UCD –v- UUJ

Dublin star Kate McDonald inspires UCD to victory over UUJ with a player of the match display in the group stages of the Ashbourne Cup.

After suffering a defeat in the league UCD turned the tables on UUJ last night when they recorded a 2-14 to 2-08 victory in Round 2 of the Ashbourne Cup.  Played in freezing conditions in Dublin, UCD were the stronger side in the first half with free taker Kristen Farrell proving deadly accurate from placed balls.  Arriving late to the match UUJ were always on the back foot with Denise McGrath causing havoc in the UUJ defence, wearing number 12, McGrath took advantage of UUJ’s slow start when she rifled a shot past Jordanstown’s keeper Eleanor Mallon.  With joint captain Kate McDonald and Dublin’s Natalia Hyland dominant at midfield UUJ struggled to get any ball into their forward line.  UUJ could feel that they were penalised wrongly which allowed UCD to tag on a few points before UUJ responded with a well taken goal from Derry star Karen Kielt, followed by a point from a free from the same player shortly after.  UCD continued to pile on the pressure with points from Kirsten Farrell, Eileen McElroy and Emma O’Connor and but for the efforts of the UUJ defence led by Sabrina Larkin it could have been worse.  Dublin’s McGrath had the final say of the first half when she hit the top corner of the net for her second goal.

HALF TIME SCORE:  UCD 2-06 –v- UUJ 1-01

After some strong words from UUJ manager Aisling Jackson at half time UUJ started the second half brightly with two points inside the opening two minutes.  UCD responded with an excellent team score after the hard working Sandra Tannion provided a lay off to Eimear O’Connor who duly slotted over a point from an acute angle.  UUJ responded with a point from a free, before Eileen McElroy scored after an impressive solo run through the UUJ defence.  UCD followed this up with two points from frees before UUJ responded with a point from Shannon Graham.  It was score for score for the next ten minutes before UUJ sparked to life scoring 1-03 without reply.  Strong running from UUJ captain Sara Louise Carr created space in the UCD defence and when Carr laid the ball off to full forward Kielt, she duly finished to the net with a hand passed goal.  It proved to little too late for Jordanstown who now play UCC next week in a game, which they must win if they are to stand any chance of going through to the Ashbourne Cup semi finals.

Best on the night for UCD were Sandra Tannion, Kate McDonald, Denise McGrath and Eileen McElroy.  While Tipperary native Sabrina Larkin and Lisa McPolin performed best for the Belfast side.

FINAL SCORE UCD 2-14 –v- UUJ 2-08

UCD Team:  Emma Staunton, Emma Doyle, Ger Stapleton, Frances Doran, Ruth Kaiser, Leanne Fennelly (capt), Elaine Tannian, Kate McDonald (capt), Natalia Hyland, Sandra Tannian, Eileen McElroy, Denise McGrath, Eimear O’Connor, Kirsten Farrell, Emma O’Connor

UUJ Team: Eleanor Mallon, Aimee McInerney, Sarah Maguire, Rebecca Mooney, Cathy Carey, Sabrina Larkin, Lisa McPolin, Teresa McElroy, Paula Gribben, Dania Donnelly, Sara Louise Carr (Capt.), Shannon Graham, Alex McLaughlin, Karen Kielt, Niamh Donnelly

Jacqui O’Connor reports on the first of the Round 2 Ashbourne Cup fixtures.

The second round game in pool A of the Ashbourne 2012 was played yesterday in UL in which the home side and visitors WIT served up a well contested game for the strong cohort of supporters in attendance.  A bright crisp spring day and relatively good underfoot conditions lent itself to a good open fast game with both sides keen to progress in this year’s championship.  After a very lively start both sides exchanged scores from placed balls; Emma Comerford for WIT and Tipp senior Cait Devane for UL.

