Armagh City Hotel Ulster Intermediate championship semi-final
Cavan 2-12 Armagh 2-11
SATURDAY’S Armagh City Hotel Ulster Intermediate semi-final in Ballymacnab was decided by a goal from Shanise Fitzsimons in the 58th minute, a score that put her side a point clear of an Armagh team that looked on their way to victory from early in the second half.
Clodagh Fitzsimons clipped over her seventh point a minute later and that was enough to set Cavan up for a clash with Antrim next Saturday.
This tie always promised to be tight and Armagh will rue to a few stray shots through the game, but there really was little between the teams, except perhaps Cavan’s great physical presence in the tackle.
The teams opened with a point each before Eimear Smyth grabbed the opening goal on her home pitch in the 5th minute. The teams then swopped points so that the first quarter ended with Armagh 1-3 to 0-3 ahead.
Early in the second quarter, Cavan drew level with two frees from Clodagh Keenaghan and a fine score from Róisín O’Keefe. Then a 28th minute goal from Hannah Fitzsimons put the Breffni Blues three points clear.
A late point from Jenny Curry narrowed that gap before the break and Eimear Smyth’s goal on the re-start put Armagh into the lead once more at 2-7 to 1-8.
Although points from Keenaghan and Emma Mullvanney put the teams level at the end of the third quarter, three excellent points from play from Rachel Merry seemed to put Armagh in the driving seat.
Keenaghan pointed a free in the 27th minute and then came the turning point, the Shanise Fitzsimons goal.
Cavan: S Fitzsimons (1-1), H Fitzsimons (1-0), C Keenaghan (0-7, 4 frees), R O’Keefe (0-1), S McKenna (0-1), E Mulvanney (0-1, free), J Moore (0-1)
Armagh: E Smyth (2-2), R Merry (0-7, 3 frees), S Quinn (0-1), J Curry (0-1)
