Longford Slashers gradually get their act together to beat the Offaly champions

Longford Slashers . . . 2-13 Ballinamere Durrow (Offaly) . . . 3-1

After receiving a real fright with the concession of a couple of soft goals in the early stages of the second half, the county 8-in-a-row senior ladies champions Longford Slashers gradually got their act together to score a convincing win over Offaly opponents Ballinamere Durrow on Sunday.

The reward for Sean Meenaghan’s super side is a showdown against the remarkable 12-in-a-row Wicklow champions Tinahely in the Leinster Club semi-final on Sunday next to determine who will contest the provincial decider against the holders Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) or St Patrick’s (Louth) on November 15.

Leading by 0-6 to 1-0 at the break after producing a rock solid defensive display against the wind in the first half, it looked like Slashers were well on the way to their expected win with Kara Shannon (2), Clodagh Lohan (2) and Jessica Barry (2) accounting for the scores in the clash at the Durrow GAA grounds.

The tigerish Orla Nevin was the driving force at centre-half-back, with Aisling Cosgrove (who was married on Friday) switching to the right wing, while Emer O’Brien executed a most effective marking job in dealing with the threat of the dangerous Ballinamere Durrow attacker Saorah Doyle who was well contained on this occasion.

Doyle scored the second goal direct from a dipping free that deceived the Slashers keeper Emer Casey to level matters with three minutes gone on the changeover and moments later Una O’Brien got through to raise another green flag.

All of a sudden Slashers found themselves trailing on a 3-0 to 0-6 scoreline but there was no need to panic and their greater experience told as they battled back with three points in a row through Kate Shannon (free), Kara Shannon and Jessica Barry.

That left the sides all square and when Clodagh Lohan scrambled the ball over the line in the 45th minute, Slashers were in complete control in gradually making good use of the wind advantage.

Two more points followed from the impressive centre-half-forward Kara Shannon (who clocked up 0-5) and a killer second goal then materialised for Slashers in the 54th minute.

A perfect delivery from Jill Glennon picked out Clodagh Lohan in front of the posts and she kept her composure to plant the ball into the corner of the net.

Clodagh was always a threat with industrious midfielder Grace Shannon also getting her name on the scoresheet.

The prominent Jessica Barry landed her fourth point (all from play) with time running out and it was Saorah Doyle who got the solitary point for the Offaly outfit when she converted a free in the 59th minute.

BALLINAMERE DURROW: Meadhbh Mealiff; Brooke McDermott, Shauna Slattery, Ava Grennan; Jane Maher, Roisin Mealiff, Faith McDermott; Niamh Galvin, Niamh Lydon; Ella Ravenhill, Emma Hand, Rachel Cunningham; Una O’Brien (2-0), Saorah Doyle (1-1, frees), Amy Loughman.

Subs:- Rachel Lambe for N Lydon (48 mins); Roisin O’Brien for E Ravenhill (48 mins); Ana Doyle for R Cunningham (58 mins).

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Emer Casey; Sinead Masterson, Eimear O’Brien, Emily Reilly; Aisling Cosgrove, Orla Nevin, Caoimhe Lohan; Aoife O’Brien, Grace Shannon (0-1); Lara O’Connor, Kara Shannon (0-5), Jill Glennon; Kate Shannon (0-1, free), Jessica Barry (0-4), Clodagh Lohan (2-2).

Subs: Niamh Farrell for L O’Connor (half-time); Sarah Glennon for J Barry (60 mins); Laura Kenny for Caoimhe Lohan (60 mins); Hannah Farrell for J Glennon (60 mins).

Referee: Ray McBride (Dublin).