St. Michaels 2-18, Donaghmore Ashbourne 0-5

Conditions were ideal in Carlanstown last evening for this sixth round of the ladies IFC and the final score gives a fair reflection of the St. Michaels dominance throughout. This was a valuable win which puts them back on track following their defeat to Dunboyne in their previous outing.

St. Michaels pace, movement and overall better balance was crucial and their speed of striking was a step above the Donaghmore side who battled gamefully throughout, but never really threatened to turn the game around. The home side had 1-7 on the score sheet when the visitors opened their account with a point in the 24th minute, they added a further two points before Paul Mooney blew the half time whistle with St. Michaels leading 1-7 to 0-3.

Six different players got in on the scoring action in that opening half with Sinéad McCormack opening the scoring with a point from a free, Ella Reilly found the back of the net on 12 minutes after she got on the end of a high ball in from Leanne Lynch, she also followed on with a point from play, Marion Farrelly 0-2 and Leanne Lynch, Seona Lynch and Alicia Curtis also added a point apiece before the interval.

Donaghmore would have been expected to come up with a response in the second half however it never materialised and St. Michaels resumed full of intent with three points from Sinéad McCormack the latter of which was at the end of a move started by netminder Gillian Bennett in the 37th minute. Credit must go to Donaghmore's netminder Emily O'Connor who pulled off several fine saves from Marion Farrelly in the second half, however Farrelly did eventually beat her in the 42nd minute with a rasping shot to the bottom corner.

As team mentors Christy Regan and Tony Morris began to empty their bench the points flowed with McCormack adding two more efforts from play and Alicia Curtis, Seona Lynch, Gillian Brogan and Megan O'Brien all posting a point apiece before the final whistle sounded.

This was an excellent team effort from the St. Michaels girls, central to which was their scoring prowess with 8 players getting on the scoresheet, their midfield duo of Megan O'Brien and Sinéad McCormack who were extremely industrious offering support in all sectors of the pitch, the collective effort of their defensive unit which never afforded Donaghmore Ashbourne any real time or space in which to manoeuvre, being quite compact, disciplined and composed throughout and of course the return of the vastly experienced Gillian Bennett who called the shots from between the posts and set up several attacking moves with her intelligent and quick distribution of the ball.

St. Michaels team & scorers: Gillian Bennett, Marita Rogers, Elaine Coyne, Áine Sheridan, Mary Carpenter, Mary Clinton, Lorraine Curtis, Sinéad McCormack 0-6, Megan O'Brien 0-1, Gillian Brogan 0-1, Alicia Curtis 0-2, Seona Lynch 0-2, Leanne Lynch 0-1, Marion Farrelly 1-4, Ella Reilly 1-1. Subs: Deirbhile Curran for Seona Lynch, Shauna Harten for Marita Rogers, Clodagh Corcoran for Alicia Curtis.

Referee: Paul Mooney

Report and photo Pascal Reilly.

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