St. Michaels 4-14, Blackhall Gaels 1-5,

St. Michaels ladies got their Intermediate Championship off to a winning start with this comprehensive victory over a gallant Blackhall Gaels side at a near empty Batterstown last evening. Both teams were missing players but that didn't detract from the quality of football on offer especially in the opening quarter.

It was St. Michaels who opened the scoring with a Marion Farrelly point straight from the throw-in but this was immediately cancelled out by the home side who added two on the trot before Seona Lynch equalized from a free on 4 minutes. Further points from Farrelly and Lynch put two between the sides before the Gaels bagged their only major on nine minutes for a 1-3 to 0-4 lead. Two points from Marion Farrelly levelled the match once more on twelve minutes and the same player was on hand to blast to the net on 17 minutes for her sides opening goal, 30 seconds later she popped over a further point for a 1-7 to 1-3 lead. Farrelly's involvement ended on 22 minutes as she was forced to retire through injury and was replaced by Fiona Nevin. However the wheels had come off the home sides wagon by that stage as they failed to score again until the 58th minute and as the opening half wore on Gillian Brogan split the posts twice while also acting as provider for Ella Reilly who found the back of the net and Patricia Owens who pointed. Sinéad McCormack added her name to the score sheet to leave her side with a commanding 2-11 to 1-3 interval lead.

The second half was somewhat of a damp squib as St. Michaels completely dominated. Sinéad McCormack collected two points before Alicia Curtis bagged her first goal and two minutes later a pile driver from Seona Lynch rebounded off the cross-bar and fell kindly to Curtis who made no mistake. Good defensive performances from Áine Sheridan, Shauna Harten, Mary Clinton and Lorraine Curtis restricted Blackhall Gaels to just two second half points.

St. Michaels team & scorers: Sarah Bradley, Marita Rogers, Áine Sheridan, Shauna Harten, Mary Carpenter, Mary Clinton, Lorraine Curtis, Sinéad McCormack 0-4, Marion Farrelly 1-5, Gillian Brogan 0-2, Alicia Curtis 2-0, Seona Lynch 0-2, Anna McQuaid, Patricia Owens 0-1, Ella Reilly 1-0.
Subs: Fiona Nevin for Marion Farrelly, Leanne Lynch for Gillian Brogan, Gillian Brogan for Marita Rogers. Patricia Owens sin binned on 47 minutes.

Referee: Jack Gordon.

Report and photo Pascal Reilly.

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