Sixmilebridge booked their spot in the business end of the PK Travel Senior Championship for the first time since 2012 with a win over Truagh-Clonlara in Cratloe on Sunday evening.
Sixmilebridge 1-12
Truagh Clonlara 0-11
Venue: O’Hehir Park, Cratloe
The Bridge started on the front foot and grabbed the first score of the game when Aiveen O’Shea fired over from close range with twenty seconds gone. Chloe Morey and Aine O’Loughlin traded scores with the minimum between them in this contest. Sixmilebridge rallied and Chloe Morey scored 1-01 in a five minute purple-patch.
O’Loughlin kept Truagh in touch as she converted two frees. When Kevin Walsh’s whistle sounded, Sixmilebridge led Truagh-Clonlara 1-04 to 0-04.
Truagh-Clonlara raced out of the traps, a huge point from Laura Foley inside her own half and another O’Loughlin effort reduced the arrears to a point. With thirty eight minutes gone, O’Loughlin levelled the game when she converted a free.
Morey converted a free to edge the Bridge back in front but it looked like her nemesis O’Loughlin wouldn’t be out done when she popped over two points with less than 15 minutes remaining. This contest had turned into a battle with the lead swaying from one side to the other.
Again Morey and O’Loughlin exchanged scorers but to the delight of the Bridge, Morey helped herself to another two and substitute Fiona Murphy pointed with less than five minutes left to extend their total.
Fiona Murphy’s offloaded to the reliable Morey and she edged the Bridge two points clear. Truagh could have obtained the lead again but Bridge’s number one Aine McNamara was up to the task in hand when she dealt with O’Loughlin’s attempt. Two Morey frees saw the game enter injury time with the bridge four points ahead. McNamara denied Truagh late on to secure her side the win as Sixmilebridge progress to the semi-final with a 1-12 to 0-11 victory.
Sixmilebridge: Aine McNamara; Karen Gallagher, Maire McGrath, Deanna Considine; Keelin Lyons, Emma Kennedy, Saoirse; Aoife Hurley, Rachel Kelly; Katie Connors, Chloe Morey, Mary O’Connor; Olivia Phelan, Slaine Carey, Aiveen O’Shea. Subs: Fiona Murphy for Connors, Elaine Carroll for Young
Truagh Clonlara: Patricia Mullins; Hannah Horgan, Máire Begley, Roisín Powell; Sarah Sherlock, Laura Foley, Kathleen Horgan; Niamh Powell, Helen Guinane; Louise Egan, Ellen Horgan, Michelle Caulfield; Roisin Powell, Michelle Powell, Áine O’Loughlin. Subs: Sarah Hastings for Michelle Powell, Caroline Lynch for Hannah Horgan.
Referee Kevin Walsh (Wolfe Tones)
Additional reporting by Jamesy McConigley