A ding dong battle then ensued with both defences and mid field parings doing well as the intensity of the game grew. Despite the strong defending of UL captain Susan Vaughan and Maria Walsh at centre back and the hard working Bolger sisters it was WIT who managed to dominate the next quarter with two well taken goals by Marie Dargan and Emma Comerford and from placed balls by Patricia Jackman and Emma Comerford before UL added another point from a free. Just before half time WIT captain Katie Power tacked on two good points from play. The second half very much belonged to UL who got off to a flying start and with great work by Niamh O Dea, Niamh Richardson, Cait Devane and Cork senior Julia White saw them notching up 1-2 before Patricia Jackman added to her tally for WIT from placed balls and Denise Gaule’s  well worked point from play. Further points were soon exchanged for both sides by their respective top free takers; Cait Devane for UL and Emma Commerford for WIT, each pointing from the penalty spot before bringing the game to a close. Though disappointed UL who were without their full back Shona Curran, a star from Waterford’s  Junior All Ireland winning side last year will take much heart from their second half display as they head into their second group game against NUIG next week and which should prove to be a very eagerly contested encounter. WIT now progress to the Cup semi finals and will know that despite some good patches of play that more will be required over the full sixty minutes if they are to secure a place in the final.

UL: S Moynihan, E Frisby, S Vaughan (capt), C Motherway, E Ryan, M Walsh, N O Dea, Lisa Bolger (1-0,free), Linda Bolger, F Keely, R Byrne, C Devane (0-9, 0-8 frees) (, J White, N Richardson, M Scanlon, subs: J Mulcahy for M Scanlon (20 mins) C O Leary for F Keely (24 mins)

WIT: K Keneally, R Jones, SA Fitzgerald, L Keena, P Jackman (0-4,frees), C Dormer, A Carroll, K O’ Donoghue, K Parrock, K Power (0-2), M Quilty, S Farrell, M Dargan (1-0), D Gaule (0-1), E Comerford (1-6, 0-5 frees)

Referee: Mike O Connor

This week we’re taking a look at some of the marvellous coaching resources out there, if only you knew where to look for them.

Here some coaching reosurces from the early 1960s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BkNKLrSmAA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkT-E90YOe8&feature=related

Hoppy and You Know It

We’re not sure who Hoppy is, but he has his own views on coaching gaelic football. Enjoy!

Hoppy on Scoring

http://www.youtube.com/user/hoppyeire1

Hoppy on Tackling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRAzkMj7vz0&feature=related

Oddballs

Armagh Harps raised both our eyebrows when we learned that they are sponsored by a local undertaker and also that they ran a Phil Coulter concert as a fundraiser. Armagh people just have to be different though, don’t they?

Armagh Clinch All Ireland Camogie Crown

Shame about the singing but the girls from the County Armagh can clearly do their singing on the pitch, blowing the opposition away, sticks in hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO6sFdBXHLQ&feature=player_embedded

2012 Táin Hurling League

Any Club wishing to enter the 2012 Táin Club Hurling League should do so as soon as possible by completing the attached application form.

The competition is for senior teams and is open to all hurling Clubs in Ulster as well as clubs from Leitrim, Sligo, Longford and Louth.  It is proposed to run the group stages off on:

-             Saturday 4^th February?-

-             Saturday 11^th February?-

-             Saturday 18^th February?-

-             Saturday 3^rd March?-

-             Saturday 7^th April

The Semi-Finals are scheduled for the weekend of 21^st April, while the Finals will be played on the weekend of 28^th April.

This competition will be administered by the An Lár Choiste Cheannais na gChomórtaisí (Central Competitions Control Committee) and all fixtures must be honoured.

All clubs are asked to make a special effort to ensure that all fixtures schedules are adhered to, and failure to do so will result in fines being imposed.

Teams who wish to play in this competition must return their registration forms before 4.00pm on Monday 7^th November 2011.

All forms must be submitted in email via the County Secretary and sent to: stephen.donnelly.ulster@gaa.ie

This exciting initiative has been designed in times of economic hardship and unemployment, with the aim to provide GAA volunteers the opportunity to develop new skills and competencies that will benefit them when seeking employment.

Ulster GAA working with Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCNNI) and Skills Active will deliver these Level 3 Diploma Courses in Armagh from Wednesday 5^th October.

