GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 31 – August 8, 2015 | Page 18

Christopher’s still alive in the senior football championship. Photo: Rory O’Donnell.

ning at center forward, and when she was in possession
the spaces opened up for the Shamrocks. Also Sara Delahunt in the middle of the field was a force. Mongan was
involved in both goals after putting two points over the
bar, and on a third occasion Connacht had to clear the ball
off the line. At the break it was the Shamrocks in a 2-4 to
0-5 lead.
The second half saw each side open with a goal each. Jane
Ward put the finishing touch on a shot
from Ruth Cox for Connacht Ladies, while
Shamrocks got it back almost right away
after a quick free from inside the 21 from
Louise Murphy caught the Connacht rearguard napping. Ward and Lisa Flynn traded
points as the Shamrocks lead remained intact.

Connacht came within a whisker of netting on a handful
of occasions over the final minutes, each time the ball went
just wide of the posts to the relief of the Shamrocks faithful.
One on occasion Tori McLaughlin hit the post as the Shamrocks goal was under siege towards the end. The siege was
finally lifted near the end as Flynn and Mongan put a couple
of insurance points over. A delighted Shamrocks celebrated
their first win of the season, and now have a semi-final to
look towards later in the month.

The Shamrocks last line of defence worked
very hard to keep their opponents from
making a breakthrough. Cathy McEleaney,
Sheila McLaughlin, and Brid Devlin did
well to force turnovers or missed shots as
Connacht pushed to try and turn the tables.
Jane Ward shoots for Connacht Ladies. Rory O’Donnell.

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