Davis prevail in thriller to reach the last four of c’ship
THOMAS DAVIS senior ladies football team reached the semi finals of the championship for the very first time after beating Na Fianna 2-11 to 1-13 last Saturday.
It was the Glasnevin side who enjoyed the better start, racing three points ahead in the opening eight minutes with some very good play from their Westmeath star Laura Walsh.
David began to get a foothold in this game after Sinead Deegan registered their first point, which was followed by a free from Ciara McGuigan and a goal by Sinead Deegan.
A quarter of an hour and both sides remained deadlocked, but Davis finally made their pressure pay when a great ball across goal from Orlagh McGuigan was met by Debbie Brennan who palmed it over the head of the opposing keeper.
Yet Na Fianna finished the half strongly with three points to level the tie again at 2-3 to 0-9 heading in at the break.
In the second half good points from Dublin star Olwen Carey, Niamh McGoldrick and a great score from Nicola Douche Staun-ton edged the Tallaght girls back in front.
A much more disciplined performance in the back line, led superbly by another of their inter-county players Siobhan McGrath, and marshalled well in the full back line by Riona McTavish, led to far fewer frees for Na Fianna.
Sinead Deegan fired over her second point of the game with Ciara McGuigan following suit before Davis were hit by an injury to Tammy Quinn.
Crashing off the crossbar
A further point by McGuigan, following good play between her sister Orlagh and team captain Rachel Newell, stretched the Davis’ lead to four points and they almost wrapped it up when a great shot from Debbie Brennan came crashing off the crossbar.
With time running out, Na Fianna made a good break and the ball was finished to the net to leave the minimum between the teams.
Na Fianna then equalised only to see McGuigan again nudge Davis in front, before parity was restored once more.
With the game deep in injury time, Riona McTavish played the ball to Sinead Deegan who made a great run only to be impeded just outside the 20m line.
McGuigan stepped up to despatch the resulting the free before Na Fianna were handed one more opportunity to level, with a free from 35 metres but the ball was gathered by goalkeeper Caithlin Staunton.
TAGS Sport
