Connacht LGFA Junior Semi Final (MN)

Northern Harps 4-14

Swinford/ Killasser 5-10

Eoin Horkan 

Elphin 

A last minute free from Lauren Shannagher was the difference in this titanic semi final on Saturday afternoon.

From the opening whistle the home side broke forward and took the lead through Shauna McGrath. The tie was level a minute later when Amy Dunleavy drove forward  and slotted over. After two goal chances for the victors it was the Gaels that then bagged two inside three minutes as Ciara Cunningham and Lauren Shannager rattled the back of the net. The purple patch continued as Leah Casey and McGrath extended the lead inside the quarter hour mark. The next few minutes belonged to Sarah Rowley as she raised a white flag before finding the far corner of the net minutes later.The last ten minutes of this tie was a score fest as three more minors from Cunningham, Shannager and Casey  were canceled out by a goal and point from Caitlin Henry. In the final five minutes the home side piled forward against the breeze and a double from McGrath and a follow up from Cunningham looked to have sent them to have time in a comfortable position . The Mayo side had other ideas winning a penalty which was duly converted by Melissa Dunleavy leaving a goal in it at the break.

The second half produced the start of dreams of Swinford Ella Gallagher  fired over before a goal and two points from Roscommon native Regina Mullaney to give her side the lead. Down the far end McGrath was causing havoc splitting the posts again leaving two in the score with eight gone in the half. The tie was level by the midway mark of the half with Shannagher and Casey firing over for the home side.

Playing against the wind was suiting both sides especially Rhona Brennan as her runs were causing the Harps serious trouble.One of these resulted in a fine goal before Dunleavy and Mullaney extended the lead with ten left. Just as it looked like the game had swung back in the east Mayo side's favour,up  stepped  Cunningham again to raise her second green flag of the game.  The final two scores of the game from the side in red and black were from the boot of veteran Mullaney before Henry finished the scoring as it looked like they had done enough . This was until substitute Grace Cullen netted her sides fourth goal of the game before sharpshooter Shannagher levelled from play before splitting the posts with a dead ball on the final whistle leaving the home crowd delirious.

Northern Harps;Anna Carty;Sarah Gunn,Rachel Gormley,Kellie Hunt;Sinead Keavney,Anna McGrath,Grace Finnerty;Shauna McGrath(0-5 1f),Leah Casey(0-3);Louise Enright, Lauren Shannagher(1-4),Orlaith Callaghan;Hannah Gunn, Ciara Cunningham(2-2),Freya Finnerty.

Subs Used:Rachel Bolger for Kellie Hunt, Aoibhinn Gilligan for Hannah Gunn, Grace Cullen(1-0) for Freya Finnerty.

Swinford/Killasser:Aoife Groake;Amy Dunleavy(0-1),Orla Mullaney,Laura McLoughlin;Emily Rowley,Aisling Hyland, Melissa Devaney(1-1 pen);Ella Gallagher(0-1),Anna Tierney;Niamh Casey,Caitlin Henry(1-2 1f),Rhona Brennan(1-0);Sarah Rowley(1-1),Hazel Lavin,Regina Mullaney(1-4).

Subs Used:Claudine Brennan for Hazel Lavin,Caoimhe Dunne for Sarah Rowley.

Referee :Colm Conway.

Northern Harps 

Swinford/Killasser 

Referee