Ominous St Joseph’s picking up steam at just the right time​

Not many were writing them off but the notion that St Joseph’s won’t have a big say in the destination of the LGFA Senior Championship this year was well and truly dispelled last Sunday in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin as they bulldozed past a strangely lacklustre Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins.​

​Ballinamore had quite a lot riding on this one, a draw or a win would leave them in second place and facing St Mary’s for a place in the final but the demoralising 14 point defeat leaves them taking on an even more daunting Glencar Manorhamilton in next Sunday’s semi-finals with St Joseph’s, after losing their first two games, ending up second in the table.

The home team started well but once Kate Gormley blasted to the net after just five minutes, the writing was on the proverbial wall as St Joseph’s simply took command in all the areas that mattered, winning the battle for possession, restricting Ballinamore’s attack with tigerish defensive work and running up a score that could have been so much more.

That was probably the only sour note on the day for St Joseph’s who, in the absence of injured Leitrim star Rachel McIntyre, missed a succession of chances that would have rendered this contest dead long before the final whistle.

​Kate Gormley is the easy choice for the Main Woman nod, the sharp end of the St Joseph’s stick and with another hat-trick of goals, you really can’t look beyond her. But you also have to highlight the role played by the Moran and Heslin sisters, Eabha McCartin, Grainne O’Malley and Carmel McCartin as they brushed aside Ballinamore without too much trouble, save the redoubtable efforts of Megan McGovern and Mollie Murphy.

Not sure that many wrote them off but after defeats to St Mary’s and Glencar Manorhamilton, St Joseph’s were looking a little dicey. But since then, they are picking up steam and their tigerish defensive work, so long the platform for their success is back – they are relishing a repeat with St Mary’s in the semi-final. For Ballinamore, they have to pick up the pieces of a demoralising loss.

The first half was played with torrential rain, making scoring difficult – Laura O’Dowd opened the scoring after a minute but when Michelle Heslin’s run released Kate Gormley, Joseph’s had their first goal. Aine Heslin added a point three minutes later before O’Dowd and Gormley quickly swapped points.

Bronagh O’Rourke provided the final pass for Gormley to land her second goal after 12 minutes, six points between the teams and despite a succession of misses in the worsening conditions, St Joseph’s increased their lead when good pressure from Niamh Donohoe prevented a third Joseph’s goal but Gormley still grabbed a point.

Donohue made a good save to deny Carmel McGovern a goal, Gormley putting over a free and the Ballinamore keeper repeated it when McGovern broken through a second time. Ballinamore had a sniff of a goal but Aoibhinn McGoldrick’s shot hit the woodwork, leaving the halftime score 2-4 to 0-2 at the break.

Ballinamore were still within touching distance and needed a good start, getting it with points from sub Emma McKiernan and Megan McGovern. But St Joseph’s quickly shut the door closed, Eabha McCartin finishing off a good move before Gormley resumed her scoring after 36 minutes, following up with a free.

The Leitrim star officially killed off the game when a Ballinamore kickout was intercepted, Joseph’s quickly getting teh ball to Gormley for a very easy goal, leaving 12 points between the teams. Ballinamore rallied with two Roisin McHugh frees on 11 and 12 mionutes but Gormely hit back with a free.

Ballinamore closed the gap back to nine points when Megan McGovern hit an excellent long range point and Laura O’Dowd shrugged off a jersey pull to land a point but in the next minute, Joseph’s quelled any lingering Ballinamore ambition when Aoife McKiernan’s long range shot squirmed from the grasp of Niamh Donohoe, ending up in the net.

Kate Gormley fired over her last point nine minutes from time, the game becoming disjointed with substitutions before Aine Heslin completed the scoring two minutes from time. St Joseph’s did win an penalty in added time when sub Jessie McManus was fouled in the act of shooting but McManus drove her spot kick wide to end the game.

BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS

Scorers: Laura O’Dowd 0-3; Roisin McHugh (2f) & Megan McGovern 0-2 each

Team: Niamh Donohoe, Grainne Prior, Ella Van der Laan, Ciara McGoldrick, Mollie Murphy, Deborah McGourty, Emma Honeyman, Megan McGovern, Laura O’Dowd, Louise Moran King, Lucy Murphy, Laura Maguire, Aoibhinn McGoldrick, Roisin McHugh, Aoife Donohoe. Subs: Emma McKiernan & Sinead Martin for A McGoldrick & Moran King (HT); Grace Brennan for L Murphy (51); Ellie Murphy for Honeyman (53); Eabha McCaffrey for McGovern (56)

ST JOSEPH’S

Scorers: Kate Gormley 3-7, 3f; Aoife McKiernan 1-0; Aine Heslin 0-2; Eabha McCartin 0-1

Team: Sarah Greene, Caoimhe Casey, Eadaoin Casey, Shannen O’Rourke, Lorraine Moran, Vanessa Gallogly, Deirdre Moran, Grainne O’Malley, Eabha McCartin, Bronagh O’Rourke, Aine Heslin, Aoife McKiernan, Carmel McGovern, Michelle Heslin, Kate Gormley. Subs: Celine Shortt for O’Rourke (39); Michelle Ellis & Jessie McManus for McKiernan & McGovern (49); Doireann McCartin for C Casey (55)

Referee: TP McLoughlin