Allianz Dónal Burke Cup Senior semi-finals
Sacred Heart, Westport 2-4 St Conor’s Clady/Kilrea, 2-14
St Mary’s, Macroom 2-9 Scoil Mhuire, Clane 1-5
ST Conor’s, Clady/Kilrea have reached the Allianz Dónal Burke Cup final at the first attempt.
The long trip to Westport paid off with a comfortable win over the local Sacred Heart side, who were first-time winners of the Connacht title just before Christmas.
They got off to the perfect start with a point from player-of-the-match Jojo Darragh inside 15 seconds and were three up before Méabh Tunney opened Sacred Heart, Westport’s account from a free in the 10th minute.
However, the Senior Medallion Shield champions pushed on with three points from Darragh and two each from Ellie McCartney and Annie Leadon to lead by 0-10 to 0-1 going into half-time.
Westport were thrown a lifeline right on the short whistle when midfielder Annie McGreevy’s shot from distance went all the way to the Derry side’s net.
However, the Bannsiders regained their composure on the re-start with points from McCartney (two) and Leadon ahead of a 46th-minute strike from Darragh that put them out of reach of their Mayo opponents at 1-13 to 1-1.
Nevertheless, Sacred Heart’s best player, Méabh Tunney, showed some defiance with a goal in the next attack and she added two points with just one in reply from Jojo Darragh.
However, Darragh then buried her second goal in the 51st minute and St Conor’s were through to the final against St Mary’s, Macroom. The Cork school beat Scoil Mhuire, Clane in the other semi-final by 2-9 to 1-5
Best for a dominant St Conor’s side were defenders Hannah O’Neill and captain Grace Draine, the midfield pairing of Feina Kerr and Ellie McCartney, as well as Annie Leadon and, of course, Jojo Darragh.
St Conor’s JJ Darragh 2-5, 0-3 frees, E McCartney 0-3, 1f, A Leadon 0-3, , F Kerr 0-2, H Martin 0-1.
Sacred Heart M Tunney 1-3, 0-2 frees, A McGreevy 1-0, C McEvilly 0-1
