The weekend gone by saw the Foras na Gaeilge championship quarter-finals produce some very high scores for the winners, with the favourites Galway, Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny coming out on top. Galway were made fight all the way for their semi-final spot on August 17 against Limerick, 1-15 to 1-10. A repeat of the League final earlier this season, Galway were not given the same scope as they got in that match and the half-time score of Galway 0-08 to Limerick's 0-02 reflected that. A goal from Lourda Kavanagh in the fourth minute of the second-half had Galway ahead 1-10 to 0-03, but Limerck found their second wind by the 13th minute when Eileen O'Brien knocked over 0-03 before Marie Keating crashed the ball to the Galway net to leave it Galway 1-12 to Limerick's 1-08. While both sides exchanged further scores it was the National League champions Galway who made it through to the semi-final.
Elsewhere, three in a row All-Ireland champions Tipperary looked extremely hungry as they accounted for a disappointing Wexford side in Semple Stadium, 7-15 to 0-10 in the second quarter-final. Played in ideal conditions, Tipperary were 1-01 up thanks to corner forward Emer McDonnell, niece of former Cork supremo Billy Morgan. Further goals from full-forward Deidre Hughes (2) and another from Philly Fogarty had the three in a row champions leading comfortably at the break 4-09 to 0-04. Wexford centre-forward Aine Codd tried her best, but on a day when Tipp looked very hungry the talented Codd needed more support.
Last year's All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny travelled the long journey to Ballyholland, Co Down where they accounted for Down 6-15 to 0-04 in the third quarter-final. While the Cats had an easy victory in the end, they did not have it all their own way in the opening half. Two first-half goal from Catherine Doherty and Aoife Neary left them ahead 2-08 to Down's 0-04 at the break. The Ulster county's points came from Mairin McAleenan (0-03) and Lisa McCrickard (0-01). Despite the Mourne girls' best efforts in the second half, it was all one way traffic for Kilkenny with goals from Marie O'Connor, Narina Downey, and Aoife Neary.
The final quarter final played in Dunloy between Antrim and the '98 All-Ireland champions was a very close affair in the opening half, where Cork were narrowly ahead 2-05 to 1-06 at the break, but in the end emerged easy 7-12 to 1-08 winners following a rampant second period. The Cork goals came from Fiona O'Driscoll and Caoimhe Harrington, while Denise Darragh sent the Antrim goal past Cork 'keeper Geraldine Casey just before the break. However, Antrim could not sustain the pace after the break and Cork showed their true colours with some fine goals from O'Driscoll, Harrington and Rachel Moloney. Further Antrim points from Jane Adams, Grainne Connolly and Darragh were never going to threaten Cork's lead and they ran out convincing winners in the end.
Elsewhere, Cashel was the venue for the two minor All-Ireland finals with Cork and Limerick claiming the A and B titles respectively. The A final was a close affair with defending champions Cork holding out to take their second title in a row on a scoreline of 1-11 to Galway's 1-05. While Cork had an outstanding player in Breege Corkery, Brenda Hanney played her heart out for Galway and registered 1-01 on the scoreboard. Cork, who led 1-07 to 0-02 at the break thanks to a goal from Denise Twomey, were under pressure from Galway in the second-half when Hanney shot the ball to the Cork net after five minutes, to leave the scoreline 1-08 to Galway's 1-02. Both sides exchanged further scores along the way, but Galway will be disappointed with several second-half wides. However, on the day Cork were always one step ahead of Galway.
The B final saw the defending champions Limerick account for first time All-Ireland finalists Offaly on a scoreline of 5-07 to Offaly's 0-02. Limerick's player of the match Sinead McAuliffe contributed 2-05 after opening her account with a goal two minutes in. Leading 3-02 to 0-02 at the break, Offaly's only scores came just before the break when Aoife Kelly sent over two frees. Limerick kept up the second-half pace with further goals from Lisa Kelly and a third from McAuliffe in injury time.
Following the quarter-finals at the weekend, the draw for the Foras na Gaeilge championship semi-finals were made on RTÉ's The Sunday Game and threw up two very interesting semi-final pairings to be played on Saturday August 17 in the Limerick Gaelic Grounds. Defending champions Tipperary have been paired with neighbours Kilkenny, while Cork play Galway in the other semi.
Filed by Shane Murray