Speaking at the launch of this new initiative Ulster GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail said, “Gaels across Ulster will no doubt be intrigued by this new initiative which offers for the first time ever an opportunity to receive a Diploma in GAA studies.

“We have thousands for volunteers who give their time freely coaching in their clubs from U8s right up to Senior teams.  They do so because they have a love for the Association, for the games, for their club and their community.  Now the GAA wants to give back to those volunteers by providing the opportunity for our members to obtain a recognised qualification so that they can use that for further education or employment.

“I have no doubt that there will be massive interest in these courses.  We have developed the timetable with volunteers in mind and as such the courses will be delivered once a week in the evening time in Armagh City.”

Welcoming the joint initiative Brendan Clarke, CEO of Open College Network Northern Ireland said,  “Sport is an integral part of our life here in Ulster, supporting young players and adults alike to make a valued contribution to their local and national community, as well as to themselves and their families – this aligns well with OCNNI’s mission as a charity focused on supporting learning.    To be associated with this key development, and able to support it by accrediting such a distinctive and important activity as the GAA coaching programme, is a source of significant pride to the OCNNI.

“The accreditation of this programme will enable the skills and knowledge gained by GAA coaches to be formally recognised through a national awarding body via a national qualification.   Coaches will gain a tailored national qualification issued through OCNNI’s status as a national awarding body.”

NI Manager for Skills Active Siobhan Weir has also welcomed the launch of the new GAA Diploma courses by saying, ““The formal accreditation of this important qualification is an excellent achievement for Ulster GAA.  Accreditation benefits everyone – from the learner who will achieve external recognition of their skills and the tutors who will be guided by an experienced awarding organisation through to the wider sporting industry which aims to ensure that the hard work of volunteer coaches count towards career development and job satisfaction.”

Anyone interested in applying for the Level 3 Diploma in ‘GAA Performance Sports Coaching’ or ‘GAA Sports Management’ should contact Course Co-ordinator Roger Keenan on 02837517180 or email roger.keenan.ulster@gaa.ie .  Ulster GAA website has full details also www.ulster.gaa.ie

By Jackie Cahill at Croke Park

GOALS proved crucial for Cork as the Leesiders captured a sixth TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football championship crown in seven seasons at Croke Park this afternoon.

The Munster champions lost to Tyrone at the quarter-final stage last year but have hit back in impressive fashion in 2011, adding the Brendan Martin Cup to the Bord Gáis Energy National League and Munster championship crowns collected earlier in the season.

Cork routed Monaghan by 14 points in the 2008 decider but just two points separated the sides today as the Ulster champions put up a huge fight.

Monaghan came from two points down to lead by a point twice in the second half but then the Farney girls conceded a killer penalty in the 43^rd minute.

Monaghan sub Isobel Kierans hauled down Cork replacement Orla Finn and Rhona Ni Bhuachalla made no mistake to hand the winners a 2-5 to 0-8 advantage.

It was the second time that Monaghan had conceded a goal at a crucial time, as Nollaig Cleary’s 21^st minute effort gave Cork a 1-3 to 0-3 lead.

And again, it was an avoidable score from a Monaghan perspective as Linda Martin’s mistake was pounced on by Cleary, who lobbed the unfortunate goalkeeper at the Hill 16 end.

For much of the game, Monaghan stood toe to toe with their much-vaunted opponents as they chased a first All-Ireland senior crown since 1997.

But ultimately, they were left empty-handed once again; suffering a sixth defeat in their eighth final appearance, but this was a hugely respectable performance by Gregory McGonagle’s team.

Experience counted for a huge amount in Cork’s victory but there was a black spot on the afternoon as captain Amy O’Shea suffered suspected cruciate knee ligament damage in the second half.

The corner forward has already experienced the dreaded injury in both knees and addressed the media after the game with a protective brace on her right knee.

O’Shea scored a hat-trick of goals against Laois in the semi-final and went close to another in the third minute today, with her third minute deflected shot rattling the Monaghan crossbar.

