BY JOHN FALLON
THE eight quarter-finalists in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship have been confirmed, with a draw to take place on Monday morning to confirm the last eight pairings.
Table-toppers Laois are joined in the knockout phase from Group 1 by Fermanagh, who defeated Roscommon by 4-10 to 3-9. Two goals from Eimear Smyth and one apiece from Molly McGloin and Bronagh Smyth paved the way for last year’s TG4 All-Ireland junior champions who led by 4-2 to 1-5 at the interval.
Tyrone defeated Westmeath by 6-11 to 0-7 to top Group 2, with Westmeath also advancing in second place. Last year’s TG4 All-Ireland IFC finalists Tyrone led by 2-4 to 0-4 at the break thanks to goals from Caitlin Campbell and Aoibhinn McHugh, while a brace of penalties from Sorcha Gormley and further goals from Niamh O’Neill and Aoife Horisk wrapped up a big win.
In Group 3, Wicklow edged out Monaghan by 1-11 to 1-10 but dropping out on score difference as three teams finished level on three points. Cavan top the group with Monaghan also going through and Cavan dropping out despite a win where Lucy Dunne’s goal was decisive after Monaghan had an early goal from Éabha Sherry.
In Group 4, Clare defeated Wexford by 1-9 to 0-10, with Clare going through in first place and Wexford as runners-up. Lauren’s Conway early goal was decisive for a Clare side who led by 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.
In the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship at the weekend, there were victories for Limerick and Louth in Group A, while in Group B there were victories for Antrim and Longford.
Meanwhile Kerry manager Mark Bourke has warned the TG4 All-Ireland SFC champions that they could get caught in the knockout stages if they don’t sort out their poor opening half displays.
Kerry, despite a second minute goal from Niamh Ní Chonchúir, had to come from behind to achieve victory, with goals from Aine O’Sullivan and Katie Quirke helping Cork lead by 2-6 to 1-1 having played with the wind.
“It’s knockout now and you’re in top team territory,” said Bourke. “If you give any team a start like that again we won’t make it to the end.
“I didn’t say much at half time. Just that they were getting balls into the killer zone way too easy. We knew that all week but it was just that we weren’t working hard enough from our forwards and kickouts down.”
Kerry took over after the restart and outscored their neighbours by 4-4 to 0-3 in the second half, with Siofra O’Shea (two), Danielle O’Leary and Rachel Dwyer getting the goals as they ran out 5-7 to 2-9 winners.
Kerry are now certain of a home quarter final but Cork must travel to Mayo next weekend to keep their season alive.
“We knew that Kerry were going to come at us in the second half even though we played so well in the first half,” said Cork manager Joe O’Carroll. “In hindsight maybe we should have been up a bit more at half time as we had a few chances for goals but Kerry were fierce clinical in the second half.
“There’s no point crying over spilt milk. But today’s performance won’t beat Mayo.”
Galway also booked a home quarter-final thanks to a 1-11 to 1-2 win over Donegal in Lifford. They laid the foundation for victory in the opening half when a goal from Ailbhe Davoren helped them to a 1-2 to 0-0 interval lead, before pushing the advantage out to nine points after the restart.
“A litte bit frustrated with ourselves with how we played that first half,” said Galway manager Daniel Moynihan. “We tried to break them down but eventually we got the job done. We have a home quarter-final, delighted to have that. It’s where we wanted to be. We’ll set ourselves in a position to try and get that home win and push ourselves onto a semi-final. We’ll take it game from game from here.”
Donegal, who travel to Tipperary next week to determine the group runners-up, finished strongly. Susanne White pointed a free before assisting in their goal which was finished to the net by Mia Bennett.
“On our squad of 32, there are 21 of them teenagers,” said Donegal manager James Daly. “Nine teenagers played out there today; five of them are doing their Leaving Cert this week. We’re under no illusion, we’re a young team, we’re trying to build. We’re trying to get better. We’re playing Tipperary next week and whoever wins that game goes to the quarter-final.”
Meath also advanced to the last eight when they edged out Kildare by 0-7 to 0-4 at Manguard Park in another game impacted by the bad weather.
The sides were level at 0-2 apiece at the break before Meath got on top with Emma Duggan taking her haul to 0-5 to book their quarter-final spot.
“We were disappointed at half-time, not to be on top,” said Meath midfielder Marion Farrelly, who was player of the match. “We left a few goal shots out there and points wise our conversion rate wasn’t good. We said at half-time it was ‘do or die’. There is still plenty to work on.”
Kildare now head to Armagh next weekend with a quarter-final spot on the line. “Whoever wins next week will be going through,” said Kildare goalkeeper Mary Hulgraine. “It’s a big game. That’s our All-Ireland final. We’ll be looking at it as that. We got to watch Armagh last week, they got to watch us this week. I think it’ll be a great game.”
Dublin booked their place in the quarter-finals with a big 8-18 to 0-7 win over Leitrim. Kate Sullivan scored a hat-trick in the opening half to lead by 4-12 to 0-4 at the break, while Hannah Tyrrell did likewise in the second half to get their campaign off to a flying start.
“The main thing was to get our place in the quarter-final secured,” said Dublin joint manager Paul Casey. “We’ll prepare now for whatever quarter-final we get. Delighted with that performance. We weren’t happy with many aspects of our performance last weekend, but the girls in fairness brought their ‘A’ game today. We’re delighted with that.”
Leitrim manager Jonny Garrity said the game just got away from them as the goals kept coming and the key now was to regroup for their crunch home clash with Waterford next weekend.
“There was no let-up from Dublin and you’re talking about some of the absolute legends of the game operating at very nearly their best. When you talk about the likes of Carla Rowe and Hannah Tyrrell, and girls like that. They were on a different level from us today unfortunately. It was the perfect storm, when you take into consideration that they were playing us first, knowing that even beating us may not be enough to top the group. They had to try and win by as much as possible. We’ve got a big week ahead of us,” said Garrity.
Results:
TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship
Group 1: Galway 1-11 Donegal 1-2
Group 2: Kerry 5-7 Cork 2-9
Group 3: Meath 0-7 Kildare 0-4
Group 4: Dublin 8-18 Leitrim 0-7
TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship
Group 1: Fermanagh 4-10 Roscommon 3-9
Group 2: Tyrone 0-11 Westmeath 0-7
Group 3: Wicklow 1-11 Monaghan 1-10
Group 4: Clare 1-9 Wexford 0-10
TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship
Group A: Limerick 8-12 Derry 1-8
Group A: Louth 4-20 Kilkenny 1-1
Group A: Antrim 3-18 London 0-0
Group B: Longford 2-6 Carlow 1-4
