St Joseph's steal it at the death to break Kiltubrid hearts

In a thriller decided with virtually the last kick of the game, St Joseph's prised victory from the grasp of Kiltubrid with an injury time goal to put them in a great position in the Gotham Dry Wall LGFA Senior Championship.

The winner of this clash between two Senior A sides would take a giant step towards reaching the final and in a game where it looked as if Kiltubrid were going to upset the home side, the fortitude and endurance of St Joseph's saw them emerge with a precious victory.

Carmel McGovern's goal came over three minutes into added time to snatch a victory that Kiltubrid seemed to have secured just six minutes earlier when Aoife McWeeney drove a great shot to the Joseph's net to leave her side three points clear. But St Joseph's, unbeaten in this competition, refused to accept defeat down and fought back to secure a famous victory despite a host of missed chances and wides over the hour.

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Truth be told, this was an excellent contest and a great advertisement for ladies football  that really could have gone either way and it would not have been undeserved. St Joseph's struck at just the right moment, leaving Kiltubrid with no chance to respond.

Kiltubrid will have their regrets - Aisling McWeeney crashed a shot off the woodwork and Michelle Guckian drove inches wide late in the first half, goals that might have given last year's Connacht Intermediate finalists an unassailable lead.

Both these teams have yet to face champions Glencar Manorhamilton but with Kiltubrid taking on Ballinamore and St Joseph's facing St Francis, the odds are very much in Joes' favour.

St Joseph's were the dominant team starting out but only had a Michelle Heslin point to show for it along with a host of wides. Michelle Guckian levelled from a free before Ellen Keaney set up the Leitrim star for a ninth minute point.

From the kickout, Keaney won the ball, a quick free found Aisling McWeeney who lobbed a ball across for Keaney to fist to the net and with that the game was changed. Kate Gormley hit back with a fine point but Emma Guckian responded for Kiltubrid.

The visitors were much more clinical in front of the posts and three Michelle Guckian scores over four minutes put them seven points clear. Teresa Moylett's pass set up Aoife McWeeney for a good point.

Crucially, Aisling McWeeney crashed a shot off the Joseph's crossbar and Michelle Guckian dragged a shot wide and St Joseph's were able to regain some lost ground with late points from Kate Gormley and Bronagh O'Rourke to leave Kiltubrid with a 1-7 to 0-3 halftime advantage.

Again, St Joseph's started well with Gormley and O'Rourke (free) pointing inside the first ten minutes. Michelle Guckian hit back with a free while Miranda Burke made a good save from a Gormley shot.

However, St Joseph's got themselves right back into it when Rachel McIntyre did incredibly well to break up a Kiltubrid attack, the resulting move ending with Carmel McGovern's lovely finish to the net.

Michelle Guckian hit back with a free for an off-the-ball foul, the third such offence, but St Joseph's were level when a typical Clare Owens run saw her released Kate Gormley who fired low to the Kiltubrid net with just over 12 minutes of normal time left.

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THE LAST POINT

That left the scores level but Guckian fired over a free before seemingly scoring a wonder point, at least from my viewpoint, seconds later. One umpire gave it, the other on the far side waved wide and referee Cyril McKeon ruled it wide although it appeared to have crept inside the far post from my vantage point.

Guckian would fire over a free a minute later to put Kiltubrid two up but two Bronagh O'Rourke points, one a great effort from play, the second a free, had the sides level again. Both sides missed chances as the tension ramped up.

Kiltubrid struck what looked like a decisive blow when Michelle Guckian released Aoife McWeeney and a fabulous long range shot deceived keeper Sarah Greene as the ball moved in the air.

Michelle Heslin hit back with a point before Emma Guckian missed a chance to restore the three point gap. Both would be crucial when, over three minutes into added time,  McGovern gathered a crossfield pass and despite a forest of bodies, she somehow got her shot into the Kiltubrid net for a game winning goal.

ST JOSEPH'S

Scorers: Kate Gormley 1-3;  Carmel McGovern 2-0; Bronagh O'Rourke 0-4, 3f; Michelle Heslin 0-2

Team: Sarah Greene, Genevieve Canning, Shannen O'Rourke, Lisa Brady, Rachel McIntyre, Eadaoin Casey, Hannah Canning, Aine Heslin, Clare Owens, Celine Shortt, Carmel McGovern, Eabha McCartin, Kate Gormley, Michelle Heslin, Bronagh O'Rourke. Subs:  Aoibhe McCabe for Shortt (HT); Jessie McManus for Canning (47)

KILTUBRID

Scorers: Michelle Guckian 09, 6f-; Aoife McWeeney 1-1; Ellen Keaney 1-0; Emma Guckian 0-1

Team: Miranda Burke, Caroline Doherty, Sarah McCormack, Teresa Moylett's, Orla McWeeney, Lauren Tivnan, Kelly O'Brien, Niamh Tighe, Emma Guckian, Aine Redican, Aoife McWeeney, Katie Scollan, Ellen Keany, Michelle Guckian, Aisling McWeeney. Subs: Rose Keaney for Scollan (44)

Referee: Cyril McKeon