Ballycran aim for final, again

WE CRAN DO IT…Catherine McGourty will have a big part to play in this weekend’s replay

Ballycran vs Castlegar
Sunday 10th Feb, 2pm
Casement Park

BALLYCRAN camogs will have a second crack at reaching the All-Ireland Intermediate final when they play Castlegar in a semi-final replay at Casement Park this Sunday (2pm).
The first match was on the Galway side’s doorstep last week, so manager Sean McGourty will be hoping a venue closer to home will prove decisive.
He’ll also hope his side have learned a lot on the field of play from that match last weekend after missing a number of scoreable chances. Extra time was needed in an attempt to settle the tie after the teams couldn’t be separated at the end of the first 60 minutes.
The Down girls seemed to have taken the first half in their stride and led 0-5 to 0-2 at half-time and perhaps should have extended that lead but poor decision making was the only glitch in a dominant first half performance.
Catherine and Brid McGourty were on fine form as they dictated most of the play for the Ards team, but they were still made to pay for their wastefulness.
Early goal chances a piece were spurned, which proved decisive, and the Connacht side drew level in the second half.
Indeed, it needed substitute Nicola Torney to slot over in the final minute of added time to secure a second day out for the Down side.
Manager Sean McGourty will also have been disappointed they couldn’t see out the first match, as Castlegar took the lead for the first time during extra time, but they will be confident having learned lessons from the previous outing.
Castlegar’s Aihlinn Connolly was top scorer the last day out, accumulating 11 points for the Galway side, and McGourty will be looking to try and nullify her influence this Sunday.
The winners of the replay will face Kilkenny side Rower-Inistoge who defeated Kilmaley in the other semi-final.