Muckalee continue 'incredible' story and book All-Ireland Final spot - Kilkenny Live

Muckalee (Kilkenny) continued their incredible run in this year’s AIB All-Ireland LGFA Junior Club Football Championship with a powerful second half display which saw them overcome Menlough-Skehana (Galway) by eight points in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. Home advantage was undoubtedly a big advantage for the winners, with huge local support a decisive factor also.

Despite the long journey from the West by the Galway and Connacht champions, they started the game impressively and had the Muckalee defence under strong pressure. Centre half forward Emma Barrett was unlucky to see a powerful shot skim the goalpost in the opening moments. That was a big let-off for the home side.

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Despite enjoying the bulk of the early possession with strong displays from midfielder Kate McManamon and forwards Emma Barrett and Tessa Mullins, Menlough-Skehana could not land a score in the opening five minutes with the Muckalee defence outstanding.

In one of their first attacks of the game Katie Nolan, the Kilkenny senior camogie star, landed the opening point for Muckalee on six minutes after good build up play. Both sides were guilty of missing a number of close in frees in the opening half, particularly Muckalee.

Menlough-Skehana finally started to make better use of their possession in the second quarter. Tessa Mullins, the former Galway United player, levelled the game from a free on seventeen minutes. Over the next nine minutes the Galway champions capitalised on a number of handling errors by the home side. Rachel Dowd and Tessa Mullins pointed from play in the 20th and 25th minutes, to open up a two point lead.

One minute later a short kick-out from Muckalee was intercepted by corner forward Chloe Flynn who finished impressively to the Muckalee net. The pressure was now on the home side to respond and they did so in emphatic fashion.

On 28 minutes powerful midfielder Kelley Comerford broke through a number of tackles to set up teenager Sian Bolger for her side’s first goal. That score energised the strong home support and when Kate Purcell pointed a free on the cusp of half time, the margin was back to a single point (Menlough-Skehana 1-3 Muckalee 1-2).

Muckalee dominated the second half, despite a couple of anxious moments when goalkeeper Sarah Corcoran came to her side’s rescue.

The home side attacked their opponents goal straight from the throw-in and but for some superb goalkeeping by Aileen Warde in the Menlough-Skehana goal Muckalee would have grabbed a second goal when she saved brilliantly from Sian Bolger.

It did not take long for the Muckalee pressure to pay off with the hard-working Ellen Lawlor breaking three tackles to
place the ball over the head of Aileen Warde for a superb goal from 30 metres.

The Galway side could not handle the strong running of Muckalee and they were forced into fouling their opponents on
numerous occasions. Muckalee wing backs Eadaoin Cody and Jennifer O’Keeffe along with midfielders Kelly Comerford and Laura Greene pushed forward at every opportunity ensuring that their attack saw plenty of the ball in the second half.

Twice in the space of a minute the Menlough-Skehana goal had a let-off. First a Sian Bolger shot cannoned off the post with a follow-up attack from Katie Nolan put out for a 45.

Nolan was a constant threat for the winners. She scored a brace of points (one from a free) with another from a Kate Purcell free to see Muckalee lead 2-5 to 1-3 on 18 minutes.

Menlough-Skehana struggled for possession in the second half and it took the Galway side twenty minutes to land their only score of the half, a pointed free from Tessa Mullins.

The home side effectively wrapped up the game shortly afterwards when a 35 metre free from Katie Nolan dipped under the crossbar and into her opponents net. The same player pointed another free on 30 minutes to see her side run out worthy winners on a score of 3-6 to 1-4.

A powerful and disciplined performance from the winner’s defence was again key to their latest victory. The Galway side will bemoan a number of early misses, but they were well out-played in the second half as they struggled to cope with the strong running and inter-play of their opponents.

Muckalee are now into the All-Ireland Final where they will play Cromane of Kerry on Sunday, December 14 in Parnell Park

Muckalee - Katie Nolan (1-4, 1-2 frees); Ellen Lawlor; Sian Bolger (1-0, each), Kate Purcell (0-2, frees).

Menlough-Skehana - Chloe Flynn (1-0); Tessa Mullins (0-3, 0-2 frees), Rachel Dowd (0-1).

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