Mullahoran fail to recover from slow start as Carlow champions march on

All-Ireland Club IFC semi-final

Mullahoran 1-12

Bennekerry/Tinryland 4-6

Ulster champions Mullahoran faced a strong Carlow and Leinster side, Bennekerry/Tinryland, on Saturday evening in an entertaining encounter for the large crowd that made their way to the Cavan Town venue. Despite playing with the wind in the first half, the home side started slowly, conceding three goals in the opening quarter.

However, Mullahoran rallied before half-time with a purple patch that saw them hit seven of the final eight scores before the break. Their response to conceding the second and third goals was to take control, scoring four points in a row to level the game at the break.

Mullahoran created scoring opportunities early in the second half but were denied repeatedly by outstanding Bennekerry/Tinryland defending, which forced turnovers and crucial blocks.

The visitors extended their lead with a fourth goal in the seventh minute, extending the gap to four points. Despite their best efforts, Mullahoran couldn't close the deficit.

The Leinster champions were lead by county players Ruth Bermingham and Clíodhna Ní Shé with Elaine Ware solid back up. Up front Sinead Hayden and Lauren Dwyer were a constant torn in Mullahoran’s side as they bagged three of their four goals.

Bennekerry/Tinryland struck early in the game, finding the net within the first minute after forcing a turnover deep in their own half. Centre-forward Clíodhna Ní Shé passed to Lauren Dwyer, who calmly slotted the ball home.

Mullahoran’s Aishling Sheridan, the stand-out player in their Ulster final victory, responded with her first point of the game from a free she earned herself. Clíodhna Ní Shé, taking a short free to Orla Woods, set up the Carlow side’s first point.

The visitors’ second goal came from another forced turnover, this time from a kick-out. Wing-back Ruth Bermingham, who had an impressive game, passed to Sinead Hayden, who showcased her strength to blast the ball into the net. Shortly after, Bennekerry/Tinryland came close to another goal, but Mullahoran goalkeeper Fáinche Higgins pulled off a stunning point-blank save.

Mullahoran, demonstrating the quality that brought them to this stage, responded with three scores in a row. Nicole Sheils played a pin-point ball along the sideline to Geraldine Sheridan who had it all to do to create a score. Somehow Sheridan outmanoeuvred three Bennekerry/Tinryland defenders to get to the 13-metre line and placed the ball into the net at the near post.

The goal ignited the young Mullahoran side as Kate Fegan cut in from the left wing moments later to hook the ball over the bar followed by an Aisling Sheridan free to reduce the gap to just one point.

The Leinster champions’ third goal, however, came in the 17th minute after some scrappy defending by Mullahoran. Sinead Hayden again showed her skill, evading her marker before finishing clinically into the bottom corner.

In the closing 10 minutes of the first half, Mullahoran took control of possession but failed to grab a major as ‘BT’s’ swarm defence held strong. Emilia Mussi, a leader throughout the game, scored a crucial point after winning possession in a tough contest. Aishling Sheridan then converted three consecutive frees, leaving the teams level at half-time.

Mullahoran, as they did in the first half, won the throw-in but a block on Sheridan’s shot kept the sides level. Despite their chances at the start of the second half, Mullahoran couldn’t capitaliae, with Bennekerry/Tinryland’s defence again coming to the fore.

They restored their lead when Sinead Hayden collected a long ball and sent it over the bar from close range. She then delivered a superb pass to Elaine Ware, running through the middle, who finished brilliantly into the top corner for their fourth goal.

Clíodhna Ní Shé added another free from a tight angle, pushing the lead out to five with 20 minutes to play. Mullahoran’s Mona Sheridan stepped up with numerous driving runs forward in the second half, showing her experience and leadership as the Cavan side tried to mount a comeback. Nicole Sheils added a point after a clever assist from corner-forward Kate Smith.

Bennekerry/Tinryland sub Maeve O’Neill added a soccer-style point with an advantage arm up from referee Gus Chapman, to extend the lead to six.

Aisling Sheridan kept her side in contention with two well-taken frees, set up by her sister Geraldine and Kate Fagen. The former Collingwood player added another point with an impressive solo effort, but BT’s defence held firm to deny any goal chances.

Clíodhna Ní Shé rounded off the away side’s scoring with a composed effort, cutting on to her right foot to split the posts. Mullahoran’s final score came from Aishling Sheridan after a well-worked pass from her sister Geraldine.

Mullahoran will be disappointed with the result, but they came up against a more experienced and physically stronger Bennekerry/Tinryland side. Credit must go to their manager Chris Townsend for a well-prepared team. For Mullahoran, it has been a season to remember, claiming the Cavan intermediate title and their first Ulster crown.

Mullahoran: Fáinche Higgins; Hannah Brady, Aoibhinn Galligan, Kyra Comaskey; Aoibhe Reilly, Geraldine Sheridan (1-0), Sheila Reilly; Mona Sheridan, Annie Deneher; Ciara Brennan, Emilia Mussi (0-1), Nicole Sheils (0-1); Kate Smith, Aisling Sheridan (0-9, 0-7f), Kate Fegan (0-1).

Subs: Etain Higgins for Ciara Brennan; Cathay Sheils for Kate Smith; Orlaith O’Reilly for Kate Fagen

Bennekerry/Tinryland: Shannon Cotter; Clodagh Mahon, Leanne Corcoran, Leah Mullins; Ruth Bermingham, Nuala Mohan, Marie Cranny; Elizabeth Lowry, Elaine Ware (1-0); Aoibhín Webb, Clíodhna Ní Shé (0-3, 0-2f), Lauren Dwyer (1-0); Orla Woods (0-1), Sarah Nolan, Sinead Hayden (2-1).

Subs: Maeve O’Neill (0-1) for Clodagh Mahon; Katie Bullen for Sarah Nolan.