The sides were level three times in the opening twenty minutes before Cleary struck that crucial goal in a low-scoring first half.

O’Shea could have added a second but in untypical fashion, she fouled the ball when through on goal in the 23^rd minute.

At the other end, Ellen McCarron blazed over the crossbar on the stroke of half-time with a goal for the taking.

But Monaghan opened the second half in determined fashion as Ciara McAnespie pointed within 20 seconds of the restart, before Niamh Kindlon added two points to put Monaghan a point clear, 0-7 to 1-3.

The sides traded scores as Monaghan edged clear again before Geraldine O’Flynn surged forward for an inspirational Cork score with twenty minutes remaining to level the scores at 1-5 to 0-8.

Then, disaster struck for Monaghan when Kierans fouled Finn and from the resultant penalty, Ní Bhuachalla made no mistake.

Monaghan did get back to within a point, 0-11 to 2-6, in the closing minutes but midfielder Rena Buckley banged over a 55^th minute point for Cork to restore a two-point buffer.

And calling on all of their experience in the game’s dying embers, Cork cleverly used possession to run down the clock.

Defensively, this was an impressive display from the Rebelettes, with full-back Angela Walsh and corner back Deirdre O’Reilly outstanding.

Scorers for Cork: N Cleary & R Ní Bhuachalla (pen) 1-0 each, J Murphy 0-3 (2f), G O’Flynn, R Buckley, G Kearney & V Mulcahy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Monaghan: C McConnell (2f) & N Kindlon (2f) 0-3 each, E McCarron 0-2, C McAnespie, C Mohan & L McEnaney 0-1 each.

CORK: E Harte; A.M. Walsh, Angela Walsh, D O’Reilly; B Corkery, B Stack, G O’Flynn; J Murphy, R Buckley; N Cleary, M Kelly, G Kearney; V Mulcahy, R Ní Bhuachalla, A O’Shea.

Subs: C O’Sullivan for O’Shea (inj, 38), O Finn for Mulcahy (39), N Kelly for Cleary (46), A Sheehan for Ní Bhuachalla (53), Annie Walsh for Buckley (55).

MONAGHAN: L Martin; G McNally, S Courtney, C Reilly; A McAnespie, N Fahy, L Connolly; A Casey, C Courtney; T McNally, E McCarron, C McConnell; C McAnespie, N Kindlon, C Mohan.

Subs: I Kierans for C Courtney (25), L McEnaney for Kindlon (42), C Courtney for McCarron (42), E McElroy for Kierans (50).

Referee: J Niland (Sligo).

By Jackie Cahill at Croke Park

CAVAN came from three points down in the final six minutes to salvage a draw against Westmeath in this TG4 All-Ireland ladies intermediate football championship final at Croke Park.

Second half goals from Johanna Maher and sub Karen Hegarty helped Westmeath to overturn a two-point half-time deficit and lead by 2-5 to 0-8 with 49 minutes on the watch.

Sub Daena Clerkin hauled Cavan back into contention with a 54^th minute score before a brace of frees from captain Aisling Doonan restored parity for the Breffni ladies.

Doonan was the pivotal figure for Cavan, top-scoring with six points and producing some majestic moments of individual brilliance.

In the 16^th minute, the Templeport ace crashed a shot off the crossbar after her initial effort was kept out by Westmeath goalkeeper Gemma Leahy.

And two minutes later, Doonan had the audacity to convert a sideline kick from the Cusack Stand side of the field over the Davin Stand crossbar.

Leahy was called upon again in the 22^nd minute to keep out Renée Murphy as Cavan threatened again but it wasn’t all one-way traffic as Cavan goalkeeper Christine McCutchon had pulled off a good save in the tenth minute to deny Westmeath captain Elaine Finn from close range.

The sides were level twice in the first half before points from Murphy and Doonan opened up a 0-5 to 0-3 interval lead for Cavan.

They cruised into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead within five minutes of the restart but Westmeath roared back into contention in the 40^th minute when Ruth Kearney placed Maher for a well-taken goal.

