Ballymac and Comeragh set for another ladies showdown

Waterford Ladies Football Semi-Final

Ballymacarbry 3-10

Gaultier 2-1

For the eleventh time in twelve years, Ballymacarbry and Comeragh Rangers will contest the Waterford ladies football final.

Ballymac stayed on course for 43 in a row with a 3-10 to 2-1 win against Gaultier in Colligan on Saturday morning. Clare Walsh, Aileen Wall and Ruby Browne all netted for Mike Guiry’s side while goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick made a second half penalty save.

Emma Fitzgerald and Róisín Kirwan goaled for Gaultier. Clodagh Carroll took the fight from centre back while Aoife Hartley made a goal line save. Aoife Fitzgerald and Alannah O’Sullivan missed out through injury.

This game was moved from 4pm to 10am due to the orange weather alert. Thankfully, the rain stayed away. In blustery conditions, Karen McGrath eventually opened the scoring for Ballymac on eleven minutes. The champions pressurised the kickout and three points followed in quick succession from Lily Browne, Aoife Barron and Aileen Wall. Browne and Clare Walsh punished more Gaultier turnovers.

On 19 minutes, Michelle McGrath intercepted a kickout and Walsh slipped a daisy cutter past Grace Geraghty. Two minutes later, Annie Fitzgerald won a Gaultier penalty and her cousin Emma buried it. 1-6 to 1-0 at the break.

Aileen Wall killed the game when she rustled the top corner in the 35th minute. Clodagh Carroll won a penalty for Gaultier but Lauren Fitzpatrick denied Emma Fitzgerald.

 Róisín Kirwan did grab a consolation goal with two minutes left. Ballymac went down the other end straight away as Aoife Barron and Wall created a goal for Ruby Browne.

Scorers for Ballymacarbry: Clare Walsh 1-2, Aileen Wall 1-1, Ruby Browne 1-0, Kellyann Hogan 0-3 (2fs), Lily Browne 0-2, Karen McGrath, Aoife Barron 0-1 each.

Scorers for Gaultier: Emma Fitzgerald 1-1 (1-0 penalty, 1f), Róisín Kirwan 1-0.

Ballymacarbry: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Sadhbh Hallinan, Michelle McGrath, Maeve Ryan; Karen McGrath, Ruby Browne, Ciara Ryan; Kellyann Hogan, Aoife Barron; Aileen Wall, Bríd McMaugh, Grace Carrigan; Lily Browne, Clare Walsh, Summer Peters.

Subs: Clodagh Hallinan for Lily Browne (39), Becky Hogan for Ciara Ryan (50), Orla Barron for Carrigan (52), Aoibhinn McCarra for Peters (58).

Gaultier: Grace Geraghty; Faye Murphy, Aoife Hartley, Aisling Sheridan; Hannah Flynn, Clodagh Carroll, Shauna Fitzgerald; Kate Lynch, Molly Comerford; Emma Fitzgerald, Annie Fitzgerald, Orlaith Walsh; Maria Brennan, Róisín Kirwan, Alannah O'Sullivan.

Subs: Caoimhe Walsh for Sheridan (52), Holly O’Sullivan for Brennan (61).

Referee: Paddy Smith 

Waterford Ladies Senior Football Semi-Final

Comeragh Rangers 1-14

Erin's Own 2-3

In another 10 am start, a second-half goal from Aoibhe Shankey saw Comeragh Rangers beat Erin’s Own 1-14 to 2-3 in Lemybrien.

Déise camogie star Abby Flynn fired a fantastic solo goal two minutes from time for Erin’s Own. She then played a kick pass to Orlaith Power who fisted home.

In blinding Sunday morning sunshine, Comeragh led 9-1 at halfway. Eileen Power produced three points while Katie Murray got two. Erin's Own took an early lead via Kate Winkle in the sixth minute. They defended tenaciously with thirteen behind the ball.

Comeragh rested some of their big guns in the second half. Substitute Aoibhe Shankey found the bottom corner on 46 minutes. Erin’s Own never gave up as Flynn scored a superb goal and then assisted one for Power.

Scorers for Comeragh Rangers: Aoibhe Shankey 1-1, Eileen Power 0-3 (1f), Ellen Bolger, Clodagh Power (2fs), Katie Murray 0-2 each, Mairead Power, Keeley Corbett Barry, Ava Connolly, Aine Power 0-1 each.

Scorers for Erin’s Own: Abby Flynn 1-1, Orlaith Power 1-0, Leah Browne (f), Kate Winkle 0-1 each.

Comeragh Rangers: Abbey Norris; Nora Dunphy, Orlaith Kennedy; Aoife Murray, Cora Murray, Caoimhe Hassett; Emma Murray, Keeley Corbett Barry; Ava Connolly, Aine Power, Katie Murray; Clodagh Power, Mairead Power, Eileen Power.

Subs: Ellen Bolger for Aoife Murray (38), Shauna Dunphy for Eileen Power (38), Aoibhe Shankey for Aine Power (38), Kaylynn Broxson for Hassett (45), Sarah Connolly for Corbett Barry (50), Kaci Brazil for Katie Murray (50), Emma Power for Mairead Power (55), Aoife Dunne for Clodagh Power.

Erin's Own: Ashling Colbert; Rebecca Farrell, Taylor Healy, Isabelle Daniels; Holly Ryan, Kate Hickey, Kate Winkle; Abby Flynn, Niamh Power; Abbie Mullane, Aoibhe Waring, Orlaith Power; Leah Browne, Grainne Cronin, Alannah McNulty.

Sub: Jessica Devereux for Cronin (41).

Referee: Paddy Lawlor