Compiled by Aisling Clery
THE semi-final pairings for the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland Junior and Intermediate championships have been confirmed.In the last four of the Intermediate grade, Down will play Tyrone and Leitrim will take on Wexford, with those ties to be played on Sunday, July 14.
On the same day, the Junior semi-finals will also take place, with Louth taking on Carlow, while Fermanagh will meet Limerick.
On Sunday, there were victories for Down, Tyrone, Leitrim and Wexford in the Intermediate quarter-finals, three of which were provincial final repeat pairings.
In the Ulster meeting between Down and Monaghan, Down were three-point winners in a tight contest. Natasha Ferris (puctured) and Sarah Dougherty found the net for Down in either half while the free-taking of Niamh King got Down over the line. Sarah Tierney hit both goals for Monaghan, who kept in touch with Down throughout.
Down will meet Tyrone in the semi-final as the Ulster side got the better of Clare at Cusack Park. Goals from Laurie Ryan and Ailish Considine put the Banner 2-4 to 0-4 in front at the break.
However, Tyrone got the perfect start in the second half with Chloe McCaffrey hitting 1-2 in three minutes to get them back into contention. Aoife Horisk added 1-1 for Tyrone to put them in front and with Maria Canavan adding a further score, they had done enough to seal victory.
In Ballinamore, Leitrim were two-point winners over Roscommon in an all-Connacht quarter final. Aisling Hanley (2) and Aimee O’Connor both found the net for Roscommon, but Leitrim had answers for all of Roscommon’s scores and they found the net themselves through Muireann Devaney, Laura O’Dowd and Leah Fox to advance to the semi-final against Wexford.
In McCauley Park Bellefield, it took extra-time in a thrilling battle to separate Wexford and Westmeath in what was a repeat of the Leinster final. Wexford led by 3-7 to 2-5 at the break and opened up a seven points lead as they headed into the final minutes. Clara Donnelly, Ciara Banville, Aoife Cullen and Caoilfhionn Ní Nualláin all found the net in normal time for Wexford.
However, goals from Westmeath’s Anna Jones and Kelly Boyce Jordan forced extra-time. Wexford were stronger in extra-time and with a fifth goal via Catríona Murray, they booked their place in the semi-final.
Meanwhile, the Junior semi-final pairings were confirmed, as Louth and Limerick qualified from Group B with their wins over Longford and Kilkenny respectively.
Fermanagh, who topped the table in Group A, and Carlow had already booked their slots in the last four ahead of Sunday’s final round of group games.
In the semi-finals, it’ll be Louth against Carlow, while Fermanagh will face Limerick for coveted Croke Park final slots.Elsewhere over the weekend, Cavan and Offaly ensured they’ll be playing Intermediate Championship football again in 2025.
They got the better of Antrim and Wicklow respectively in the relegation qualifiers, with Antrim and Wicklow now facing a relegation play-off on Sunday July 7, with the losers there relegated to the Junior ranks for next year.
Results:TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship quarter-finals Down 2-12 Monaghan 2-9
Wexford 5-15 Westmeath 4-12 (AET)
Tyrone 2-8 Clare 2-7
Leitrim 3-13 Roscommon 3-11
TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship – Group A Fermanagh 8-17 London 3-17 Derry 1-7
TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship – Group B Limerick 6-15 Kilkenny 0-6
Louth 6-12 Longford 1-9
TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship – relegation qualifiers Cavan 3-11 Antrim 0-7 Offaly 3-11 Wicklow 0-10
