Moate up the ante in second half to sink Milltownpass

Moate 3-10 Milltownpass 2-6

Trailing by 0-4 to 2-3 at half-time and down to 14 players, Moate produced a superb second half display to overpower Milltownpass in Shandonagh last Saturday afternoon and set up a Westmeath LGFA Intermediate Championship final showdown with neighbours Caulry.

Wearing their alternate green jerseys to avoid a clash of colours, Ken Berry’s side looked to be in trouble after playing second fiddle to last year’s junior champions for much of the opening half.

But with the strong wind behind them, they outscored their opponents by 3-6 to 0-3 after the restart to win in some style and repeat their group stage victory over Milltownpass, who were left to rue some wayward shooting.

Amid sunshine and showers, the winners got off to a great start thanks to early points from Chloe Moran and Therese Geoghegan (free). But they were rocked back on their heels when a fortuitous Caoimhe Coogan goal – after referee John Gallagher had played the advantage rule – gave Milltownpass the lead in the third minute.

Eva Fox levelled two minutes later before Chloe Malone’s free restored Moate’s lead and ended an 11-minute scoring drought. Sadhbh Gorman and Erin Cleary combined to set up Alanna Coogan for the equaliser before the ‘Pass had a major let-off when Fox rattled their crossbar and the ball was eventually cleared.

The Hogan Park outfit were reduced to 14 players in the 25th minute when corner back Niamh Palmer was sin-binned for fouling Alanna Coogan as she bore down on goal, and Erin Cleary slotted over the resultant free. Milltownpass made their numerical advantage count when Alanna Coogan set up Caoimhe Coogan for their second goal a minute later, and Sadhbh Gorman added a point to leave them five up at the interval.

But Moate quickly wrestled back control after the resumption and had three points on the board from Geoghegan (a free), substitute Tara Hughes and Chloe Malone by the time Palmer returned to the fray. The experienced Stacey Holloway reduced the deficit to the minimum before Geoghegan’s third free in the 40th minute restored parity.

The momentum remained firmly with the winners who jumped into a 1-9 to 2-3 lead a minute later when Emily Craven fired home a spectacular goal from Eva Fox’s centre.

Milltownpass dug in and were handed a glorious opportunity to level in the 48th minute when wing back Orlagh O’Brien was tugged back for a penalty. Ellen Flanagan made the long journey up from full back to take the spot kick, only to be denied by Moate ‘keeper Grace Coughlan’s outstretched foot.

Further salt was rubbed into the Milltownpass wounds two minutes later when Annemarie Moran soloed through for Moate’s second goal to complete a six-point swing.

To their credit, Milltownpass didn’t let their heads drop. Instead, they roared back with three unanswered points from Gorman (two, one free) and Cleary to leave just a goal in it, 2-6 to 2-9, with five minutes remaining. But those proved to be their only scores of the second period as Moate finished with a flourish.

Substitute Caroline Malynn, who hadn’t been long in the game, put the unmarked Chloe Moran through for the insurance goal in the 56th minute before Chloe Malone applied the coup de grace in injury-time.

Player of the match: Stacey Holloway led Moate’s second half comeback before taking a well-earned rest in the closing stages. The long-serving centre forward was ably assisted by Chloe Moran, Annemarie Moran and Chloe Malone as the south Westmeath club made amends for last year’s semi-final loss to Goldsmiths.

What's next: Moate will meet neighbours Caulry in the Westmeath LGFA Intermediate Championship final on Saturday, October 3, and the local derby aspect should add another intriguing element to the occasion.

Scorers – Moate: C Moran 1-1; T Geoghegan 0-4 (3fs); A Moran and E Craven 1-0 each; Chloe Malone 0-2 (1f); S Holloway, E Fox and T Hughes 0-1 each. Milltownpass: C Coogan 2-0; S Gorman 0-3 (1f); E Cleary 0-2 (1f); A Coogan 0-1.

Moate - Grace Coughlan; Claire O’Donoghue, Louise Payne, Niamh Palmer; Holly Keenan, Chloe Moran, Áine Bracken; Therese Geoghegan, Annemarie Moran; Vanessa O’Brien, Stacey Holloway, Lara Deehan; Emily Craven, Eva Fox, Chloe Malone. Subs: Tara Hughes for O’Brien (26 mins), Caroline Malynn for Holloway (53).

Milltownpass - Caitlín Heslin; Anusha Smullen, Ellen Flanagan, Ava Cosgrove; Mairead Lynam, Amber Boyne, Orlagh O’Brien; Claire Gaffney, Charlotte Butler-Clyne; Naomi McNamee, Alanna Coogan, Eva Jackson; Sadhbh Gorman, Caoimhe Coogan, Erin Cleary. Subs: Jennifer Campbell for Lynam (40 mins), Rachel Flood for McNamee (57).

Referee – John Gallagher.