The Westmeath comeback was complete in the 47^th minute when Kearney’s shot was saved by McCutchon and Hegarty blasted home the rebound.

The Lake County’s second goal saw them move 2-4 to 0-8 clear before sub Emma Morris fisted a 49^th minute point to extend the lead.

Westmeath, appearing in their first All-Ireland final since the 1987 senior decider against Kerry, looked primed to land the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup at that point.

But Cavan, contesting a first All-Ireland final since the 1981 senior decider, refused to yield and came storming back to secure a replay.

The replay is expected to take place on Sunday, October 9, at a venue to be confirmed.

Scorers for Cavan: A Doonan 0-6 (2f, 1 sl), R Murphy, R Crowe, B Sheridan (f), D Clerkin & C Kearns 0-1 each.

Scorers for Westmeath: J Maher & K Hegarty 1-1 each, R Kearney 0-2, E Morris 0-1.

CAVAN: C McCutchon; C O’Reilly, C McGlade, C Kearns; R Murphy, P Crowe, D English; R Crowe, A Cornyn; R O’Keeffe, B Sheridan, E Costin-O’Connor; B Boylan, C O’Reilly, A Doonan.

Subs: S Greene for Cornyn (35), G Smith for O’Keeffe (46), D Clerkin for Boylan (47), C Gray for Crowe (56), A Traynor for Costin-O’Connor (58).

WESTMEATH: G Leahy; A Martin, G Kearney, T Durkan; K Boyce-Jordan, J Rogers, M Malone; M Annie-Foley, F Claffey; E Finn, R Kearney, L Brennan; L Walsh, K Somers, J Maher.

Subs: K Hegarty for Somers (h.t.), E Morris for Brennan (42), A Brady for Boyce-Jordan (42).

By Jackie Cahill at Croke Park

SUBSTITUTE Laura Hogan salvaged a replay for Wicklow in this TG4 All-Ireland Ladies junior football championship final with a late equaliser.

The Tinahely player, introduced at half-time, struck the second of her two points with under two minutes of normal time remaining at Croke Park to deny New York a famous win.

But Wicklow could have snatched victory at the death themselves when centre forward Caoilfhionn Deeney stoood over a free with 15 seconds remaining on the clock.

But Deeney pulled her effort wide of goal and the sides ended deadlocked at the end of a riveting encounter.

On the balance of play, a draw was fully-merited for New York as the Exiles came from behind twice in the second half before eding ahead late on.

And they had an eight-point haul from corner forward Emma Clarke, who stunned Wexford in the semi-final with seven points.

But Clarke was off-target with four frees in the opening half as the sides were deadlocked at 0-5 apiece at the break.

For Wicklow, Lucy Mulhall was the star turn at full-forward with five points from play but the Garden County, appearing in a first All-Ireland final since 1990, were left to rue a tally of five second half wides.

Clarke scored all of New York’s first half points, including two frees before half-time to tie the scores for the fourth time.

Hogan and Mulhall kicked early second half points for Wicklow as they regained the initiative but New York, appearing in their first All-Ireland final since 1999, came roaring back with points from Mary O’Rourke and Clarke.

New York were defending doggedly and corner back Imelda Mullarkey put her body on the line in the 40th minute, blocking Niamh Carroll’s goalbound effort with her face.

Mulhall fired Wicklow ahead again but Clarke replied to tie the scores with another free, before converting a 50th minute free after Wicklow wing back Lorna Fusciardi was harshly penalised.

That score sent New York clear with ten minutes remaining but there was a late twist in the tale as Hogan, who also registered two second half wides, held her nerve to slot over the leveller from 20 metres out.

Deeney could have secured the West County Hotel Cup for Wicklow but was off-target with that late effort.

Latest indications are that the replay will take place on Saturday, October 8, at a venue to be confirmed.

Scorers for New York: E Clarke 0-8 (6f), M O’Rourke 0-1.

Scorers for Wicklow: L Mulhall 0-5, L Hogan 0-2, L Gilbert & L Ahern 0-1 each.

