A weekly round-up of the games played in the New York Ladies GAA Football Championship
July 22, 2021
Kerry/Donegal and Na Fianna Book Senior Final Spots
Kerry/Donegal 2-12, Cavan 1-9
Round-robin table-toppers Kerry/Donegal carried their unbeaten streak into the knock-out stages of this year’s senior championship by beating Cavan Sunday morning at a sunny Gaelic Park.
While Cavan finished bottom of the four-team table, many eagle-eyed pundits expected Cavan to put it up to Kerry/Donegal – and so they did.
The clash was evenly contested for the most part but in the end Kerry/Donegal put their experience to good use once again when push came to shove. Yet Cavan will rue a missed penalty chance that could have swung the match back in their favor.
Cavan went on the attack early doors and a goal-bound effort by Emma Clarke was cleared off the line.
Kerry/Donegal led by three at the first water break and on resumption Linda Callan scrambled the ball to the net after good support play from Megan Fitzpatrick.
A point by Cavan’s Alisha Jordan kept her side within touching distance before Frances Reilly teed Mairead Ruane up for a goal. Jordan added a point to bring the sides level.
Both sides exchanged points before Fitzpatrick put her stamp on the game with an outstanding individual goal. Gathering the ball in midfield, she fended off a number of opponents before rifling the ball into the roof of the net.
Then Cavan was handed a gifted opportunity to respond in kind when Ruane was dragged down for a penalty – only for Clarke to send the corresponding kick past the post leaving the score at 2-6 to 1-4 at halftime.
Cavan brought the deficit back to three in the third quarter as Kennedy, Paula Clarke, and Emma Clarke were launching attacks from out the field.
Substitute Sophie Colgan then pointed to leave two between the sides.
However, Kerry/Donegal showed their hand of substitutes too as the potent Marie Dargan came off the bench to add a brace of points.
Points from Callan and Keating sealed the deal and Kerry/Donegal march into next week’s final.
Na Fianna will now face Kerry/Donegal in the final on Aug. 1 at Gaelic Park. Throw in is at 1:30 p.m.
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Na Fianna 2-19 v Rockland 1-2Â
Na Fianna punched their ticket to next weeks final with a dominant display over Rockland.
Na Fianna will now face Kerry/Donegal in the final on Aug. 1 at Gaelic Park. Throw in is at 1:30 p.m.
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Newly Formed Club Celtanta Denied First Win By Smallest of Margins
O’Donovan Rossa 3-10 v Celtanta 3-9
Newly formed club Celtanta came agonizingly close to registering their first-ever championship win at a highly entertaining junior championship clash at Gaelic Park Wednesday.
O’Donovan Rossa has yet to find form this season either and only sat one place ahead of Celtanta in the fifth spot coming into this game.
In the opening quarter, Celtanta wowed spectators with some top class passing and good support play and only were ahead by a point at the water break on a scoreline of 1-2 to 1-3.
ODR came into their stride towards the end of the first half but were still down at halftime, 2-4 to 2-7 after goals from both sides to keep the game close.
Michaela McBride in midfield and Orla O’Reilly in the half-forward line were exceptional for ODR and covered serious ground – the duo winning breaking balls and turning over tackles. Doireann Tarrant and Emma Farley also chimed in with some good turnovers.
The start of the second half saw a goal netted from a free by Farley, bringing her tally to 1-4 for the day and edging ODR in front, where they stayed for the rest of the game.
Celtanta ladies showed strength beyond their years and never gave up, fighting hard the entire game. A late goal from number 15 brought the game to only a one-point lead for the ODR ladies but in the end it was enough to see them through.
A great battle between the two teams, with Celtanta, firmly putting their mark on the NY ladies GAA scene.
ODR scorers: Farley 1-3, Orla 1-0, Doireann 1-2, Ashling O’Callaghan 0-2, Michaela McBride 0-2, Clare Dilger 0-1
Celtanta scorers: #11 1-2, #14 1-4, #20 0-1, #12 0-2, #13 1-0
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St Brigids 3-17 v Shannon Gaels 2-5
In the second game of a doubleheader at Gaelic Park Wednesday, St Brigids put on a huge scoring display to comfortably beat Shannon Gaels.
This was a close encounter early doors with the scoreline only being three points to two after 15 minutes.
However, St Brigids proved to be stronger in the fitness and accuracy departments. The absence of a few Gaels players made a big difference in this game and it wasn’t to be on the night for the Queens-based side.
Lily Sheahann dominated the play for Brigids carrying countless balls from the halfway line into scoring range time. The Gaels put up a courageous battle punctuated by a beautiful goal into the top left corner of the net to keep them in the game at just before halftime.
A penalty by St. Brigids player Chloe Comar in the second was rocketed into the net which boosted morale and set Brigids into an unassailable lead.
Alongside Sheahan, Orla Gormally and Grainne Lavery were stand out for St. Brigids while Aoife Maher and Keva Moore impressed for Shannon Gaels.
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To submit a match report, please contact Michael Dorgan via email at [email protected].
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Senior Teams 2021:Â Cavan, Na Fianna, Rockland A, Kerry/Donegal
Junior Teams 2021: O’Donovan Rossa, Manhattan Gaels, Shannon Gaels, Leitrim
Celtanta (new team this year), Rockland B, St. Brigid’s
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