Allianz Corn Sceilge All-Ireland Senior A semi-finals
Presentation, Thurles 0-3 Loreto, Kilkenny 0-14
Gort Community School 0-6 St Patrick’s, Maghera 4-14
A HAT-TRICK from Slaughtneil corner-forward Aoibh Mulholland sent St Patrick’s, Maghera on their way to a very comfortable win in the Allianz Corn Sceilge All-Ireland senior camogie semi-final in Beagh on Saturday.
It will be Maghera’s second senior final in three seasons and again they will play Loreto, Kilkenny, the only team to beat them over that period.
They had overcome Gort Community School at U16 level two years ago, but this was a far more dominant performance from the Ulster champions, who led by 1-7 to 0-5 at half-time, despite playing against the breeze.
Mulholland’s goal in the 27th minute, along with six points from free-taker Emma Quinn, opened that gap. Aisling Dolphin scored all five Gort points and added the other score as well in the second half, while the Maghera defence was very much in control in a fine all-round team performance.
The Derry school forced the pace of the second half with an early point from Grace Kelly, but Gort held out until Mulholland fired home her second goal in the 39th minute.
The two of them replicated those scores over the next three minutes leaving Maghera ahead by 3-9 to 0-6 by the 41st minute.
Vice-captain Katie McCloskey added a fourth goal a few minutes later and Maghera had set up another final showdown with Loreto.
The holders had an equally facile win over Presentation, Thurles with good off-the-shoulder running and some excellent scores. The Leinster champions, bidding to add to their nine national titles they have collected since 2010, scored the first six points and led by 0-7 to 0-2 at half-time.
They continued to dominate the second half with Holly Ryan, free-taker Ona Kennedy and Sarah Kehoe all finding the range and eventually won by 0-14 to 0-3.
The final will take place on February 15.
St Patrick’s A Mulholland 3-1, K McCloskey 1-1, E Quinn 0-8, 7 frees, G Kelly 0-2, L Cassidy 0-1
Gort CS A Dolphin 0-6, 1 free
Loreto O Kennedy 0-7, 5 frees, H Ryan 0-3, A Shealy 0-2, S Kehoe 0-1, A Doheny 0-1 free.
Presentation E McGrath 0-2 frees, C Shelly 0-1
