Girls journey ends in Tipperary

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The girls lost by a few points in their All Ireland Junior Semi Final against Aherlow in Tipperary today. See the report from Leinster GAA News. Congratulations to Brian, Dave and all the girls on a great achievement. Be sure to read Brian's comment at the end.

 
girls2.jpg  
 
Aherlow (Tipperary) 2-11 St Sylvester's (Dublin) 1-11
Sinead closely markedGreat pictures from Peter Hickey here
 
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.      
 
Visit the Leinster GAA web site at http://www.gaa.ie/leinster

Womens all Ireland semi final

Posted by Brian Barnes at Nov 07, 2011 04:52 PM
Dont think this report does our girls justice(must have been written by the aherloe manager)but the game I was at we saw a really courageous performance from the girls in blue and green, having fallen 1-2 down after 5 minutes our girls settled down and were in my opinion the better side for the rest of the match, anyone down there to see Nicole Owens goal should feel very privalaged to have witnessed such a goal( barney rocks famous goal in 83 wouldn't have a patch on this strike)and on a different day a couple of the balls that dropped in and hit the crossbar would have dropped into the net. We done brilliantly to get the score back to 2 points at half time when it easily could have been 2 points up instead, second half was very evenly contested and had we have been given an even run by the ref the result could have been very different, Amy's yellow card and 2 decisions against Sinead treacy when syls had them on the run immediately spring to mind, not to mention the amount of subtle fouls that were commited on Sinead ahearn that seemed to go unpunished.Overall the girls did themselves their mentors and the club proud not only on Sunday but all year with their achievements,and I am sure this is just the beginning for this team, with the amount of quality coming behind the lady's section is leading the way in the club now.
Ps a big thanks to Brian Dave and Declan for helping to make yesterday so special for the young sopporters that travelled down with the team, it's a day they will treasure for a long time also to all the panel who took so much time despite their disappointment to make sure the young supporters got to enjoy some great fun and enjoyment with their heroes.