This weekend saw the first round of knock-out games in the Senior A, B, Intermediate, Junior A and Junior B Championships as the quarter-finals took place in each competition.
On Saturday, in horrific wind and rain, Mullagh took on Davitts in the Windows and Rooflights LTD Senior A Championship quarter-final. Davitts were without two of their key players, Katie Anna Porter and Siobhán Coen, and they knew they had a battle on their hands. Mullagh dominated early on with points from Aoife Donohue and Karen Kennedy, but Davitts responded well with a Maria Breheny point and a free from Catherine Hanley.
Mullagh, however, upped the tempo, scoring five points without reply through two Monaghan frees, two points from Donohue and a point from Tegan Canning. Ciara Hickey registered Davitts' first score in 21 minutes with a well-taken score from play, but Mullagh had the final say of the half with Donohue hitting the back of the net and Canning adding a point to her tally to leave it Mullagh 1-8 Davitts 0-3 at half-time.
Mullagh began the second half with Monaghan bagging her second major of the day, but Hickey replied with a Chloe Farragher goal, the first of four for Davitts in the second-half.
Pearl Finnerty responded for Mullagh before Farragher again struck for goal, closing the gap to Davitts 2-3 Mullagh 2-9 with 20 minutes remaining.
Points from Donohue for Mullagh, and Davitts' Aisling Donnellan and Hanley left three between the sides before Finnerty struck Mullagh’s third goal. An Erica Coen point extend their lead to seven.
However Davitts did not give up, and a long-range free from Donnellan ended up in the back of the Mullagh net. When Donnellan and Monaghan swapped frees, it finished Mullagh 3-12 Davitts 4-5.
At the same time in a wet and windy Lackagh, Athenry took on Clarinbridge. Athenry dominated the first-half scoring with three Sabina Rabbitte frees and points from Therese Donohue and Dervla Higgins for a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after 17 minutes.
Lauren Butler opened Clarinbridge’s account in the 18th minute with a well taken score, but Athenry had the final with another Rabbitte free for a 0-6 to 0-1 lead.
Clarinbridge, however, restarted with a well-worked team score finished to the net by Siobhán Carr before Niamh Niland added a point. Rabbitte scored Athenry’s only score of the half on the 48th minute before Dolan pointed a 45, but Clarinbridge could break down the Athenry defence in the six minutes of added time.
On Sunday All Ireland Champions Sarsfields overcame St Thomas’ in Castledaly. St Thomas took the lead on the 10th minute when Orla Mullins broke through for a goal after an early point from Siobhán McGrath, who added two frees before Caoimhe Kelly struck the all-important goal in the 19th minute.
St Thomas' reduced the deficit through Lorraine Coen and Aine Keane before Sarsfields' Corcoran struck a goal and took a 2-8 to 2-3 lead heading at the break.
Sarsfields extended that lead through a McGrath free and goal, with Murray and Kelly adding points. They continued to dominate and when Corcoran strick a goal, they were 4-14 to 2-3 ahead by the 46th minute.
Coen scored St Thomas’ first score of the half a minute later, but Sarsfields continued to extend their lead, running out 4-18 to 2-5 winners.
2022 intermediate finalists Salthill Knocknacarra booked their place in the Windows and Rooflights LTD Senior B Championship semi-final overcoming Eyrecourt under lights in St Thomas’.
Eyrecourt hit 1-1 in the opening four minutes for a dream start with a Mia Flannery goal and Eva Larkin point. However, Salthill Knocknacarra weathered the storm with five Laura Kelly points, and points from Orla Callanan and Aoife Kelly for to leave two between the sides at the break.
Although Patricia Kelly reduced the deficit to one, Kelly settled the ship again for Salthill Knocknacarra with three more points, and although Olivia Mannion responded in the 46th minute for Eyrecourt, it was their final score as Salthill Knocknacarra finished with a flourish of scores through Laura Kelly, Sarah Jackson, Aoife Kelly and Sorcha McGinley for a 0-17 Eyrecourt 1-4 win.
In the Duane’s Hardware Intermediate Championship, there were wins for Mountbellew Moylough, Ahascragh Caltra, St Colman's and Shamrocks.
In a tight fixture, Mountbellew Moylough prevailed over Abbeyknockmoy by 2-15 to 2-12 played out in Mountbellew. Abbeyknockmoy led at the break 2-6 to 1-7, but points from Finnerty, Mannion O'Donnell, Molly Mannion, Leah Murphy, Karen Somers and an all-important goal from Murphy ensured Mountbellew ran out winners.
In a low scoring affair in wet conditions, Ahascragh Caltra took the victory over Cappataggle by 0-10 to 0-2, having led at the break by 0-6 to 0-4. . Cappataggle were not helped when reduced to 14 players, and as conditions deteriorated, scores were hard to come by.
Fixtures: Saturday Oct 7, Senior B Clarinbridge v Castlegar, Carnmore 11am; Intermediate, Mountbellew Moylough v St Colman's, Carnmore 1.30pm; Senior B, St Thomas v Salthill Knocknacarra, Clarinbridge 3pm, Junior B, Skehanna Menlough v Carnmore 2, Ballymacward 2.30pm; J unior A, Kiltormer v Sarsfields, Ballymacward Pitch 5pm. Sunday Oct 8, Intermediate Shamrocks v Ahascragh Caltra, Killimor 12pm; Senior A, Sarsfields v Mullagh, Killimor 1.45pm; Junior A, Liam Mellows v Kilconieron, Annadown 2pm. Senior A Oranmore Maree v Athenry, Kilconieron 4pm Monday/Tuesday Oct 9/10, Senior A: Relegation, Carnmore v Craughwell, Pitch TBC,7.30pm.
