Local Women Sport magazine Armagh Senior semi-finals: Granemore 0-9 Keady 0-9; Ballymacnab 2-19 Cullyhanna 1-2
A POINT from a free in the fifth minute of added time kept alive Granemore’s hopes of a return to the top in Armagh in the opening game of Friday evening’s Athletic Grounds double-header in the Local Women Sport Magazine Armagh semi-finals on Friday evening.
Granemore probably had more of the possession but shot 10 wides in comparison to Keady’s more economical return of just two stray balls and probably deserved another bite at the cherry. But they were lucky enough to get that chance.
Merry scored the first two points of the contest and gave them a 0-4 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. Helped by an early point from play by Orlagh Murray, Keady grew into the game and led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break with four from Murray and one each from Tahlia White and Sinéad McCooey.
Merry blasted a penalty over four minutes into the second half, but Murray cancelled that out after ten more minutes, as the Keady centre forward did to points from Ciara Carr and Merry over the next 10 minutes.
Keady still held a two-point lead, but Merry fired over from a free in the 53rd minute and again late in injury-time to earn Granemore a replay.
Holders Ballymacnab had little bother in the second game, beating first time semi-finalists Cullyhanna very comfortably.
There was an early goal and a point from Ellen Lennon followed by five points from Eimear Smyth and then a late free from the other Lennon twin (Éabha) as Ballymacnab led by 1-7 to 0-1 at the break.
Smyth and the Lennon twins kept hammering away at the scoreboard with Ellen Lennon claiming her second goal ten minutes from time. Bernie Murray cancelled that out with a goal for Cullyhanna, but Ballyacnab were easy winners and will be strong favourites in the final, no matter who comes out of the Keady v Granemore replay that is scheduled for Saturday 4pm in Ballymacnab.
Keady scorers: O Murray (0-7, 0-3 frees), T White (0-1), S McCooey (0-1).
Granemore scorers: R Merry (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 penalty), C Carr (0-1).
Ballymacnab scorers: Ellen Lennon (2-0), E Smyth (0-9, 0-2 frees), Eabha Lennon (0-4, 0-2 frees), E McKee (0-3 , 0-2 frees), A O’Hare (0-2)
Cullyhanna scorers: B Murray (1-1, 0-1 free), E Casey (0-2 frees)
