All Ireland Ladies Football Junior Club Championship – Aherlow (Tipperary) 2-11 St Sylvester’s (Dublin) 1-11

Aherlow (Tipperary) 2-11 St Sylvester’s (Dublin) 1-11

Aherlow of Tipperary took on St Sylvester’s of Dublin in the Tesco Junior Club Championship Ladies football Semi Final on Sunday in Sean Tracey Park Tipperary. Sylvester’s secured possession from the throw in and went on the attack from the off with L Grogan pulling off two saves in the opening minutes. The ball was won back by the Aherlow backs and delivered to E Hanly resulting in the opening score of the game. E Hanly soon followed up with a point from a free after she was taken down on route to goal. Aherlow were dominating in the forwards when S Condon got her name on the score board with two long range kicks raising the white flag, M Condon was unlucky to have her shot on goal saved and this was followed up by a well taken goal by K Crowe. It was 1-4 to no score with eight minutes gone,

D Nevin closed down the Sylvesters attack with a great block. With G Wade and R Kenneally marking tight it took a free to finally open the score for Sylvester’s. This was the start of a strong phase by Sylvester’s as they knocked over two more points. E Hanly kept the scoreboard ticking for Aherlow as she put over another free. As the ball went down the other end Sylvester’s won and scored from a free, they won back the kick out and quickly kicked the ball over the goalie’s head to score a goal and raise the tempo of the game. Sylvester were awarded and scored two more frees to go ahead 1-7 to 1-6 before Aherlow secured possession, A Staunton carried the ball leaving if off to K Crowe who weaved through the Sylvester defence and beating the goal keeper to score a goal leaving the half time score 1-7 to 2-6 leaving Aherlow a two point margin at half time, having absorbed significant pressure.

Sylvester started the stronger team in the second half and soon had the game level again. Despite carrying an injury from the first half, it was the boot of E Hanly who kept popping over point after point for Aherlow from frees and play. A Hazely for Sylvester got sin-binned for an illegal shoulder on M Condon. With the extra player Aherlow closed down Sylvester’s attack as B Condon held the back line, D Crowe was dominant in defence and attack linking in with J O’Meara and L Ivory clearing ball after ball. L Grogan was called on and stood up to the mark pulling off save after save to keep Aherlow in the game with the match finishing as it started with a shot on goal saved by L Grogan and three points from E Hanly from frees. As the final whistle went the score board read Aherlow 2.11 St Sylvester 1.11.

A real team effort and determination was displayed by all the Aherlow players who fought and played hard and truly deserve their place in the All Ireland Final against the Tyrone County and Ulster Champions on the weekend of 19th /20th of November. With three titles to their name so far this season, League Champions, County Junior A champions and Munster Champions, this is a fixture the Aherlow team are ready for. Time and venue to be confirmed.