NEW YORK: A Leyden; L Lilly, T.A. McCullagh, I Mullarkey; J.K. Garcia, C Brady, J Monaghan; L McKeon, A O’Dwyer; M O’Rourke, K Roche, C Traynor; E Clarke, C McBrien, M De Búrca.

Subs: M.T. O’Rourke for Roche (33), K Lynch for McBrien (52), M Brennan for McKeon (55).

WICKLOW: E Miley; J Miley, C Byrne, A Heffernan; L Fusciardi, C McKeon, N Kelly; J Kinch, L Gilbert; A.M. Doran, C Deeney, L Ahern; E Lenihan, L Mulhall, N Carroll.

Subs: L Hogan for Lenihan (h.t.), S Miley for Kelly (h.t.), M Lynch for Ahern (40), M Deeney for Doran (52), A Ní hAnnaidh for J Miley (52).

Referee: Y Duffy (Cavan).

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies senior football semi-final match report

By Jackie Cahill at Leahy Park, Cashel

CAPTAIN Amy O’Shea scored a hat-trick of second half goals against Laois on Saturday evening as Cork cruised into the final of the 2011 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies senior football championship.

O’Shea struck a killer brace within a minute shortly after half-time, to knock the stuffing out of a Laois side that had been level at the break, 1-3 apiece.

And from there, it was routine stuff for the Leesiders, who repeated their Bord Gáis Energy National League Division 1 final victory against the same opposition, but with a much greater degree of ease on this occasion.

The scoreline could have been much worse from a Laois perspective but for goalkeeper Ciamh Dollard, who saved a penalty in each half before denying Nollaig Cleary with a point blank save towards the end.

Level at the break, having played against the breeze in the opening half, Cork fancied themselves to come through and set up a final meeting with Monaghan or Kerry on September 25 at Croke Park.

But the Rebelettes had to recover from a sluggish start as Laois were 1-3 to 0-0 ahead with just 12 minutes on the watch.

But the Leinster champions, conquerors of last year’s beaten finalists Tyrone in the quarter-finals, would not score again before half-time.

And they were outscored by 0-3 to 3-7 in the second half as Cork, five-in-a-row All-Ireland champions from 2005-09, turned up heat.

Cork suffered a shock quarter-final defeat against Tyrone in last year’s quarter-final but have roared back into contention with a stunning run of summer form, kickstarted by that League success.

And now former champions are just 60 minutes away from winning the Brendan Martin Cup for the sixth time in seven seasons.

Cork were rocked in the third minute when goalkeeper Elaine Harte made an uncharacteristic error, allowing a speculative long rang effort from Laois forward Martina Dunne through her grasp and into the net.

Scores from Tracey Lawlor (two frees) and Dunne sent Laois into a six-point lead before player of the match and midfielder Juliet Murphy opened Cork’s account with a 16^th minute free.

And Cork were level by the 29^th minute when full-forward Rhona Ni Bhuachalla crashed a stunning shot into the top corner for her team’s first goal.

Cork could have gone in ahead at half-time but after a foul on Ni Bhuachalla, the normally lethal Valerie Mulcahy saw her penalty saved by Dollard.

In a remarkable sequence of events, Mulcahy missed the follow-up while O’Shea was also off-target as the Laois goal led a charmed existence.

Ní Bhuachalla missed another decent opportunity early in the second half before O’Shea scored two goals in the 34^th minute of actual playing time.

Those strikes knocked the stuffing out of Laois and it was routine stuff for Cork until the finish.

O’Shea completed her hat-trick in the 48^th minute before Dollard stopped a Ní Bhuachalla penalty in the 61^st minute, after the goalkeeper had fouled marauding wing-back Briege Corkery.

There was still time for Cork to threaten the Laois goal again but Cleary’s shot was brilliantly tipped over by Dollard.

Scorers for Cork: A O’Shea 3-0, R Ni Bhuachalla 1-1, J Murphy 0-4 (3f), N Cleary 0-3, M Kelly & G Kearney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Laois: M Dunne 1-1, T Lawlor 0-3 (2f), Mary Kirwan (f) & G Weston 0-1 each.

