Boardsmill 0.11
Na Fianna 0.8

This local derby was a tight physical contest from the opening whistle. Boardsmill opened brightly with Laura Griffin pointing in the first minute, but failed to build on that start. Laura Dempsey cracked a free off the cross bar and was wide with a subsequent free before Laura Bagnall burst through on goal only to be denied by Na Fianna's keeper . A free out ensued but a penalty could just have easily been given . Na Fianna broke quickly from the restart and pointed through Maeve Downey. Michelle Peel responded for the hosts following some slick interplay which released the midfielder in front of goal and she made no mistake from 20 yards . Aisling Ennis replied for Na Fianna from a free that was moved closer to goal following dissent by the home team. 15 minutes had elapsed and the teams were level a 2 points a piece.

Try as Boardsmill might, they could not open up the Na Fianna defence with their normal running game , indeed the game looked more like the recent Ulster football final with the teams setting up so defensively . In truth Na Fianna looked more comfortable in their formation breaking with speed and purpose with Aisling Ennis most effective. Boardsmill switched Michela Stellini and Aoibhin Cleary on their right wing to good effect however the Na Fianna defence marshaled well by full back Claire Coffey continued to pose problems for their hosts.

Edel Guy and Deirdre Flynn traded points before Boardsmill finally hit their stride . Laura Bagnall , a Laura Dempsey Free and Peel pointed for the hosts before Deirdre Flynn blasted a goal chance over the bar . Dempsey pointed again from a free just before the half time whistle to leave Boardsmill ahead 0.7 to 0.4

The Boardsmill mentors needed to refocus their charges but it was Na Fianna's who started brightest . Indeed but for an excellent block by Ciara Ashe on the dangerous Marie Healy Cole , the visitors could have been back on level terms within 5 minutes of the restart.

Healy-Cole was wide again shortly afterwards before Edel Guy and Laura Bagnall overplayed a clear goal chance which was then snuffed out by the Na Fianna defence . Aisling Ennis pointed a free on 38 minutes with namesake Shauna Ennis scoring a fine point on the run 7 minutes later . 15 minutes remained with the minimum between the sides . Boardsmill brought on Susan Kealy for Dempsey and she pointed a 20 metre free from wide on the left shortly after Helen Regan and Deirdre Flynn had clashed heavily in the middle of the pitch. The second half was frequently punctuated with stoppages with the Na Fianna physio the busier. The game was played in a tough no nonsense fashion with referee Colm McManus in full control .

Na Fianna had gained the ascendancy with 10 minutes left and recorded 2 points through Ennis ( Free) and Flynn to level the match with 5 minutes of normal time remaining .
The hosts responded well with the Cleary sisters combining to set up Siofra for the lead point. Boardsmill were now camped inside the Na Fianna 45 as full time approached , but could not penetrate the visitors massed defence and came away empty handed after 2 prolonged attacks . It was a game where a goal would surely have ensured victory for either side but there was little chance of either team raising a green flag given the tenacity and discipline both sides displayed in front of their goals .

5 additional minutes were played . Marie Healy-Cole went close to a goal before Boardsmill finally broke the visitors resistance with 2 fine points from Edel Guy and Helen Regan. The game ended Boardsmill 0.11 Na Fianna 0.8

Boardsmill were best served by Helen Regan , Ciara Ashe and Katie Hackett . They were well supported by Sarah Bagnall and Edel Guy. Boardsmill will take some comfort from securing a semi final slot and withstanding a stern test by a strong Na Fianna outfit . 8 players scored for the victors in an enthralling contest .

Boardsmill : E Murray , C Ashe C Murray , K Hackett , A Cleary , S Cleary (0.1) S Bagnall , M Peel(0.2) H Regan (0.1) M Stellini , L Dempsey (0.2f) L Griffin (0.1) E Guy (0.2) L Bagnall (0.1) E Troy . Subs S Kealy (0.1) for Dempsey Tweet

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