shea for M Dunne (50), M McEvoy for O'Grady (56).

REFEREE: PJ Rabbitte (Galway).

MINORS IN LEINSTER FINAL

Laois Minor Ladies Footballers are in Leinster Final action this Sunday May 5th when they face Kildare in the 'B' decider in Clane GAA Grounds at 1.30pm.

Laois emerged from a tough Group 1 thanks to wins over Offaly and Longford, following a first round loss by two points to Meath.

The O'Moore's lost to a strong Dublin outfit in the semi-finals, but now have a chance to bounce back and take silverware against a Kildare side who lost to Meath by a point following a semi-final replay.

Management team of Linda Hooban, Declan Delaney, Pat O'Sullivan and James Kelly.

The winners progress to the All-Ireland semi-finals. The game will be played as part of a double-header with the 'A' final between Meath and Dublin which takes place at 3.15pm.

LAOIS MINOR PANEL: Emma Hooban, Kellie Preston, Clodagh Dunne, Nicole Byrne, Fiona Dooley, Clare Dollard, Aoife Conroy, Meaghan Dunne, Aine Haberlin, Rachel O'Connell, Ciara Burke, Laura Marie Maher, Shannon Costello, Aine Fitzpatrick, Caoimhe Simms, Fiona Kelly, Ciara Delaney, Anna Fitzgibbon, Niamh Power, Aoife Boyle, Cliodhna Dunne, Niamh Dunne, Emma Murphy, Sharon Kelly, Eimear O'Sullivan, Libby Waldron, Claire Kirwan, Leona Delaney.

FEILE FINAL TONIGHT

The Laois LGFA U14 Feile Final takes place tonight (Monday 29th) at 7pm in The Heath with St. Conleths and Shanahoe vieing for the right to take part in the All-Ireland Feile in Derry from June 28th-30th.

St Conleths beat Ballyroan and Park/Ratheniska in the group stages, and followed this up with a quarter-final win over The Heath and a semi-final win over neighbours St. Pauls.

Shanahoe have been equally impressive in their run to the decider with wins over Borris-in-Ossory and Sarsfields in the group stages, and St. Joseph's last time out.

St Conleths are captained by Eva Galvin, with Megan Walsh the Shanahoe captain and Aoife Murphy the vice-captain.

St Conleths are managed by Claire O'Connell, Thomas Hoey and Caroline Havill. The Shanahoe management is Fint Clooney and Mary Griffin.

ST CONLETHS PANEL: Lydia Darley, Sile Burbage, Rachel Downey, Lauren Hogan, Mary Cotter, Fiona Dempsey, Olivia Deverell, Eva Galvin, Shauna Quirke, Sinead Cullen, Naomi Luttrell, Tinashe Chapwanya, Grainne Smith, Rebecca Browne, Robyn Hackett, Aislinn Whooley, Erin Murphy, Amy Byrne, Lauren Connolly, Aoife Carey, Ciara Hogan, Jennifer Aherne, Nicole Havill, Leah Cooney, Emma Stafford.

SHANAHOE PANEL: Rachel Clooney, Tracy Brown, Yeaneah O'Connell, Dearbhla Kelly, Aoife Murphy, Mary Ann Reddin, Hannah Sheridan, Megan Walsh, Róisin Dwyer, Chloe Fox, Maggie O'Toole, Gráinne Phelan, Sarah Hennessy, Hazel Shorthall, Caoimhe Earls, Isabel Finlay, Emily Jacob, Sarah Jacob, Leanne Hyland, Alice Walsh, Nicola Ryan, Leanne Boyhan, Niamh Saunders, Rachel Hiney, Aoife Clooney.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GETS UNDERWAY

The Laois Senior Ladies Football Championship gets underway on Tuesday night with the first round of group games.

In Group A, Reigining champions Timahoe face Crettyard and Park/Ratheniska take on Portlaoise. In Group B Sarsfields host Shanahoe and St. Conleth's take on St. Brigid's.

All first round games are at 7.30pm with the first named team at home. The second round is due to take place on May 22nd and Round 3 on either July 23rd or 31st.

UNDER 12 DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

Under 12 Development Squad training continues this Saturday. in Ballyroan, starting at 11.30 sharp. The players are aiming towards participation for Laois in the Leinster Blitz which takes place in June.

REGISTRATIONS

All clubs are reminded that the closing date for registration of members is this Wednesday May 1st. Please submit all registrations as a matter of urgency to Zara Hurley on 085-8210410 or email: [email protected]

UPCOMING FIXTURES

Monday April 29th
Laois Ladies Football U14 Feile Final
St Conleths v Shanahoe, The Heath, 7pm

Tuesday April 30th
Laois Ladies Senior Football Championship
(First named team at home venue)

GROUP A:
Timahoe v Crettyard, 7.30pm. Referee: Kevin Phelan
Park/Ratheniska v Portlaoise, 7.30pm. Referee: Joe Brennan

GROUP B:

Sarsfields v Shanahoe, 7.30pm. Referee: Niall McCormack
St Conleths v St Brigids, 7.30pm. Referee: Seamus O'Shea

Sunday May 5th

Leinster Minor Ladies Football 'B' Final

Laois v Kildare, Clane GAA Club, 1.30pm.


TWITTER/FACEBOOK

Laois Ladies Gaelic Football Association are now on both Twitter and Facebook.

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/laoislgfa @laoislgfa

FACEBOOK: Find us at 'Laois LGFA' Tweet

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