CORK: E Harte; AM Walsh, A Walsh, D O’Reilly; B Corkery, B Stack, G O’Flynn; J Murphy, R Buckley; N Cleary, M Kelly, G Kearney; V Mulcahy, R Ni Bhuachalla, A O’Shea.

Subs: N Kelly for Buckley (53), L McMahon for Kelly (58), A Sheehan for Kearney (60), O Farmer for O’Shea (60).

LAOIS: C Dollard; L Hyland, G Dunne, E Healy; A Taylor, J Moore, M McEvoy; A Casey, T Lawlor; Mary Kirwan, A Moore, M Dunne; P Fogarty, S Doogue, G Weston.

Subs: Martha Kirwan for Dunne (59), O Farrell for Casey (59).

Referee: G Corrigan (Down).

Cavan 2-26 Leitrim 3-13

(Leitrim 3-12, Cavan 1-18 after 60 minutes).

By Jackie Cahill at Leahy Park, Cashel

CAVAN came good after extra-time to win a thrilling TG4 All-Ireland Ladies intermediate football championship semi-final against Leitrim at Leahy Park, Cashel, on Saturday evening.

Cavan, beaten semi-finalists in 2010, have now gone one step further this year and will face Limerick or Westmeath in the September 25 final at Croke Park.

And the Breffni girls did it the hard way, coming from nine points down to force extra-time, before eventually cruising to a ten-point win.

Leitrim full-forward Aine Tighe scored 3-7, including two penalty goals and seven points from frees, but the Kiltubrid attacker was held scoreless in extra-time as Cavan came on strong.

Tighe’s late free levelled the game at 3-12 to 1-18 and took the match to extra-time before Cavan outscored their opponents by 1-8 to 0-1 during the extra 20 minutes.

Cavan’s leading scorers Aisling Doonan and Bronagh Sheridan, who bagged 2-14 between them, led the charge while subs Grainne Smith and Darna Clerkin also played massive roles for Adrian McGovern’s side.

At half-time in normal time, Leitrim led by 1-10 to 0-4, with Tighe bagging 1-6 in the first half.

Cavan battled back to within six points early in the second half but were rocked by sucker punch penalty goals scored by Tighe, who completed her hat-trick.

Bronagh Sheridan’s 46th minute goal hauled Cavan back into contention and the winners would eventually prevail to seal a place in a first All-Ireland final since the 1981 senior decider.

Scorers for Cavan: A Doonan 1-8 (0-4f), B Sheridan 1-6 (0-3f), D Clerkin & C O’Reilly 0-3 each, R O’Keeffe & G Smith 0-2 each, R Murphy & E Costin O’Connor 0-1 each.

Scorers for Leitrim: A Tighe 3-7 (2-0 pen, 0-7f), S McLoughlin, L Brennan & R Fowley 0-2 each.

CAVAN: C McCutcheon; C O’Reilly, G McGlade, C Gray; R Murphy, P Crowe, D English; R Crowe, A Cornyn; R O’Keeffe, B Sheridan, E Costin O’Connor; B Boylan, C O’Reill, A Doonan.

Subs: G Smith for O’Keeffe (46), D Clerkin for Boylan (51), A Traynor for O’Connor (58), S Green for Murphy (69), R O’Keeffe for English (76).

LEITRIM: C O’Brien, M McCawley, S Kerrigan, C Quinn; K Gilgunn, A Conlan, M Stenson; D Ward, S McLoughlin; S McManus, L Brennan, S McWeeney; R Fowley, A Tighe, S Fowley.

Subs: M Reynolds for McManus (58), S Feely for McWeeney (60), S McWeeney for S Feely (70).

Referee: S McIntyre (Tyrone).

The Rebels, who won the All-Ireland five times in a row from 2005 to ’09, were six points behind with 16 minutes left but scored seven points without reply to book their place in the semis.

On the other side of the draw, Monaghan, hugely impressive in seeing off Meath in the first game at Birr, will play Kerry, who overcame Mayo last weekend.