Tipperary champions Boherlahan/Dualla bow out of Munster with semi-final defeat to Glanmire

Munster LGFA Intermediate Club Championship Semi-Final:

BOHERLAHAN/DUALLA 0-8 GLANMIRE 2-12

Boherlahan/Dualla Ladies Footballers’ maiden adventure into provincial competition ended at the first hurdle on Saturday afternoon when they went down by 2-12 to 0-8 to Cork champions Glanmire in the semi-final of the Munster Intermediate Club Championship.

Despite a fully committed effort and home advantage on the day the recently crowned Tipperary intermediate champions came up against a physically stronger and more experienced Cork outfit who were full value for their 10 points victory in the end. Indeed, the victors may well feel they might have won by more, but full marks to Ray Gilmartin’s charges who were honest in their endeavours all through. Going forward, the experience of this year’s campaign will stand to Boherlahan/Dualla as they now upgrade to senior football  in Tipperary next year.

Experience is everything in sport and Glanmire themselves had to lose three Cork county finals in-a-row before getting their hands on the trophy this year in a hard-fought final against Ballyvourney. That level of experience, and a sprinkling of Cork senior panellists, made them pre-game favourites but it was the home side who were first on the scoreboard in the second minute with a Sarah Delaney point. That advantage though - the only time they led all day - was short lived when Michelle Dullea levelled with her first free in the third minute.

Soon Glanmire began to assert themselves and an excellent move yielded a goal after just six minutes. A long pass from defence from Clodagh O’Donovan freed Evie Twomey whose effort at goal was superbly saved by Ciara Dwan only to see Michelle Dullea react quickest to blast home at the second attempt.

Boherlahan’s hard-working Alessia Mazzolla then won a free in the 10th minute which Emer Dwan converted, but almost immediately Evie Twomey responded with a point for Glanmire to leave them ahead by 1-2 to 0-2 after 11 minutes of play.

Glanmire wing-forward Ally McCarthy in full flight during her side's win over Boherlahan/Dualla in the Munster LGFA Intermediate Championship semi-final played at Boherlahan this afternoon. Pic: Vincent Flynn

Boherlahan/Dualla goalkeeper Ciara Dwan kept her side in the game with another superb save soon afterwards.  Michelle Dullea cut in along the end line before passing to Niamh McAllen, but the centre-forward’s well struck piledriver was brilliantly repelled by Dwan, much to the relief of the home support.

The closing 10 minutes of the opening half were dominated by Glanmire outscoring the home side by 0-5 to 0-1 for a half-time lead of 1-7 to 0-3.

Full-forward Orlaith Roche kicked a fine point followed by a free by Michelle Dullea for a five points advantage by the 22nd minute.

As the game entered time added-on at the end of the first half Alessia Mazzolla landed a sweet left-footed point on the turn for Boherlahan. However, the visitors still found time for three late points from Niamh McAllen, Michelle Dullea (free) and Ally McCarthy, who with a little more composure in front of goal might have bagged a goal.

The third quarter was a very even affair and while Glanmire had more possession the dogged effort of the Tipperary champions saw both sides add on three points apiece between the start of the second half and the 50th minute.

Ally McCarthy opened the scoring four minutes in, but a pair of points from Casey Hennessy and Katelyn Downey, the latter coming after a quick switching of play from one side to the other, gave some impetus to the Boherlahan challenge. 

A lost opportunity to narrow the gap further was punished when Ally McCarthy, one of Glanmires’s best performers on the day, earned another free for Dullea to convert for a 1-8 to 0-5 lead after 36 minutes.

Still Boherlahan kept working hard with Casey Hennessey doing well to set up Sarah Delaney for a point in the 42nd minute, only to have it nullified almost immediately by Glanmire substitute Riona Crowley with a white flag at the other end.

Two in-a-row from Michelle Dullea (free) and another from substitute Lucy Greene had the Rebelettes’ advantage out to nine points by the 51st minute. Nonetheless and admirably Boherlahan/Dualla kept at it and replied with two of their own from Emer Dwan (free) and Sarah Delaney.

The game’s best score came three minutes from the end of normal time. A patient build-up linking Ellen Twomey, Ally McCarthy, Niamh McAllen and Ava McCarthy freed up Clodagh O’Donovan who superbly finished high to the far corner of the net from a tight angle. If the Glanmire wing-back had initiated the opening goal with a great long pass from defence, she was there to finish the second herself.

Having defeated Gaultier of Waterford in their quarter-final, Glanmire were now through to a Munster final against either the Kerry or Limerick champions.

For Glanmire, their inter-county seniors Ellen Twomey and Abbie O’Mahoney were well supported by fine displays from the outstanding Kayla O’Connor, Ally and Ava McCarthy, Clodagh O’Donovan, Ellen Murphy and Michelle Dullea.

For Boherlahan/Dualla, this was a respectable effort for a whole new experience. The determination and never-say-die effort even when it looked like things were going against them was positive. Too many misplaced passes and turnovers put them under unnecessary pressure, and the kick-out strategy was costly and indeed could have cost them more had Glanmire been more ruthless.

That said, Boherlahan/Dualla with the help of the Cashel and Clonoulty/Rossmore camogie players, produced much to admire in the efforts of Ciara Dwan, Paula Quirke, Sorcha Ryan, Grace Moloney, Alessia Mazzola, Sarah Delaney and Casey Hennessey. While it wasn’t to be their day today they can look back on the county final win over Cappawhite and prepare for their senior debut in 2024.

Boherlahan/Dualla:

Ciara Dwan, Paula Quirke, Ella O’Dwyer, Leah Kavanagh, Lucie Gilmartin, Sorcha Ryan, Lorna Ryan, Katelyn Downey (0-1), Grace Moloney, Alessia Mazzola (0-1), Karin Blair, Anna Fahie, Emer Dwan (0-2F), Sarah Delaney (capt., 0-3), Casey Hennessey (0-1).

Subs: Anna Murphy and Sophie Maher for L. Ryan and Fahie (37 minutes); Lily Fahie for Mazzola (38 mins); Molly Gilmartin and Lisa O’Connor for Moloney and S. Ryan (49 mins).

Glanmire:

Ava Carey, Claire Murphy, Michelle Barry, Kayla O’Connor, Clodagh O’Donovan (1-0), Ellen Twomey (capt), Ava Fitzgerald, Abbie O’Mahony, Ellen Murphy, Ally McCarthy (0-2), Niamh McAllen (0-1), Ava McCarthy, Evie Twomey (0-1), Orlaith Roche (0-1), Michelle Dullea (1-5, 0-5F).

Sub: Riona Crowley (0-1) for McCarthy (38 minutes); Lucy Greene (0-1) for Roche (42 mins); Gaby Cashman for Murphy (51 mins); Aisling McAllen for Twomey (57 mins); Amy O’Lehane for E. Murphy (59 mins).

Referee: Eamonn Moran (Kerry).