Brave Moate CS revival falls short as Mayo girls advance

Moate Community School, having been in arrears by a whopping 11 points at the interval, made a highly creditable recovery to out-score their opponents by 2-7 to 1-4 in the second half of this All-Ireland Ladies Football Schools Senior 'B' Semi-Final at a sunny but blustery Kilbride on Thursday afternoon last. But unfortunately, their renaissance was not enough to prevent a physically stronger Mount St Michael, Claremorris, from capitalising on their first-half scoring superiority and booking their place in the All-Ireland final of this competition. Originally scheduled for Dr. Hyde Park, this game was subsequently switched to Knockcroghery, but, third time lucky, had the setting of Roscommon's SF training H/Q at Kilbride, where the local club had their grounds in excellent playing condition, even if their electronic scoreboard was not in use. The Lake County ladies have had a gruelling schedule recently and this was their third important match in 10 days - Leinster Semi-Final on March 15th and Leinster Final on March 19th. They travelled across the Shannon buoyed by that magnificent provincial decider win over Knocklyon 6 days earlier, in which they scored five goals post en-route to the title. However, they were about to undergo a torrid time against the Connacht title holders from referee PJ Rabbitte's throw-in on Thursday, so much so that half-time could not come quickly enough. Claremorris, fielding in a Royal Blue strip, and aided by an influential breeze, went straight for the jugular from the off. A beleaguered Moate rearguard were forced into conceding frees early on, with corner-forward Rebecca Kean flagging 3 points in as many minutes from placed balls. Moate did lift the siege on six minutes when good work by midfielder Arlene Coughlan instigated an attack which produced their opening score, a point from wing-forward Kelly Preston. Unfortunately, it would be their only flag to raise in an eminently forgettable spell for the Westmeath ladies. A rampant Mayo team, dominating in most sectors, surged forward incessantly and, but for some heroic saved by goalkeeper Christine Warburton, they could have been out of sight by half-time. As it was, they added a further 1-6 in the half, their superiority further illustrated by their recording 6 wides and forcing four '45s'. Rebecca Kean (daughter of former Mayo and UCD star PJ Kean) was tormentor-in-chief in the scoring stakes, adding a further 1-2, her 26th minute goal coming after a pass from Laura Kelly. With Kelly, Doireann Hughes and Aoife Hyland also on target, the Claremorris squad headed for the dressing rooms 1-9 to 0-1 to the good. Moate mentors Fidelma Nolan and Lisa Buggy obviously laid it on the line at the break, as their charges emerged a transformed team. Although Rebecca Kean drew first blood in the second half with a point, the Westmeath ladies, with corner-back Lorna Henson now utilised at wing-forward, responded with courage and determination. Team captain and No. 11 Philippa Maher pointed, followed almost immediately by a cracking goal, when Philippa took a pass from Kelly Preston and convincingly beat Claremorris keeper Elaine Murphy. The switching of Lorna Henson to attack proved a master stroke, the Castledaly player adding another point a minute later. A Moate revival now looked a distinct possibility, but they were dealt a cruel blow minutes after having a defender sin-binned. Claremorris midfielder Stephanie Delaney combined with Aoife Hyland and while the latter's shot was brilliantly saved by keeper Christine Warburton, wing-forward Doireann Hughes goaled from the rebound. Moate almost had the perfect response when corner-forward Grace Coughlan was just inches wide of the goalpost, but two quick points from wing-back Aisling Claffey and Philippa Maher had them back in contention. The Mayo team then used their strength in key positions to restore their grip on this semi-final. Three points from play by Delaney and Keane (2), with Moate's Catherine Lynam (free) responding, left 10 points between the contestants with only minutes left. Moate, to their great credit, were far from finished and launched a grand-stand denouement which produced 1-2. The outstanding Lorna Henson landed a smashing point, with Clodagh Flanagan then forcing a point-blank save. Grace Coughlan found the net a minute into injury time, with Catherine Lynam adding another pointed free in the 64th minute. Moate launched an incessant series of attacks as a clearly rattled Claremorris had their collective backs to the ball. The Westmeath girls overcame another second-half sin-binning, but a gallant fightback came up short at the finish. SCORERS - Claremorris: R Kean 1-8 (0-4f), D Hughes 1-1, L Kelly (0-2), A Hyland, S Delaney 0-1 each. Moate CS: P Maher 1-2, G Coughlan 1-0, L Henson 0-2, C Lynam 0-2 (2f), K Preston, A Claffey 0-1 each. MOUNT ST MICHAEL, CLAREMORRIS: Elaine Murphy, Deirdre Dolan, Rachel Tierney, Katie McCormack, Maeve Kirrane, Rebecca Kearns, Amy Brett, Stephanie Delaney, Sarah Tierney, Doireann Hughes, Aoife Hyland, Amy Bell, Laura Kelly, Edel Nolan, Rebecca Kean. MOATE COMMUNITY SCHOOL: Christine Warburton, Lorna Henson, Ruth Galvin, Noelle Murray, Jill Shortall, Teanna Watts, Aisling Claffey, Kalene McCormack, Arlene Coughlan, Kelly Preston, Philippa Maher (capt.), Michelle Murphy, Clodagh Flanagan, Catherine Lynam, Grace Coughlan. Subs: Aisling Reid for T Watts (47). REFEREE: PJ Rabbitte (Galway).